Global Go To Think Tank Index

Global Go To Think Tank Index
Name	Global Go To Think Tank Index
Formation	2006
Founder	James G. McGann
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Parent organization	University of Pennsylvania

Global Go To Think Tank Index is an annual ranking produced by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania that evaluates policy research organizations worldwide. The Index purports to measure performance across multiple categories, producing comparative lists that attract attention from Brookings Institution, Chatham House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, and other policy actors. Policymakers, journalists, and funders from institutions such as The Heritage Foundation, RAND Corporation, Clingendael, Asia Society, and Wilson Center often cite the Index in discussions about institutional reputation.

Overview

The Index compiles rankings for hundreds of policy institutes and institutes across regions and thematic areas, juxtaposing organizations like Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Lowy Institute, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Bruegel. It presents lists for categories that include global influence, regional leadership, and specialized research areas, and it is used alongside other evaluative efforts by entities such as Transparency International, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, and Amnesty International. The Index is administered by scholars connected to the Lauder Institute, Annenberg School for Communication, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and other academic centers that intersect with policy networks like NATO, European Commission, and ASEAN.

History and Development

The Index was initiated under the direction of James G. McGann at the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania with early reports referencing patterns in funding and influence observed among organizations including Aga Khan Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Over successive editions the Index expanded to cover regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Southeast Asia and to compare institutions including Instituto Elcano, Fundación Carolina, Centro de Estudios Estratégicos e Internacionales, and Tsinghua University Institute of Public Policy. The Index’s evolution mirrors shifts noted in analyses from Pew Research Center, OECD, World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme.

Methodology and Criteria

The Index uses surveys, peer and expert nominations, and quantitative indicators to assess organizations on criteria that include research production, media presence, policy impact, and institutional reputation. Respondents are drawn from networks involving Foreign Policy Research Institute, Royal United Services Institute, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, and various national ministries such as United States Department of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). Metrics reference outputs comparable to bibliometric analyses from Scopus, Web of Science, and citation practices common to Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management, and London School of Economics. Methodological notes align with evaluation approaches used by groups like InterAction, Association of Institutes of Political Studies, and International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Rankings and Categories

Categories produced in the Index include Global Think Tank Rankings, Best New Think Tanks, Best University Affiliated Think Tanks, and Best Think Tanks by Region and Policy Area, listing institutions such as Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Mercator Institute for International Affairs, South African Institute of International Affairs, and Centro Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais. The Index also enumerates “Top Think Tanks by Area of Research” covering think tanks focused on health policy, defense and national security, energy and resource policy, and urban policy, with entries analogous to Kaiser Family Foundation, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, International Energy Agency, and Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Reception and Criticism

Scholars and practitioners at institutions like Columbia University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, and Princeton University have both cited and critiqued the Index. Critiques reference potential biases toward English-language outputs, visibility measured via outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and Nikkei Asian Review, and the effects of philanthropy from donors including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Koch Foundation, and Soros-affiliated entities. Methodological debates echo concerns raised in literature from Journal of Democracy, International Studies Quarterly, Global Governance, and by experts connected to Institute of Development Studies and Overseas Development Institute.

Impact and Influence

The Index influences funding decisions and strategic planning at organizations such as Ford Foundation, World Health Organization, UNESCO, International Monetary Fund, and Asian Development Bank by signaling reputational status that can affect grants, partnerships, and recruitment. Media coverage in outlets like The Economist, Financial Times, Reuters, and Al Jazeera amplifies rankings, while alumni networks tied to Harvard Kennedy School, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University, and Columbia SIPA leverage Index placements in career messaging. Governments and multilateral agencies including European Parliament, African Union, and World Economic Forum reference leading institutes identified in the Index for consulting and convening roles.

Notable Think Tanks and Trends

Repeatedly ranked organizations include Brookings Institution, Chatham House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, RAND Corporation, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Bruegel, Lowy Institute, and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Emerging trends highlighted by the Index correspond with growth in think tanks from India, China, Brazil, Nigeria, and Indonesia and with thematic shifts toward climate policy, digital governance, health systems, and geoeconomics—domains involving actors like Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, World Health Organization, International Telecommunication Union, and World Trade Organization.

Category:Think tanks