Europe and its think tanks: a promise to be fulfilled

Summary:

Ideas and the shapers of ideas have always been central to the European project. Potentially, they have an important role to play in the formulation of public policies, in democratic decision-making, and in providing support to Member States and the European Union’s diplomatic efforts. Yet the groups that seek to generate and disseminate policy ideas related to the European continent – Euro-think tanks – have never been studied as a distinct community within the 25 EU Member States.

Using nine criteria derived from previous literature, 149 think tanks have been identified and analysed. 36 are Euro-specific organisations that specialise in European policy issues. For the remaining 113, Europe is a significant research area among other issues. They employ nearly 3,000 researchers working more or less closely on policies related to Europe. Communities of researchers working within ‘Euro-think tanks’ are particularly large in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the United Kingdom (UK). They are relatively underdeveloped in France and Italy. Only 5 per cent work with E.U. actors from Brussels, the rest are based in the Member States.

Further information:

The survey was directed by Stephen Boucher.

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