ABSTRACT
This chapter defines and analyzes the role, structure, and function of American think tanks, with a focus on the contemporary think tank landscape. When attempting to encapsulate the structure of American think tanks into a neatly arranged archetype, one of the first observations one makes is the marked diversity among these organizations. The ideological element, in particular, is a facet of American think tanks that has come to represent a key mode of differentiation, and has both contributed to and enhanced the advocacy-oriented disposition of these organizations. Though the sheer number and visibility of American think tanks is unparalleled, the think tank landscape in the US has not developed to its present condition by chance. To exert influence in the policymaking process, American think tanks utilize and leverage both formal and informal means to have their voices heard.
