Product Description: It is often assumed that think tanks carry enormous weight with lawmakers. In Do Think Tanks Matter? Donald Abelson argues that the basic question of how think tanks have evolved and under what conditions they can and do have an effect is consistently ignored...read more

Although think-tanks are often regarded as scientific and non-partisan organizations committed to improving governmental decision-making, they have clearly demonstrated in recent years that they have other goals in mind. No longer content observing domestic and foreign affairs from the comfort of their book-lined offices, think-tanks, not unlike interest groups and lobbyists, have made a concerted effort to become an integral part of the policy-making process. This study examines the growing involvement of think-tanks in American politics and explores the many governmental and non-governmental channels they rely on to exercise influence.