ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to bring the concept of think tanks and policy networks to life, providing detailed typology, examples, and analysis of these various institutions engaged in policy analysis today. We begin with an overview of the reasons behind the emergence of think tanks and look at the history of think tank development in the United States. We then proceed to synthesize lessons from US think tank development, compare it to the think tank phenomenon in other countries, and provide recommendations for improving the environment for think tank development in those countries. This chapter explores the origins and emergence of both think tanks and policy networks within policymaking. In particular, attention is devoted to the various types of think tanks and policy networks that have emerged since the formation of think tanks in the general sense. Current iterations of these institutions within the present policymaking process are noted and examined.
