Think Tanks

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ID: 338317
2026
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Abstract
Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science Think tanks are policy research organizations, government research units, and, more broadly, institutions that disseminate “policy knowledge” at national, regional, and international levels. Although the English term “think tank” is widely accepted in contemporary China, three distinct Chinese terms are used to refer to such organizations within the Chinese context. The first term, zhinang tuan 智囊团, describes a small group of individuals serving as a policy advisory body to top decision-makers in their capacity as government officials. The second term, sixiang ku 思想库, refers to an organization functioning as a key platform for intellectual discourse, where strategic ideas are generated and exchanged. The third term, zhiku 智库—the most used term in contemporary China—is associated with organizations that provide policy recommendations and research outputs to the government, businesses, or other stakeholders. Beyond the linguistic distinctions, understanding the role of think tanks in China’s decision-making process also requires an examination of their historical development as well as their organizational structure. Chinese think tanks have evolved into key instruments of policy advisory, public diplomacy, and global knowledge production, reflecting both domestic governance needs and China’s international ambitions. In China, however, think tanks function within the party-state model, where they serve as intermediaries between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), government agencies, academia, and the civil society shaping both domestic and foreign policy discourses. Unlike their Western counterparts, which often operate independently, Chinese think tanks are embedded within the party-state structure, reinforcing national strategic goals rather than acting as autonomous actors. As China continues its ascent as a global power, its think tank ecosystem remains a crucial tool for influencing policy debates, shaping international norms, and strengthening China’s presence in global governance frameworks.
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Authors Silvia Menegazzi
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Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/9780197858264.003.0229
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197858264.003.0229
Keywords Keywords not found

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