Types of Think Tanks: Which Make

Sense for the Government of

Indonesia?

Raymond J. Struyk

Classic Definition

Think tanks are independent, usually

private, policy research institutes containing

people involved in studying a particular

policy area or a broad range of policy

issues, actively seeking to educate or advise

policy makers and the public through a

number of channels.

Types of Think Tanks

1. Autonomous and independent

2. Quasi independent

3. Government affiliated

4. Quasi government

5. University affiliated

6. Political party affiliated

7. Corporate (for profit)

James McGann, 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report

Areas of possible limited independence

for Government-Affiliated Think Tanks

Setting the research and evaluation agenda

Policy positions taken publicly

Extent of results dissemination

Funding sources

Researcher constraints

Common Options for Government-

Affiliated Think Tanks

1. Completely internal to the ministry, probably reporting

directly to the minister; follows gov personnel policies

and other rules

2. External to the ministry but solely funded by

government and typically some restrictions on agenda

and somewhat on policy positions and dissemination

3. External to ministry and funded through the office of

president or prime minister; consult ministry on agenda;

substantial freedom to seek other funding; free on

policy positions; free but careful on dissemination; no

explicit personnel policy restrictions.

The In-the-Ministry Option

Typical Department Structure

1. Policy Development Office. Works explicitly on

emerging policy questions. Integrates research

findings into its analysis and recommendations. Policy

voice of the department.

2. Short-term Analytic Office. Undertakes analysis and

even quick surveys on very pressing issues.

3. Longer term research and evaluation studies. Nearly

all are contracted out. Need staff to design projects,

write RFPs, and manage contracts.

Advantages

1. Work on high-priority issues of strong interest to senior

officials

2. Can be very responsive, i.e., no contracting, no

negotiations with external government think tanks

3. Deep understanding of the ministrys decision process

and the identity of decision makers issue-by-issue

4. Access: on site, constant presence for meetings and

informal discussions

Challenges

1. May be consumed by short-term assignments that take

staff away from any longer term research

2. Personnel rules may make working at the ministry

unattractive

3. Possible restrictions on publications and speaking at

public events

4. Limited public dissemination of analysts work prevents

them from becoming established in the policy research

community

Germany and Korea as Examples

of Government Budget Support to

Think Tanks Option 3

South Korea

Scope of activity, objectives

Established in legislation permitting funding

Korean Development Institute in 1971; now 23

Funding

Government general support (budget support)

Budget prepared on basis of planned outputs, e.g.,

conferences, research projects

Negotiated with National Research Council that overseas all

Government-supported think tanks

General Assembly must appropriate funds

Public and private sector project grants & contracts

9

South Korea contd

Government influence

National Research Council is between think tanks and

Ministry Clients

Ministry views sought in annual review; Board members

Agenda setting

Quality control

Covers technical quality of research & policy

relevance, level of client satisfaction, and

dissemination

External review annually

Results influence future funding

10

Key Points for this Model

1. Independence

Government views given full consideration,

not more

Good will on both sides essential

2. Partial government funding

50-70% of total funds: meet the market test

3. Quality control and relevance are

essential

11

Conclusions on Government-Affiliated

Think Tanks

1. A clear range of options available with varying think

tank-Ministry relations

2. No necessity for consistency among ministries. Some

could have both Options 1 and 3. The Germans do.

3. Critical to be explicit from the start about which option is

being selected and the nature of the relations between

the think tank and the ministry on all independence

issues.