are think tanks good or bad for democracy

 

I fall on the side of the optimists. The proliferation of Australian think tanks raises important questions about how these groups impact public policy, and whether their rising influence threatens or strengthens the foundations of democracy in our nation. In short, the Internet is good for democracy. Current “Friends of Grattan” include Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, and Labor MP Tim Watts. If we care about democracy, we should keep a close eye on think tanks – not as simplistic caricatures, but as the complex – and sometimes contradictory – organizations that they really are. There is a subtler point as well. Through generating research papers, opinion pieces, hosting lectures and advising policy makers, thinks tanks have influenced debates, demonstrating an exquisite grasp of political timing and an ability to achieve media impact. Below even this are those categorised as ‘deceptive’, which seem to disclose significant amounts of information but in reality hide major, potentially embarrassing donors from public view. These are responsibilities that come with democracy … His professional history spans research, campaigning, policy analysis, and journalism. Social media platforms make that tons easier. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. “Personal information” is defined under the Act to mean information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), that is recorded in any form and whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion, but does not include information of a kind to which the Health Records Act 2001(Vic) applies. I don't even think that we should keep it. Democracy aims to create the ideal environment that is conducive to personality improvement, character cultivation and good habits. I think the Supreme Court could very easily rule that any form of democracy in America is unconstitutional. This has raised serious questions about whether elite economic and political actors are “working through” think tanks to undermine democratic processes and the ideals of representative democracy. This includes think tanks on both sides of the political divide, such as the IPA, CIS, Australia Institute, Sydney Institute and McKell Institute.While there is an argument to be made that donors have the right to remain private, the flipside is that a lack of transparency about where money comes from means potential links between donors and the agendas pursued by think tanks remains murky. Professor James McGann, author of numerous books on the subject, argues that think tanks enrich the democratic space by conducting policy research, developing policy options, facilitating dialogue between diverse stakeholder groups, and stimulating public debates, regardless of whether they pursue an ideological agenda. Visit our sister blog LSE Review of Books. I have talked about this before, arguing that direct impact, without public debate, can be damaging to the development of necessary … Your email address will not be published. Till holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Bristol. Email. We use cookies on this site to understand how you use our content, and to give you the best browsing experience. A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government or are associated with particular political parties or businesses. Innovating Democracy 2018: Why technology is bad for democracy . Collection of Personal Information by the University in relation to Pursuit. Michael D. Rich is president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. On balance, they are not merely good; they are terrific. There is good reason, therefore, to be wary about the trajectory of think tank influence in Australia and to critically question the complex role these organisations play in the democratic process. By Enrique Mendizabal. Through generating research papers, opinion pieces, hosting lectures and advising policy makers, thinks tanks have influenced debates, demonstrating an exquisite grasp of political timing and an ability to achieve media impact.The Whitlam Institute at the University of Western Sydney. Please review our comments policy if you have any concerns on posting a comment below. I believe in either moving to a participatory or anarcho-capitalistic approach. The report compiles nine country studies written by think tankers themselves. In 2020, we focused on the EU’s proposed Digital Services Act and the European Democracy Action Plan, which will determine how online platforms will be regulated in the EU, and likely set the stage beyond. IDEAS is headquartered at Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur He has worked in a wide variety of contexts, including the UK, Afghanistan, Georgia, North Africa and the Caribbean. on the subject, argues that think tanks enrich the democratic space by conducting policy research, developing policy options, facilitating dialogue between diverse stakeholder groups, and stimulating public debates, regardless of whether they pursue an ideological agenda. We would also be misguided to think powerful philanthropic groups are not gaining influence in Australian policy in ways that are beginning to resemble the American context. Why? It will be interesting to monitor the extent to which the Gates Foundation expands its work in Australian education over the coming years. Victor Davis Hanson: I wouldn’t define the question that way because it’s not a dilemma between what’s a hundred percent good and a hundred percent bad. By Peter Cuthbertson. Please try again. As Mike Seccombe argued in a highly critical analysis of the IPA, the group is tight-lipped about its donors, but we know past donors have included Caltex, Esso, Philip Morris and British American Tobacco. Otherwise stated, instead of producing studies that take for granted that populism is good or bad for democracy, scholarly efforts should focus on demonstrating empirically where, why and how populism has positive or negative effects on liberal democracy. We found that the Adam Smith Institute has created a structure so opaque that it concealed not only who gave money, but also who took it, leaving us unable to determine where close to one million pounds given by American donors had ended up. Lauren Farrar. The Good and Bad of Democracy Bruce Frohnen. This policy of disclosure might partly explain why Grattan reports gain such esteem and traction in the media. To accept cookies, click continue. Picture: Gareth Edwards/Wikimedia. Interest groups are so villified by the media and the public. More think tanks are better for democracy, he concludes. Till Bruckner has over a decade of experience in the field of research-driven advocacy. They also need to be able to convey it to others. With the backing of Gates, think thanks such as the Hunt Institute, the Alliance for Excellent Education, and the Foundation for Excellence in Education, have strategically influenced the reform by producing pro-CCSS materials, building political support, and shaping public debates. We decided to examine which think tanks voluntarily disclose who funds their work. Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch (12 August 1885 – 4 October 1952) Picture: WikimediaAs Mike Seccombe argued in a highly critical analysis of the IPA, the group is tight-lipped about its donors, but we know past donors have included Caltex, Esso, Philip Morris and British American Tobacco.Rupert Murdoch also served on the IPA Council from 1986 to 2000, and his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, was a founding member of the IPA in 1943. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page. I’m currently working at a social enterprise called Social Science Works in Berlin, and they’re developing something similar in terms of the quality of research itself (design of the research, reliability of the data, and the validity of the application of such research on particular policy proposals). Multiple recent reports show that social media is in crisis. This is what we found: A closer look at the highly opaque institutions on our list confirmed our hypothesis that think tanks that hide their donors usually have something to hide. We believe in the free flow of information. The maximum five-star score shows that a think tank is highly transparent, revealing not only the names of its donors, but also how much each donor gave and the purpose of each donation. One good thing about democracy is we have a ceiling to how corrupted the government can get. This is achieved by pressure groups encouraging the general public to participate in politics and improving the government’s policy-making through better information and scrutiny. share. Till Bruckner explains how Transparify are contributing to debate about think tanks’ role in evidence-based policymaking by assessing their levels of financial transparency. What we have, therefore, is the most significant schooling reform in recent US history being driven not by “the American people”, but largely by a powerful philanthropic group that has mobilised a coalition of think tanks and other organisations to influence debates and advocate for the reform. New Local Government Network Neoliberalism can be summed up as follows: > The best outcome for an economy, and its citizens, is when corporations maximize CEO pay and shareholder profits. Social media platforms make that tons easier. For some, pressure groups are a fundamental part of democracy.To others, pressure groups undermine the whole principle of democracy. The influence of the Gates Foundation in funding pro-CCSS research and advocacy has been so profound that leading education policy scholars Lorraine McDonnell and Stephen Weatherford suggest the landmark national reform would most likely not have succeeded without money from Gates. The University may collect, store and handle personal information about you including but not limited to your name and email address for the sole purpose of allowing you to subscribe to Pursuit’s weekly digest of cutting-edge research findings and expert commentary. ... Good or Bad? He is interested in the hidden power relationships that structure global politics and our everyday lives, and in learning new ways of using research and advocacy to produce positive outcomes. The good times and bad times are limited and have a floor and ceiling on how good or bad things can get. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is an interesting case in point. Nearly 60 percent of the world’s countries employ a form of government based on representative democracy, including the U.S. (a democratic republic), the UK (a constitutional monarchy), and France (a unitary state). In the future, it is likely Australia will see more strategic attempts by think tanks to influence public debates and shape reforms. The IPA’s donors and connections have raised questions about its preference for certain agendas and not others, including arguments to privatise the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and arguments against “nanny state policies” such as plain cigarette packaging. It is also on us to tell our politicians what we want. “The filibuster could be a useful tool in a more open Senate,” says Mark Schmitt, director of policy reform at the Washington think tank New America. Why elections are bad for democracy ... asked more than 73,000 people in 57 countries if they believed democracy was a good ... opponents claimed it would mark the end of democracy. Representative democracy is a form of government in which the people elect officials to create laws and policy on their behalf. The IPA’s donors and connections have raised questions about its preference for certain agendas and not others, including arguments to privatise the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and arguments against “nanny state policies” such as plain cigarette packaging.The Grattan Institute, on the other hand, does publicly disclose its donors, with the exception of anonymous donations. report. JS: I think there’s a very good chance that that’s going to happen. You may also want to check out the policy evidence framework currently being developed by Sense about Science and the Institute for Government in the UK. Around the world progressive think tanks, former-tech workers and organisations and individuals with a commitment to the future of democracy are researching possible solutions to these challenges. 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