think tank
Wonk research group
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and advocacy on policy issues—economic, political, social, or military.
Think tanks employ experts who produce reports, white papers, and recommendations intended to influence government decisions and public debate.
Some are nonpartisan; others advance particular ideological agendas: a conservative think tank, a think tank funded by the petroleum industry.
Established organization or custom
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- instituteEstablish or scholarly organization
- centerMiddle of anything
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
nonprofit · nonpartisan · fellowship · endowment · consortium · Brookings · RAND · Cato
Generating many ideas freely
- innovationCreating something original
- solutionsAnswers to problems
- ideasMental creations or plans
- conceptualizationMental creation of ideas
problem-solving · collaboration · convening · forum · symposium · conference · workshop · dialogue
Authority over a state
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- white paperAuthoritative problem-solving document
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
reform · lobbying · advocacy · governance · briefing · recommendation · proposal · agenda
Arranging for future events
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
scenario · forecasting · geopolitical · defense · national security · foreign policy · economic · strategic
Learned, studious person
- analystOne who examines systematically
- fellowMan or companion
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- specialistExpert in one field
researcher · economist · strategist · advisor · consultant · pundit · commentator · authority
Deliberate learning effort
- publicationIssued written material
- reportFormal written findings
- dataFacts for analysis
- findingsConclusions from investigation
evidence · methodology · empirical · scholarship · journal · citation · quantitative · qualitative
institution
Established organization or custom
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- instituteEstablish or scholarly organization
- centerMiddle of anything
council · nonprofit · nonpartisan · fellowship · endowment · consortium · Brookings · RAND · Cato · Heritage
brainstorming
Generating many ideas freely
- innovationCreating something original
- solutionsAnswers to problems
- ideasMental creations or plans
conceptualization · problem-solving · collaboration · convening · forum · symposium · conference · workshop · dialogue · discourse
government
Authority over a state
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- white paperAuthoritative problem-solving document
regulation · reform · lobbying · advocacy · governance · briefing · recommendation · proposal · agenda · platform
planning
Arranging for future events
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- frameworkUnderlying support system
roadmap · scenario · forecasting · geopolitical · defense · national security · foreign policy · economic · strategic · long-term
scholar
Learned, studious person
specialist · researcher · economist · strategist · advisor · consultant · pundit · commentator · authority · intellectual
study
Deliberate learning effort
- publicationIssued written material
- reportFormal written findings
- dataFacts for analysis
findings · evidence · methodology · empirical · scholarship · journal · citation · quantitative · qualitative · analysis
- expertsexperts, expert, specialist, masters, specialists
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- collaborationteamwork, partnership, co-creation, alliance, sharing
- discussionsdiscussion, discussions, forum, talks, roundtable
- institutionsacademy, government, public hospitals, museum, public libraries
- Mind/Thought Idiomsbrain wave, mental block, blank mind, afterthought, forethought
think tankaction committee
Group organized for advocacy
boots on the ground · service provider · grassroots movement
think, thought, thinking, thoughtful, tanks, thinker, thoughtless, thinks, rethink