When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Think Tanks were just as many other institutions forced to adapt to the new circumstances. Whereas some were not able to continue with there work, most of them managed to continue with their research and used their resources to support the global fight against the pandemic. To show in which way they have influenced the handling of the pandemic and which policy recommendations they did provide to improve pandemic preparedness is the key purpose of this paper.
Like never before, think tanks had to measure up to their self-claim to provide independent, high-quality research and practical policy recommendations. At the same time, they were confronted with challenges many institutions and companies that used to rely on analogue work faced during the pandemic, among others increased stress and worries of their staff followed by decreasing productivity. For think tanks this problem was accompanied by a serious lack of new research funding as a study from On Think Tanks (OTT) about the COVID-19 impacts on the sector found.
However, the same study showed that the respondents (from whom nearly 85 % worked either for a think tank or a policy research programme or department) were relatively optimistic regarding the pandemic effects on their research institutions. Only 16,4 % reported serious concern about the future of their institution whereas 44 % expected to be challenged but able to handle the situation well. 31 % did not even expect too many disrupting changes because their institutes had already established remote work before (idem. 6). Some answers even had a positive angle, as the study participants expected a modernisation towards digitalization, an expansion of their potential audience due to the establishment of webinars, and the development of new decentralized, agile work methods.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Main part
2.1 Definition of the term ,think tank’
2.2 Introduction of two exemplary think tanks: CSIS and ECFR
2.3 Role of think tanks during the COVID-19 pandemic
2.4 Research and policy advice of think tanks during the pandemic: Focus on CSIS and ECFR
2.5 Relationship of think tanks to other institutions in the fight against COVID-19
2.6 Research and policy advice from think tanks to improve pandemic preparedness: Focus on CSIS and ECFR
2.7 The future of health systems, health care, and the role of think tanks in the global health system
3. Conclusion
3.1 Review of the key question
3.2 Room for further research
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines how think tanks influenced the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring both their immediate policy recommendations during the crisis and their subsequent role in shaping future pandemic preparedness strategies.
- The practical influence of think tanks on national and international health policies during COVID-19.
- A comparative analysis of two prominent institutions: the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
- The evolution of think tank advisory roles in bridging the gap between academic research and political decision-making.
- Long-term strategies for pandemic preparedness, including the establishment of international financial mechanisms.
- The future interplay between health systems, digital transformation, and independent policy guidance.
Excerpt from the Book
Role of think tanks during the COVID-19 pandemic
When Sars-Cov-2 began to spread in early 2020, it was the TTCSP that initiated a prompt reaction of the global think tank community by organizing an international conference on April 7, 2020. This meeting was the first of three so-called Global Think Tank Town Halls under the motto ,Saving Lives and Livelihood’ that brought together several hundred participants who represented think tanks, governments, international organizations (IOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 94 different countries (cf. McGann et al. 2021: 5–8).
The purpose was to stand in solidarity with those who were hit hardest by the pandemic but was not limited to this demonstration of unity. Instead, five working groups were established that should develop programs and policy advice to support the common fight against COVID-19. Each group focused on a different pandemic-related challenge: The first group developed and discussed strategies how the public health crisis could be addressed effectively; the second focused on international and national strategies to accelerate the economic recovery and revitalization; the third identified innovative, inclusive, public and private strategies to support the most vulnerable social groups; the forth discussed how multilateral, rapid, responsive, and resilient systems could be created to be better prepared for future crises, and the last group developed new operating models for think tanks, re-thinking their traditional way to conduct research, communicate and obtain funding (cf. McGann 2021a: 19–21).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the pivotal role of think tanks during the COVID-19 pandemic and sets the research purpose regarding their influence on policy responses.
Main part: Provides a comprehensive definition of think tanks, introduces the CSIS and ECFR as case studies, and analyzes their research and collaboration efforts during the health crisis.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while think tank influence was limited during the initial chaos, they were instrumental in long-term evaluation and the creation of new pandemic preparedness funds.
Keywords
Think tanks, COVID-19, Pandemic preparedness, Policy advice, Global health system, CSIS, ECFR, Crisis management, Multilateralism, Pandemic Fund, Health security, Digital transformation, International cooperation, Public health, Research institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper evaluates the influence of think tanks on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and their efficacy in providing policy advice for future health emergencies.
Which think tanks are analyzed as case studies?
The paper concentrates on two major institutions: the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
What is the central research question?
The research asks how think tanks contributed to pandemic management and to what extent their recommendations helped bridge the gap between academic knowledge and political action.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study utilizes a comparative analysis of institutional reports, public policy recommendations, and their practical implementation within national and international governance frameworks.
What does the main part cover?
It covers the definition of think tanks, their operational adjustments during the pandemic, their relationship with international health organizations, and their specific policy briefs on health security.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include think tanks, pandemic preparedness, crisis management, health security, global health system, and international cooperation.
Why did think tanks have more impact at the national level than the global level?
Advice at the national level was more targeted and direct, making it easier for specific decision-making bodies to integrate the recommendations into existing containment strategies.
What is the "Pandemic Fund" mentioned in the study?
It is a financial mechanism proposed by the CSIS and endorsed by the World Bank and G20 to fund critical investments for global pandemic prevention and preparedness.
Did think tanks overestimate their own influence?
Yes, the paper notes that representatives often overestimated their practical impact on policies, as governments frequently prioritized national interests over multilateral expert advice.
What future research does the author suggest?
The author suggests deepening the analysis by comparing more think tanks from diverse world regions and evaluating how well governments implement recently published recommendations in the long term.
- Quote paper
- Ariatani Wolff (Author), 2023, The Role of Think Tanks in Combatting COVID-19 and Improving Pandemic Preparedness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1344166
