宾夕法尼亚大学-2017全球智库报告（英文版）-2018.1.31-208页-1mb

2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report Summary

Core Content

The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report is produced by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania. The report highlights the global trends, challenges, and opportunities in the think tank community, emphasizing the critical role these institutions play in bridging the gap between knowledge and policy. The TTCSP, established in 1989, has been instrumental in developing the Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI), which ranks think tanks worldwide based on their contributions to public policy research.

Main Points

• Mission of TTCSP: To increase the profile, capacity, and performance of think tanks globally, enabling them to better serve policy makers and the public.
• Global Think Tank Landscape:
  • There are 7,815 think tanks worldwide, with 55% located in North America and Europe.
  • Over 90.5% of think tanks were established since 1951.
  • The number of think tanks in the United States has more than doubled since 1980.
  • About one quarter of U.S. think tanks are located in Washington, DC.
  • More than half of U.S. think tanks are university affiliated.
• Trends in Think Tank Development:
  • Think tanks are increasingly seen as global institutions that act as bridges between academia and policymakers.
  • There is a decline in the establishment of think tanks in the U.S. and Europe over the last 12 years.
  • In Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, there has been dramatic growth in the number and diversity of think tanks.
• Reasons for Growth:
  • Technological and informational revolutions.
  • Complexity of policy issues.
  • Globalization and the rise of non-state actors.
  • Need for timely and relevant policy analysis.
• Reasons for Decline:
  • Hostile political and regulatory environments.
  • Decreased funding from public and private donors.
  • Short-term, project-based funding.
  • Underdeveloped institutional capacity.
  • Increased competition from advocacy groups, consulting firms, and media.
• Challenges for Think Tanks:
  • Four Mores: More Issues, More Actors, More Competition, and More Conflict.
  • Four M's: Mission, Market, Manpower, and Money.
• Key Issues Highlighted:
  • Global Food and Water Crisis: Think tanks are crucial in addressing these challenges, as climate change, urbanization, and population growth threaten global food and water security. It is estimated that 1.8 billion people will face water scarcity within ten years, and 150 to 300 million climate change refugees may emerge by the middle of this century.
  • Africa's Think Tank Sustainability Crisis: Due to insufficient and irregular funding, many African think tanks face institutional fragility and acute sustainability challenges. The TTCSP, in collaboration with other institutions, organized a forum in 2017 to explore strategies for improving the capacity, quality, and sustainability of African think tanks.

Key Information

• Methodology: The index is compiled using a panel of over 1,900 experts from various fields and regions, including academia, media, and government.
• Partnerships: TTCSP collaborates with international institutions and donors to enhance the global network of think tanks and to support capacity-building efforts.
• Future Goals: TTCSP aims to streamline and perfect the ranking process, and to develop new platforms for delivering policy insights to a global audience.
• Call to Action: The report urges increased investment in think tanks, especially in Africa, to address the sustainability crisis and to ensure they can continue to provide relevant and impactful policy analysis.

Conclusion

The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report underscores the vital role of think tanks in shaping public policy and civil society. It identifies emerging challenges, such as the global food and water crisis and Africa's sustainability issues, and calls for greater collaboration, capacity building, and strategic planning to ensure the long-term viability of these institutions. The report also emphasizes the importance of international partnerships and innovative platforms in the global marketplace of ideas.