The global context in which think tanks in the Global South operate is shifting fast — and not in their favour. Around the world, democratic spaces are shrinking, public trust in expertise is faltering, and the very foundations of civic life are being reshaped by technology and disinformation.
During a recent panel organised during the Southern Voice bi-annual Conference, researchers and practitioners from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean came together to explore how these changes affect think tanks, how they are responding, and what collective action can make a difference.
The discussion, featuring Giles Yabi (WATHI, Senegal), Anthea Haryoko (CIPS, Indonesia), Claudia Maselli (ASIES, Guatemala), and Damian Cardona (United Nations Information Center), offered a candid look at the tensions between survival and influence, between national realities and global networks — and between evidence and emotion in a post-truth era. Audience contributions from across the Global South enriched the exchange, making it one of the most dynamic and future-oriented conversations on the think tank landscape in recent months.
1. The changing context: a volatile world for knowledge and democracy
“Think tanks today are operating in a world where coups, censorship, and misinformation are advancing faster than democracy itself.” — Giles
The panel began by examining the rapidly evolving political and social environment that is shaping the future of research and policy influence.
Giles described a world marked by instability, characterised by the resurgence of military coups and terrorism in West Africa, the erosion of democratic institutions, and the decline of ethical political leadership globally. He warned that this combination of authoritarian resurgence and aid contraction poses a threat to civil society’s survival.
He also pointed to a new kind of power: the ideological dominance of technology companies. Big Tech and AI are transforming how people think, while simultaneously eroding their capacity to think critically. For Africa, where demographics, digital dependency, and donor withdrawal converge, this is a potentially existential challenge.
Anthea turned the spotlight on youth activism in the digital age. Across Asia, she said, Generation Z has emerged as a politically conscious, emotionally expressive, and globally connected cohort. Platforms like TikTok have become stages for democratic expression — and outrage. This so-called “TikTok democracy” brings both promise and peril: young people are shaping public agendas, but often through volatile, unverified, and emotional discourse.
Claudia grounded the conversation in Latin America’s shrinking civic space. In Guatemala, she explained, civil society actors and think tanks face legal harassment and political repression. Survival often depends on quiet, credible leadership and institutional resilience — maintaining integrity and coherence even when influence seems impossible. Her organisation, ASIES, has pioneered civic education initiatives, such as simulation courts, to engage youth in democratic practices.
Claudia grounded the conversation in Latin America’s shrinking civic space. In Guatemala, she explained, civil society actors and think tanks are going through a context of weakening on rule of law. Survival often depends on quiet, credible leadership and institutional resilience — maintaining integrity and coherence even when influence seems impossible. Her organisation, ASIES, has introduced, besides its research agenda, civic education initiatives like simulations of the election of high authorities in the justice and electoral systems to engage youth in democratic practice.
What are think tanks doing to engage with young people? Watch Elizabeth Sidiropoulos at the 2024 OTT Conference.
Damian connected these trends to a global crisis of trust in science and evidence. As misinformation spreads faster than verified knowledge, the legitimacy of expert voices is collapsing. The UN’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), he said, was created to re-establish trust by ensuring that diverse, global perspectives inform decision-making — a model think tanks could emulate at national and regional levels.
From the floor
Audience members expanded the picture further. They spoke of AI’s misuse, cryptocurrency governance, data sovereignty, aging populations, and the North–South digital divide. Others warned that the erosion of trust in science mirrors a wider collapse of faith in politics and institutions.
Questions emerging from the discussion included:
- How can think tanks stay relevant in contexts of democratic backsliding and donor retreat?
- What ethical frameworks are needed for AI and tech governance in the Global South?
- Can think tanks rebuild credibility in a world saturated with noise and emotion?
2. Impact on think tanks: survival, focus, and communication
“In this new reality, survival is not defeat — it’s resistance.” — Giles
The second part of the discussion explored how think tanks are adapting to survive and remain useful.
Giles urged think tanks to stay grounded in their core missions: education, evidence, and institutional strengthening. For him, research alone is not enough — think tanks must play an explicit political role in defending democratic institutions and civic life.
Anthea shared the experience of the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), which has streamlined its strategy to concentrate on two core advocacy areas. This clarity, she argued, helps avoid mission drift and allows more coherent messaging. CIPS is also experimenting with AI tools and digital storytelling to translate complex analysis into formats that resonate with youth audiences.
Claudia illustrated what resilience looks like in practice. In Guatemala, ASIES uses simulation-based educational exercises to teach young people the principles of justice and citizenship. By blending research with experiential learning, ASIES bridges the gap between institutions and citizens, nurturing the next generation of democratic leaders.
Damian returned to the global level. The SAB’s structure — bringing together independent scientists and UN Chief Scientists — exemplifies how institutions can adapt to complexity while maintaining integrity. Its focus on open, participatory, and transparent science parallels the role think tanks can play in reconnecting evidence to society.
From the floor
Audience members reflected on the asymmetry within the Global South’s think tank community: some are in survival mode, others exploring new frontiers. The conversation turned to understanding the causes for youth emigration, the neglect of climate change, and the critical importance of flexible, long-term funding — with many recalling the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) as a model worth reviving.
Questions emerging from the discussion included:
- How can think tanks maintain independence while ensuring their survival?
- Should think tanks adopt more assertive advocacy roles in defence of democracy?
- How can they use AI and digital tools to enhance credibility rather than compromise it?
- Can the Global South unite around a shared campaign for renewed, flexible funding for evidence institutions?
3. Implications for Southern Voice and other networks
“Southern Voice is more than a network — it’s an ecosystem for survival, learning, and collective influence.” — Claudia
The final question turned the lens to collective action. What should networks like Southern Voice do to support think tanks and ensure that perspectives from the Global South shape global debates?
Giles called Southern Voice one of the great success stories of the last decade, enabling smaller think tanks to connect regional and global agendas. He urged the network to integrate geopolitical awareness into its work and to advocate for the strengthening of democratic and institutional foundations across the South.
Anthea proposed a practical next step: capacity-building for communications teams across the network. In a world of short attention spans, think tanks must compete not just on rigour but on narrative, emotion, and speed. Joint workshops and peer learning could help members become more strategic communicators and build a stronger, unified voice.
Claudia highlighted the potential of intergenerational dialogue and regional collaboration. Networks can connect think tanks working on shared challenges — such as migration, democracy, and poverty — while ensuring that young researchers have a voice in shaping future agendas. She also argued that advocacy for flexible, long-term funding should be central to Southern Voice’s mission.
Damian outlined the network’s growing global role as a partner to the UN’s Scientific Advisory Board. Through this relationship, Southern Voice can bring local evidence into global science-policy discussions, promote AI and data ethics, and collectively combat misinformation. He encouraged Southern Voice to position itself as a bridge between global governance and local realities — a role few others can play.
From the floor
Audience members pushed these ideas further, emphasising:
- The urgency of tackling the digital divide in infrastructure and data access;
- The threat of “denialist” think tanks undermining science;
- Brazil’s example of a coalition for information integrity as a model for others;
- The challenge of affective communication, where emotion often outweighs facts;
- The risk that the label “misinformation” can be misused for political ends; and
- The need for participatory agenda-setting to keep Southern Voice proactive and relevant.
Questions emerging from the discussion included:
- How can Southern Voice balance its identity as a knowledge network and an advocacy coalition?
- Should it lead on global issues such as AI governance, data integrity, and misinformation?
- What structures would enable members to co-create a shared, forward-looking research agenda?
- How can Southern Voice integrate youth and intergenerational leadership into its governance and outreach?
Conclusion: Rethinking influence in a disrupted world
“In times of turbulence, the role of think tanks is not to provide certainty, but to preserve the conditions for reason.”
Across the discussion, five lessons emerged that go beyond any single organisation:
- Political instability is reshaping the map of influence. Coups, civic repression, and the erosion of rule of law are forcing think tanks to defend democracy, not just study it.
- Youth are the new constituency for evidence. Engaging them requires creativity, dialogue, and emotional intelligence — not just data.
- Communication is now existential. The battle for ideas is also a battle for attention.
- Flexible, long-term funding is freedom. Without it, think tanks will chase projects rather than shape policy.
- Networks are the new infrastructure of influence. Southern Voice and similar alliances are no longer optional; they are the connective tissue keeping knowledge alive across borders.
As the discussion made clear, the future of think tanks and think tank networks will depend not on the quantity of evidence they produce, but on how effectively they listen, connect, and collaborate. In a fractured world, collective intelligence — across generations, regions, and disciplines — may be the most powerful form of influence.