The Hidden Power of Decision making in Think Tanks
Author: Abbas Radhi Al-Ameri
This book highlights the definition of think tanks and how they began, the production of ideas, the frameworks of organization and funding within the centers, how to prepare the competent, and the historical influence in shaping international relations.
The book also talks about the impact of think tanks on the internal policies of states, the circumstances surrounding their work, the relationship between decision-making and policy analysis, the choice and manufacture of alternatives through governmental and non-governmental institutions, in addition to what is called the management of alliances, the coup d’état of politics and the loss of profits.
The book also discussed the role of think tanks in shaping U.S. foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia as a model under Presidents Bush II., as well as Obama, Trump, and finally Biden, in addition to addressing very important topics related to the war on Yemen, Gasta Law, and Assassination of journalist Jamal_Khashoggi.
In the introduction’s book, the author said: “The acceleration of global developments at various levels, including the level of international relations, the emergence of other forces and disappearances, the emergence of states and the union of states with each other, and the conflicting spirit that has painted the international environment in all regions (the entanglement of interests), has led to a marked change in the functions and interests of the state, and while specialists consider that the state has become a key factor but not the only one in the international system, a new factor has emerged( think tanks)”.
Also :”Think tanks have received great attention in developed societies and political systems to become a key partner of government institutions in making the most important decisions and alternatives, and this has gone further to creating complete strategies for governments, and governments have invested heavily in different policy-making,”
Then :”The think tanks have launched a series of political theories, particularly in foreign policy, from which the decision-maker benefited and employed them in the national interest, so think tanks played an important role in providing American government institutions with vision, but this did not hide the mutual interest between think tanks — both governmental and non-governmental — and governments”.
“In the United States, think tanks play significant roles in foreign political decision-making because of their accumulated experience and outstanding performance methodology, as well as the awareness and conviction of U.S. decision makers about the importance of the ideas they create that help them link the facts on the ground with their theoretical scientific framework”.
Finally, “the latest U.S. statistics (2021) show that 2,203 research centers in the United States of America are conducting a comprehensive assessment of past policies with a view to identifying their strengths to strengthen them, addressing weaknesses and shortcomings, as well as presenting new views and ideas and proposing alternative policies, and examining the far-reaching effects of certain policies, whether positive or negative “.