Think Tanks and Transatlantic Relations

Abstract

The largest concentration of think tanks is found in Europe and in the United States, but to date, few scholars have examined the extent to which these organizations have invested the time and resources necessary to provide thoughtful and reasoned analysis on a host of issues affecting transatlantic relations. In this chapter, we explain some of the fundamental differences in how European and US-based think tanks engage policymakers, journalists, and other key stakeholders in important policy debates and what opportunities exist for more sustained cooperation between think tanks on both sides of the Atlantic. Given the deep historic and political ties that underpin the transatlantic relationship, we argue that it would be prudent for both stand-alone think tanks as well as those based at universities to assign a higher priority to understanding and commenting on the challenges the US and European countries will face in the twenty-first century.