Capturing the political imagination: think tanks and the policy process

Think tanks are proliferating. Although they are outside of government, many of these policy research institutes are perceived to influence political thinking and public policy. This book develops ideas about policy networks, epistemic communities and policy learning in relation to think tanks

By comparing British and American think tanks (both large and small) Diane Stone broadens our understanding of the causes and consequences of the growth of these organisations. She points out that American institutes benefit from far more generous foundation and corporate support, and that the institutional structure of the US government and the country's weak political party system provide a more fragmented and open environment for interaction between think tanks and officials with political power. The book concludes with valuable reference material including a comprehensive listing of major think tanks in the US and Britain