The Role of Think Tanks in Policy Formulation

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Politics - Methods, Research, grade: Post Graduate, Ethiopian Civil Service University (Collage of Governance and Leadership), course: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PUBLIC POLICY, language: English, abstract: The role of think tanks in the process of policy formulation is attempted to be presented in this term paper. The policy formation phase of the policy process is deemed crucial and encompasses various topics. The policy formulation process entails the involvement of many actors, stakeholders, and experts at different levels and degrees of engagement. Public-policy research, analysis, and engagement groups known as think tanks are utilized to produce policy-oriented research, guidance, and analysis on national and international topics, enabling decision-makers and the general public to make well-informed choices regarding public policy. The conceptual definition of policy formulation, concepts of think tanks, and different classifications of think tanks are covered in this paper through the revision of explanations and descriptions provided by scholars. Additionally, the history of think tanks is discussed in this section, with a critical examination of its beginnings. In the subsequent stage, the role of think tanks in policy formulation is explored by examining various pieces of literature addressing the issue. Furthermore, an attempt is made to investigate the contributions of think tanks in China, the USA, and Ghana. Finally, an assessment of the situation in Ethiopia is conducted by considering articles written on the issue