Think tanks and democratic transitions
With Sonja Stojanovic Gajic (former director BCSP, Serbia) and Ignacio Irarrázaval (Centro de Políticas Públicas UC, Chile)
Sonja and Ignacio consider the different roles that think tanks can play during democratic transitions, as well as the impact these may have on them. In both Chile and Serbia, think tanks played important roles in bringing about democratic change and today, as both face new pressures to their democratic institutions, think tanks need to respond.
From the chat box
Question posed to attendees at the start of the conversation: Is the country where you are from or where you currently live in a democracy, a questionable democracy, or are you no longer living in democracy?
Responses
I live in Germany, and I define this country as DEMOCRACY.Perú. B. Not sure what we are right now.
In the US but working with organisations in several countries that are in A, B, and C.
I would consider Germany to be a democracy (A), of course, but there is always room for improvement in terms of participation, diversity and so on.
Dictatorship — Missing www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ9rvykHYV4.
Interesting reflection on think tanks and political parties. I’ve been wondering what is the role of think tanks when there are no political parties?
How to understand that a think tank is too political?
In my mind, think tanks (broadly) try to improve the ‘pareto optimum’ — their natural space is making everyone better off, less so redistribution.
What about education of political parties? (When they are weak of overly ‘personalised’ caudillistas.)
Can think tanks partner with civil society to advocate for positions that are beneficial for all?
Resources and references
Movie on the campaign against Pinochet at the referendum
Aedo A. Cultures of expertise and technologies of government: The emergence of think tanks in Chile. Critique of Anthropology. 2016, 36 (2): 145–167. doi:10.1177/0308275X15614634.
Political parties and think tanks in Latin America
Think tanks in Mexico: Shielding civil society organisations
Experience during Apartheid: Think tanks in times of political transformation
The reverse circle of change in the Western Balkans
Betrayal of the promise — How South Africa is being stolen
Think tanks and social movements
Developing policy ideas for a future democratic government North Macedonia
Why think tanks should learn from journalism in the digital era
Optimizers — how hearts, kidneys and pareto help define think tanks
What came next at the OTT Conference 2021?
Parallel session 1: Changing think tanks
with Julia Pomares (CIPPEC, Argentina) and Karin von Hippel (RUSI, UK)
Think tanking in the new normal
organised by the Think Tank Lab, facilitated by Weronika Perlinski (DGAP)
More on think tanks and change
From think tank to change hub
Keynote by Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America
How do think tanks react to or foster change?
Read the OTT Annual Review 2020–2021
