Think Tanks’ Influence on the Front-End of the Policymaking Process: Empirical Evidence from the United States
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 4, July 2018
Pages:
30-37
Received:
3 September 2018
Accepted:
15 September 2018
Published:
15 October 2018
Abstract: One of the most important goals for think tanks is to influence the public policy. Therefore, the way that think tanks influence the process of making public policies is worth thinking about. It is widely known that the United States has the largest number of and most influential think tanks in the world. Paying more attention to the front end, this paper chose to focus on the policy process perspective to analyze the think tank’s influence on the public policy by using the United States as an example. Referring to the “Multiple-Streams” theory, this paper built a mechanism framework from the perspectives of the problem stream, the policy stream and the political stream. Furthermore, this paper used the example of three typical types of think tanks from the United States to deeply analyze the location and the influential patterns of the think tanks. Which are the academic type, contract type and advocacy type. Think tanks have very important influence on the public agenda setting. In this process, think tanks are usually with the help of media and public opinions to influence the problem stream, with the help of their own research ability and reputation to influence the policy stream, and with the help of the core departments’ personal exchange to influence the political stream. Different types of think tanks focus on different aspects and make the process of formulating public policies in the United States more scientific and rational.
Abstract: One of the most important goals for think tanks is to influence the public policy. Therefore, the way that think tanks influence the process of making public policies is worth thinking about. It is widely known that the United States has the largest number of and most influential think tanks in the world. Paying more attention to the front end, thi...
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