think tanks Flashcards
what are think tanks
Organisations consisting of experts brought together to
research economic or social issues, and offer policy
suggestions to government
what do thinktanks tend to have
tanks tend to have a clear ideology. They are
often clearly right-wing or left-wing.
types of think tanks
IEA
Fabian Society
IPPR
The centre for social justic
IEA
Promotes free market, ‘small government’
policies. Want to privatise the NHS. Right-wing, connections with Thatcherites such as Dominic Raab and Priti Patel - IEA
Fabian Society
Promotes social democracy, long linked to the
Labour Party. More recently part of the more
centrist wings of the party. Left-wing
IPPR
Institute for Public Policy Research. Centre-left, linked to New Labour.
The centre for social justice
Focus on a Conservative approach to social
welfare issues and poverty. Founded by Iain Duncan Smith
issues related to think tanks - close links
often closely linked to a particular political party, and often employ future politicians, or are linked to more established politicians. before becoming an MP, current government minister (and Thatcherite) Dominic Raab, published a book with the IEA. The Centre for Social Justice was set up by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith.
what do think tanks and their close links to political parties mean
Their close links to political parties and politicians make them very influential. Parties often do not have time and resources themselves to develop new ideas, and often rely on think tanks to suggest innovative policy plans.
Example: In 2006 and 2007 the Centre for Social Justice published two reports on poverty. It focused on the causes of poverty (e.g. family breakdown, educational failure, addiction), and then suggested solutions.
This became the basis for a more simplified
welfare benefit system implemented by the
2010-2015 coalition government, known as
‘Universal Credit’.
In 2018 the IEA worked out a plan for a hard Brexit involving a minimal free trade deal with the EU, called ‘Plan A+’. This was embraced by the anti-EU Conservative faction the ERG, and
provided the basis for Boris Johnson’s eventual trade deal with the EU in 2020.
Truss has worked closely with the IEA, set up
a group of Thatcherite Conservative MPs to work with the IEA, and appointed different IEA
researchers as official government advisers when she became PM
what weakens influences of think tanks
Because they are aligned with a specific ideology and party, their influences depends much on which party is in government
corporations
Businesses that want to make a profit, may be impacted by government actions, and may therefore have an interest in influencing government.
Differences with pressure groups
Profit-making organisations
No membership
No ‘common interest’ or ideology, simply serving consumers and maximising profit
issues related to corporations
Corporations tend to have more financial resources than pressure groups – this may lead to unequal and unfair
influence - CBI has an annual budget of £24M
Corporations tend to focus on changes that will increase their profits – this may go against the public interest
Corporations are focused on making a profit and sell products. Most do not have a political ideology. They are therefore normally prepared to work with whatever party is in
government. However some business owners may have personal political views - JCB chief Bamford donated £1M to the conservative party
