{"id":2563,"date":"2016-02-20T08:21:53","date_gmt":"2016-02-20T13:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/?post_type=resource&p=2563"},"modified":"2016-02-20T08:21:53","modified_gmt":"2016-02-20T13:21:53","slug":"think-tanks-and-domestic-funding-reading-list","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/resource\/think-tanks-and-domestic-funding-reading-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Think Tanks and Domestic Funding Reading List"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Think Tanks has been interested in the subject of funding of think tanks right from the start as it is linked to issues such as\u00a0independence and autonomy<\/a>, business models, governance and management, research agendas, etc. But more recently, this interest has focused on domestic funding for think tanks as there are clear indications that this is the only (or, the most likely to be) sustainable and reasonable source of funding for them.<\/p>\n

This Reading List\u00a0provides an initial review of resources that address this issue. Some are On Think Tanks\u2019 posts and others from third parties.<\/p>\n

They offer an overview on the subject and an introduction to a topic that On Think Tanks will continue to develop in the future. This guide can be read alongside\u00a0On Think Tanks\u2019 Funding Theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The trouble with foreign funding: why is domestic funding necessary?<\/h2>\n

\u2018Tourist\u2019 funders are unhelpful when supporting and evaluating think tanks<\/a><\/p>\n

Think tanks generate and disseminate information in order to influence public policy. A think tank\u2019s capacity of influence, therefore, should be a key aspect for funders take into account while looking for whom to support. Domestic funders know who is influential and who isn\u2019t because they are part of the same political scene that the think tanks they fund are part of. But what is the case with foreign funders? This post suggest that it\u2019s not uncommon for foreign funders to be unaware of the level of influence their beneficiaries have, resulting in funding going to think tanks that are unknown to policy makers and journalists.<\/p>\n

Community Speak: Funding Concerns<\/a><\/p>\n

This article from the\u00a0Aditi Bulletin<\/a>\u00a0addresses a growing concern in the think tank community regarding the heavy reliance on foreign funding which, it states, needs to be replaced with support from domestic sources.\u00a0Aditi<\/a>\u00a0conducted a small survey across the globe in developing countries on this matter.<\/p>\n

Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks<\/a><\/p>\n

This New York Times article raises alert on how foreign governments would be using funding as a way to pass their own agenda on US policy through Washington DC based think tanks. The article received a lot of coverage. It shed light on how governments can use funding as a way to influence think tanks and, through them, foreign policy.<\/p>\n

Undue influence: what is it, how is it exerted, and how to address it in the future?<\/a><\/p>\n

Following the\u00a0aforementioned piece by the\u00a0New York Times<\/a>, this post\u00a0argues that\u00a0this practice is an everyday affair for think tanks in the developing world. It then goes on to provide an overview of some of the mechanisms through which foreign funders fund think tanks in developing countries, how this challenges their credibility and independence, and suggests that, in order to move forward, a balance of foreign versus domestic funding will have to change.<\/p>\n

It works both ways: American Think Tanks and Foundations Manipulate German Politics<\/a><\/p>\n

Till Bruckner reviews and presents highlights of a bestselling book in Germany written by journalist Udo Ulfkotte, which discusses the political consequences of having \u201ctransatlantic think tanks\u201d, funded with US public funds, in Germany. This book takes further the discussion sparkled by the\u00a0New York Times article<\/a>\u00a0which questioned the credibility and independence of several Washington based think tanks for receiving foreign funding on conditions to pressure US Government in a certain way.<\/p>\n

Whose money is it anyway? think tanks and the public: an Indian debate<\/a><\/p>\n

In order to answer the question of how can public policy be brought to the community \/ public level in view of promoting a true democratic system, this post cites the debate on Indian think tanks contribution to democracy, as well as reviewing the meaning of their sources funding. It states that the more open the debate on public policy, the more involved the public or community will be in the process.<\/p>\n

Foreign funding and social science research in Peru<\/a><\/p>\n

Based on a study by\u00a0Kelly Bay, Cecilia Perla and Richard Snyder<\/a>, this post reviews the funding situation of think tanks in Peru. The study states that in Peru, social science research depends very much on foreign funding, although this does not necessarily mean a loss of independence in the themes research must be undertaken. Although mostly foreign, institutions that provide funding for research in Peru can be quite dissimilar, which helps to maintain the autonomy of researchers.<\/p>\n

Economic downturn affects think tank\u00a0funding<\/a><\/p>\n

This post examines how some think tanks around the world have seen their funding being cut as a result of the global economic crisis. However it does state that the situation can\u2019t necessarily be transposed to all think tanks, as there are still sources, such as the\u00a0Think Tank Initiative<\/a>, which still ensure secure funding.<\/p>\n

Where does the money come from?<\/h2>\n

Funding for research in general can come from a range of different sources. Here we cite a few examples by country of sources for research, which think tanks can apply for.<\/p>\n

Government agencies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most countries in the developed world have government agencies that award research funds domestically and to foreign organisations and individuals. A country\u2019s public budget for research in science, health and technology can be a crucial element in its development. Here are a few examples of government institutions or agencies that offer domestic funding for different types of research, as well as resources that analyse each country\u2019s situation on domestic funding.<\/p>\n

Following Suit or Falling Behind? A Comparative Analysis of Think Tanks in Canada and the United States<\/a><\/p>\n

This paper discusses Canadian\u2019s think tanks sources of funding by comparing them to US think tanks. It states that, while Canadian think tanks tend to rely on government funding, US think tanks receive little or no government money, and mainly rely on corporate and individual donations. Among the effects of such arrangements for Canadian think are risks of relying on public funds, like cuts in government spending (which are an important concern). Also, a tight funding environment can limit the kind of activities a think tank can engage in.<\/p>\n

Governmental research funding frameworks in Latin America<\/a><\/p>\n

This article reviews the finding of an article by Mart\u00edn Lardone y Marcos Roggero on the role of the State in funding research for public policy in Latin America. It highlights the article\u2019s conceptualisation of programmatic and non-programmatic funding. The first one refers to stable, structural and systemic financing. The second one, to unstable, unstructured financing that usually consists of occasional consultancy contracts, where personal relationships, social networks and previous experience working with the government are fundamental. Programmatic funding would tend to have a bias toward hard sciences. This would make it unfavourable for think tanks, which have to turn towards no programmatic funding.<\/p>\n

The article in reference can be found\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0(in Spanish). It also identifies different financing schemes that exist in the region, and diagnoses their strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n

Establishing Government Think Tanks: An Overview of Comparative Models<\/a><\/p>\n

This paper follows the announcement of the Indonesian Government to create a presidential think tank within their\u00a0National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).<\/a>\u00a0The first part covers Bappenas\u2019 achievements to date, presenting the organisation as the central point for government policy. The second part discusses what is meant by a \u201cgovernment think tank\u201d and critically reviews different models that exist across different countries. It also lists the special characteristics government think tanks have. This includes a primary audience of government policy makers for their work; funding and leadership usually resting in the hands of the state; and, often, human resources (staff) full of government employees and subject to rules of government bureaucracy.<\/p>\n

Marriage of a think tank and a consultancy firm: a warning from Slovakia<\/a><\/p>\n

This article explores the embedded risks of a think tank opting to open a consultancy firm (a for-profit arm) to work privately with government funds, focusing on a\u00a0scandal<\/a>\u00a0involving the\u00a0Hayek Foundation<\/a>\u00a0in the Western Balkans. As a source of funding, consultancy contracts are different from grants because they produce analysis that is a \u2018private good\u2019 in the hands of the client who paid for it instead of producing publicly available policy products. In order to be able to gain government consultancy contracts and not compromise the nature of the organization, some think tanks and research centres opt to open a consultancy firm (a for-profit arm) under the same name, sometimes operated by the staff that is also active in the public domain.<\/p>\n