Think tanks, rankings, the Brookings Institution, and the rise of non-Western think tanks

After outlining the definition and functions of think tanks, we highlight the significant role played by McGann’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP). For years, they published rankings of think tanks based on different criteria. Since the United States hosts the most important think tanks globally, we explore several prominent examples, with a particular focus on the Brookings Institution. Additionally, we note a recent and notable rise in the number and influence of think tanks across Asia. Based on McGann’s data, we conducted a bibliometric analysis exploring the relationship between a country’s number of think tanks and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The results indicate a positive correlation, suggesting that economic capacity may support or incentivize the development of such organizations. Finally, we focus on think tanks in the Global South, using the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) as a case study to explore their growing relevance in shaping policy and research agendas in a developing context.