Policy think tanks come in many shapes and sizes, but appear to be proliferating and growing in importance globally relative to other policy actors. This seminar will bring together a panel with experience of both running and researching think tanks for a free-ranging and critical assessment of the disparate and changing roles of think tanks in politics and policy making, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The seminar will also lead into the IPR Symposium on Politics, Fake News and the Post-Truth Era.