Think tanks: definition and terminology

There has been a lot of writing on what think tanks are and what their roles in society are. The definition of the label has changed over time, as scholars and experts identify boundaries and interactions with the different fields working with or within public policy influence. Is it important to define the label? Would a precise definition be beneficial to think tanks, or is the risk of excluding non-conventional organisations too high? Is it a matter of function vs. form? Has this ongoing debate had a positive influence on the role of think tanks in society?   This series brings together articles from various experts in the field, proposing different viewpoints on the definition of think tanks and what the label means today.