German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Understanding the Development of Think Tanks in Asia

Most research on think tanks has focused on their development, roles, and policy impact in North America, specifically the US. Yet, think tanks exist nowadays in every world region and have experienced particular strong growth in East Asia. Understanding them as a global phenomenon with different local manifestations, the project seeks to overcome the (conceptual and empirical) US bias in think tank research and explores the trajectories and traits of think tank sectors in East Asia and India.
GIGA, 2015-2018

Team

Pascal Abb

Former Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Raphaelle Khan

Former Visiting Fellow

Jane Hayward

Dr. Sebastian Maslow

Sendai Shirayuri Women’s College

Alan Hao Yang

Prof. Dr. Xufeng Zhu

Head

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Research Questions

- Which factors drive the development of think tank sectors in various parts of Asia?
- More specifically, how does political context affect the traits and trajectories of think tanks in different parts of Asia?
- What kind of roles do (foreign policy) think tanks play in Asia?

Contribution to International Research

Most research on think tanks (TTs) has focused on their development, roles, and policy impact in North America, specifically the US. Yet, TTs exist nowadays in every world region and have experienced particular strong growth in East Asia. Understanding TTs as a global phenomenon with different local manifestations, the project seeks to overcome the (conceptual and empirical) US bias in TT research and explores the trajectories and traits of TT sectors in East Asia and India. A particular sectoral focus is put on the development and evolving roles of foreign policy TTs in various parts of the region.

Research Design and Methods

Combination of case studies and comparative analysis employing process and ideas tracing.

Preliminary Findings

Our research shows how particular political contexts have shaped the development of TT sectors in China, Taiwan, and Japan and how such development has been affected by context factors operating at different interactive levels: at the level of (i) inter- and transnational dynamics; (ii) governmental systems and their openness to policy advice and other think-tank services; and (iii) individual political leaders engaging with TTs.

Global Political Transitions | 11/2021

The Rise of New-Generation Foreign Policy Think Tanks in India: Causes, Contours, and Roles

Dr. Raphaelle Khan

Former Visiting Fellow

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Special Issue of Journal | 03/2018

Special Issue: Understanding the Development of Think Tanks in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Prof. Dr. Xufeng Zhu

Pacific Affairs | 03/2018

Understanding the Development of Think Tanks in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Prof. Dr. Xufeng Zhu

Pascal Abb

GIGA Focus Asia | 1/2018

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in India: New Actors, Divergent Profiles

Ass. Prof. Dr. Raphaëlle Khan

Department of Political Science, The City College of New York

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

China Analysis Value ZEITSCHRIFT / SAMMELBAND A hundred think tanks bloom in China | 08/2016

China’s new think tank diplomacy

Pascal Abb

Former Doctoral Researcher

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Cooperation Event | 21/09/2015 - 22/09/2015

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Mongolisch-Deutscher Dialog, Blue Sky Hotel, Ulaanbaatar Organisers: Institute for Strategic Studies, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Friedrich Ebert Foundation Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Think Tanks: Their Global Diversity and Roles in International Affairs

Conference | 12/09/2014 - 15/09/2014

Think Tanks: Their Global Diversity and Roles in International Affairs

Symposium in Mongolia, Ulan Baatar Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Other | 03/07/2015

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington Organisers: Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Talk at Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Other | 01/07/2015

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence, University of Otago, Dunedin Organisers: Department of Politics Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Talk at Department of Politics, University of Otago

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Understanding the Traits and Trajectories of Think Tanks in East Asia

Conference | 03/07/2018 - 05/07/2018

Understanding the Traits and Trajectories of Think Tanks in East Asia

Asian Studies Association of Australia Conference, University of Sydney, Sydney Organisers: Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney , School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia

Other | 27/11/2018

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: Department of East Asian Studies, Philologisch-Kulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Universität Wien, University of Vienna Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Cooperation Event | 21/09/2015 - 22/09/2015

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Mongolisch-Deutscher Dialog, Blue Sky Hotel, Ulaanbaatar Organisers: Institute for Strategic Studies, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Friedrich Ebert Foundation Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Other | 03/07/2015

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington Organisers: Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Talk at Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Other | 01/07/2015

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence

Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defence, University of Otago, Dunedin Organisers: Department of Politics Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Talk at Department of Politics, University of Otago

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Understanding the Traits and Trajectories of Think Tanks in East Asia

Conference | 03/07/2018 - 05/07/2018

Understanding the Traits and Trajectories of Think Tanks in East Asia

Asian Studies Association of Australia Conference, University of Sydney, Sydney Organisers: Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney , School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia

Other | 27/11/2018

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia

Understanding Think Tanks and their Development in East Asia, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: Department of East Asian Studies, Philologisch-Kulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Universität Wien, University of Vienna Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Cooperation Event | 21/09/2015 - 22/09/2015

Außenpolitische Think Tanks in China und Japan: Charakteristika, gegenwärtiges Profil und der Fall der Kollektiven Selbstverteidigung

Mongolisch-Deutscher Dialog, Blue Sky Hotel, Ulaanbaatar Organisers: Institute for Strategic Studies, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Friedrich Ebert Foundation Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (Speaker)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner

Director of the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies / Vice President

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