Global Scholar's Blog 2022-2023
Think tanks are organizations or institutions that conduct research and analysis on various social, economic, political, scientific, or technological issues. They aim to provide insights and recommendations to policymakers, businesses, and the public. Think tanks typically employ experts, researchers, and analysts who study specific topics in depth. Their work often includes producing reports, organizing events, and engaging in public advocacy. Think tanks may be independent or affiliated with universities, political parties, or other organizations, and they can have different ideological or policy focuses.
However, while think tanks can act as treasure troves of knowledge, they can and are used in America as political weapons of influence. In the United States, think tanks are like idea factories that make research and advice on different topics, such as politics, economics, and science. They write reports, talk to the media, and even talk to politicians to try to convince them of their ideas. Sometimes they even help make new laws by giving advice to the government. They get money from different places like companies and rich individuals, using it to conduct their research. Overall, think tanks in America try to change what people think about politics by giving them information and ideas. Recently, one right-wing think tank, called the Claremont Institute, was exposed for its link to an extremist fraternal order. Claremont Institute officials were revealed to have connections with the shadowy Society for American Civic Renewal(SACR), which experts say is rooted in Christian nationalism. The SACR is a male-only fraternal order that "aims to replace the US government with an authoritarian aligned regime" (The Guardian). As a series of New York Times investigations in 2014-2017 revealed, the think tank business model has drifted disturbingly toward selling access and influence. For some, the point is no longer to generate new ideas or inform a deliberative process, but rather to sell ideas that promote the interests of funders. Should Americans trust think tanks? The reality that real, unbiased news in the United States is dead has been a reality for many. Examples like Trump's fake news campaigns, deadly violence from incorrect Facebook posts, and conspiracies from organizations such as QAnon, have all contributed. Will think tanks ever recover their credibility? Sources
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Natalie VArchives
May 2024
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