Think 20

Think 20
Name	Think 20
Formation	2010s
Type	International policy network
Headquarters	Rotating host cities
Region served	Global
Parent organization	G20

Think 20

Think 20 is an international network of research institutes, policy centers, and academic groups that serves as the G20's official engagement group for think tanks and research communities. It links policy research from institutions such as Brookings Institution, Chatham House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, and Bruegel to multilateral discussions involving actors like United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Health Organization, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Overview

Think 20 convenes scholars and analysts from organizations including African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, Inter-American Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to produce policy briefs, communiqués, and task-force reports. Its network spans think tanks such as RAND Corporation, Lowy Institute, Observer Research Foundation, Institute of International Finance, and German Institute for International and Security Affairs that address issues raised by summits involving leaders from United States, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Outputs are often cited by officials from G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, G20 Leaders' Summit, United Nations General Assembly, COP climate conferences, and World Economic Forum.

History and Development

The initiative emerged in the 2010s as an institutionalized engagement channel alongside other G20 engagement groups like Business 20, Labour 20, Civil 20, Youth 20, and Women 20. Early contributors included scholars affiliated with Harvard University, London School of Economics, Stanford University, Oxford University, and Yale University, and policy centers such as Peterson Institute for International Economics and Center for Strategic and International Studies. Over time, the network expanded to include regional partners like African Policy Research Institution, Asia-Pacific Foundation, Latin American think tanks, and national institutes connected to Ministry of Finance (India), Treasury (United Kingdom), and Federal Reserve discussions. Major releases have intersected with events including the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008) policy aftermath, the COVID-19 pandemic, and deliberations around Paris Agreement implementation.

Structure and Membership

Membership comprises leading institutes such as Istituto Affari Internazionali, Centre for European Policy Studies, Japanese Institute of International Affairs, Korea Development Institute, and Canadian International Council. Organizing committees are typically anchored by host-country institutions—examples include collaborations with Indian Council of World Affairs, Brazilian Center for International Relations, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation. Working groups draw experts from universities like Columbia University, Imperial College London, University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, and Peking University alongside specialists from International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and World Trade Organization.

Key Policy Priorities

Think 20 task forces and publications have focused on topics including sustainable finance and infrastructure involving European Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, and New Development Bank; public health coordination with World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Gavi; digital governance alongside International Telecommunication Union, European Data Protection Board, and World Intellectual Property Organization; and trade policy interfacing with World Trade Organization, United States Trade Representative, and Ministry of Commerce (China). Other priorities include fiscal frameworks debated with International Monetary Fund, Bank for International Settlements, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; climate action linked to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Green Climate Fund; and inclusive growth discussions referencing International Labour Organization, African Union, and Pacific Islands Forum.

Meetings and Engagements

Annual summits and policy fora are hosted in rotating capitals and coordinated with G20 presidencies; past host interactions have involved delegations from Argentina, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Germany. Events feature panels with representatives from European Central Bank, Bank of England, People's Bank of China, Federal Reserve Board, and central banks from Canada and Australia. Think tank convenings often coincide with high-level meetings such as the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, G20 Sherpa meetings, and regional dialogues like ASEAN Summit and Summit of the Americas. Publications and side-events have been delivered in partnership with institutes including Mercator Institute for China Studies, Atlantic Council, Asia Society, and Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

Impact and Criticism

Think 20 has influenced policy debates by channeling research from organizations like Brookings Institution, Bruegel, Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Chatham House into G20 communiqués and national strategies. Critics argue that participation skews toward established institutes—citing underrepresentation from grassroots centers such as small regional think tanks and limited inclusion of voices from least developed countries—and that outputs sometimes echo recommendations from financial institutions like International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Defenders point to collaborations with United Nations Development Programme, Gavi, and Green Climate Fund as evidence of broader policy reach. Ongoing debates reference contributions to forums alongside Civil 20, Business 20, and Youth 20 about legitimacy, transparency, and policy uptake.

Category:International relations