2017全球智库报告（英文版）_208页-4mb

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's Lauder Institute. The report aims to highlight the evolving role of think tanks in shaping public policy and to provide insights into global trends and challenges in the think tank community.

Main Points

Purpose and Mission

• The TTCSP mission is to increase the profile, capacity, and performance of think tanks globally.
• The report serves as an annual ranking of leading think tanks across various categories, helping to identify centers of excellence in public policy research.

Think Tanks as Policy Bridges

• Think tanks are public policy research, analysis, and engagement organizations that support policy makers and the public by providing informed, reliable, and accessible information.
• They act as bridges between academia and policymaking, as well as between states and civil society.

Global Think Tank Landscape

• There are over 7,815 think tanks globally, with 55% located in North America and Europe.
• 90.5% of think tanks were established since 1951, indicating rapid growth in recent decades.
• In the United States, the number of think tanks has more than doubled since 1980, with 31% created between 1981 and 1990.
• About one quarter of U.S. think tanks are located in Washington, DC, and more than half are university affiliated.
• The rate of think tank establishment has declined in the U.S. and Europe over the last 12 years.

Think Tank Trends in Other Regions

• Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have seen expansion in think tanks in both number and type.
• Asia has experienced dramatic growth since the mid-2000s.
• Many think tanks in these regions remain government-funded or affiliated, but independent and corporate think tanks are becoming more common.
• Think tanks in these regions are increasingly diversifying their funding sources, including support from businesses and wealthy individuals.

Key Challenges

Decline in Think Tank Numbers

• The decline in the number of new think tanks is attributed to:
  • Hostile political and regulatory environments in many countries.
  • Decreased funding from public and private donors.
  • Short-term, project-specific funding rather than long-term investment in ideas and institutions.
  • Underdeveloped institutional capacity and the inability to adapt to change.
  • Increased competition from advocacy groups, for-profit consulting firms, law firms, and 24/7 electronic media.
  • Institutional fatigue where some think tanks have completed their mission and ceased operations.

Global Threats and Opportunities

• The report highlights four key threats facing the think tank community:

  • More Issues (increasing complexity of policy problems).
  • More Actors (growing number of stakeholders in policy making).
  • More Competition (from various non-traditional actors).
  • More Conflict (increasing global tensions).

• These threats lead to competitive challenges including:

  • Resource challenges.
  • Technological challenges.
  • Policy challenges.

• To respond effectively, think tanks should focus on the "four M's":

  • Mission.
  • Market.
  • Manpower.
  • Money.

Critical Focus Areas

Food and Water Security Crisis

• The report emphasizes the global food and water crisis, which is expected to lead to severe shortages and conflict.
• It estimates that 1.8 billion people will suffer from water scarcity within ten years.
• Climate change and population growth are key drivers of this crisis.
• Think tanks are urged to support governments in managing limited resources and maintaining natural resources.

Africa's Think Tank Sustainability Crisis

• The report identifies Africa as facing a sustainability crisis in its think tank community.
• 30% of African think tanks may close or be in serious crisis, with 25-30% more being fragile or failing.
• Insufficient and irregular funding, low salaries, and financial instability are major issues.
• The TTCSP convened a forum in Washington, DC in 2017 to identify strategies to address this crisis.
• Strategic planning, capacity building, and improving institutional sustainability are recommended.

Key Recommendations

• Think tanks should develop strategic plans to address long-term goals and positioning.
• They should update their websites with detailed contact information and current data.
• Think tanks should focus on evidence and data, and translate their work into multiple languages to increase collaboration and influence.
• Partnerships with donors and other think tanks are encouraged to mutually benefit both parties.

Conclusion

The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report highlights the critical role of think tanks in shaping global policy and the urgent need to address sustainability and institutional challenges, particularly in Africa. It also underscores the importance of international collaboration and the need for think tanks to adapt to the new global environment.

Key Information

• Total Think Tanks: Over 7,815 globally.
• Regions with Most Think Tanks: North America and Europe (55%).
• U.S. Think Tanks: 1,835 in the U.S., 400 in Washington, DC.
• Think Tank Affiliations:
  • Autonomous and Independent
  • Quasi Independent
  • Government Affiliated
  • Quasi Governmental
  • University Affiliated
  • Political Party Affiliated
  • Corporate (For Profit)
• Key Challenges: Resource, technological, policy, and competitive challenges.
• Key Recommendations: Strategic planning, capacity building, evidence-based research, multilingual outreach, and partnerships.

Methodology

• The report is based on peer nominations from over 1,900 experts.
• Expert Panels were used to validate and refine the rankings.
• The Global Think Tank Database was used to contact and include 7,815 think tanks in the process.
• The ranking process is open, transparent, and rigorous, with over 4,000 participants contributing to the process.