Information on think tanks
Directories of International Think Tanks
- A comprehenisve description of the international think tank landscape can be found in James McGann[1]. McGann counts more than 6500 think tanks[2]. The web-based directory of think tanks can be accessed here thinktanks.fpri.org
McGann released a report in which he lists all those think tanks worldwide which he considers influential. Here the link to the latest ranking by McGann from 2009: World Rankings of Think-Tanks with Dr. James G. McGann (United Nations University)[3] [www.fpri.org/research/thinktanks/mcgann.globalgotothinktanks.pdf]
- A bibliografical project listing publications by a selection of international think tanks can be looked at Global Think Tank Watch (Global Security Reseach Institute der Universität Keio, Japan)
- Lists of international think tanks with links to their websites (if existing) are accessable at:
- The Japanese National Institute for Research Advancement compiled NIRA's World Directory of Think Tanks. It was started earlier than the above mentioned but is not up-to-date anymore (last up-date: 2005)[4]
- The Observatoire Français de Think Tanks Observatoire Français de Think Tanks so far has documented only 27 institutes. But it provides a journal and extensive background information on the think tanks.
Directories of European and German Think Tanks
- Notre Europe provides a list of European think tanks [5], and according reviews [6]
- Daniel Florian's directory of German and European think tanks, which derives from his bachelor thesis includes 151 German [7] and 72 European think tanks [8]. He provides brief information about type (advocacy or academic), size, and issues addressed by the think tank among others:
Thinktank-Directory additionally you can find there a weblog with current background information: [9]
- The German Goethe-Institut keeps record of German academic and mostly public funded think tanks, which is thematically organized: Tanks: Deutschland denkt
- Scattered information on French free-market libera and their management can be researched here [www.wikiberal.org/ wikiliberal] und liberpedia.
- The German Journal on political consulting Zeitschrift für Politikberatung first appeared in 2008. Every now and then the journal publishes an article on think tanks, e.g. the self-portrayal of the Council on Public Policy but also analytical contributions.
Subject Classification
- Think tanks focussing on international relations/foreign policy: Ediplomat:Think Tanks
- economic issues oriented think tanks: Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Centers in the World
and a ranking of economic think tanks:
- Top 25% Think Tanks, as of April 2010
- Think tanks on environmental politics, e.g. the Ecologic Institute Ecologic; also see McGann's presentation on think tanks focussing on environmental issues: The Earthly Truth: Analyzing the Nature of Environmental Think Tanks
- Analyses about the Global Development Network on development policy: GDNet – discussing my findings on GDNet
Critique of PR and manipulative activities of Think Tanks and disclosure of their funding offer the following
- Spinwatch, auch [10] and ** Sourcewatch
observe and interpret the activities of conservative and free-market liberal think tanks as part of an PR industry that represents and disseminates ideas of privatization, cutback of the welfare state, and general deregulation.
und
- Speziell die Aktivitäten der Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft beobachtet insmwatchblog
- Die finanzielle Unterstützung für konservative und marktliberale Think Tanks durch hauptsächlich US-amerikanische Stifungen und Konzerne versucht
Mediamattersaction zu dokumentieren.
- Zum Fehlen von Informationen über die Finanzierung europäischer Think Tanks ein immer noch aktueller Artikel aus dem Jahr 2005: Transparency unthinkable?
In Sachen Lobbyismus und Transparenz vergleiche auch die Europäische Transparenzinitiative[11] und ihr Lobbyisten-Register[12]. Und last but not least: Lobbycontrol en:Infos about think tanks