Think Tank: Our Definition
Think Tanks find themselves at the crossroads of four spheres: political (including diplomatic and military dimensions), economic (corresponding to the action of companies with an international dimension and that of business circles), media (organizing around the flow of information and contributing to shaping opinions, mentalities and representations) and academic (the origin of the production of knowledge and partly structuring the dissemination of knowledge).
What is a Think Tank?
On a global scale, think tanks form a small industry, which is a sector of activity on its own. They are open organizations, built around a permanent base of researchers or experts, whose mission, on the one hand, is to develop analyses, summaries and ideas on an objective basis with a view to inform the conduct of private or public strategies in the general interest; on the other hand, to actively debate issues within their field of competence.
The international reputation of a think tank is based on its ability to maintain this permanent base of qualitatively sound researchers, as well as on its degree of professionalism.
Ifri, a French Think Tank
Since its creation in 1979, Ifri has operated within a dual framework – national and international –, cooperating with think tanks around the world and actively contributing to the main platforms that bring them together regularly.
Ifri's missions are an extension of those of its Anglo-American elders at their origin:
- to objectively analyze, in a prospective approach, international – regional and functional – political and economic situations;
- contribute to the development of modes of governance that reinforce the structural stability of the system;
- help public and private actors – particularly businesses – to forge their own international strategies;
- participate at all levels in debates on these subjects in France, Europe and the world.
Texte citation
I consider a think tank any open organization built around a permanent base of researcher fellows, whose mission is to develop ideas on an objective basis relating to the conduct of private or public policies and strategies that serve the general interest.
Founder and Executive Chairman of Ifri - Member of the Institut de France (Académie des Sciences morales et politiques)
Texte citation
Ifri suggests that its peers devote a joint effort to contemplating the relevance of our profession, which first requires defining it correctly and specifying our methods of execution.
Director of Ifri
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What is a Think Tank?
What is a Think Tank?
