The Role of Think Tanks in U.S. Foreign Policy After September 11

Abstract

Think tanks constitute a significant phenomenon in the processes of domestic and foreign policymaking in the United States. Although political developments in our country, particularly over the past two decades, have been influenced by U.S. foreign policy, awareness of the role of think tanks in shaping U.S. foreign policy remains limited even among our elites. Therefore, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the complex layers of policymaking in this country, it is necessary to expand the body of knowledge and literature related to think tanks and to gain a more precise understanding of their functions. The central question of this article is: what role have U.S. think tanks played in shaping the country’s foreign policy after September 11? To answer this question, a descriptive-analytical method has been employed. Data were collected using a library-based approach, with a focus on primary and secondary sources published in English. The theoretical framework of pluralism and the concept of the revolving door provide appropriate analytical tools for explaining and analyzing how think tanks operate within the domain of foreign policymaking. The findings indicate that think tanks, by supplying personnel to governmental bodies, participating in media debates, and through the presence of their affiliated figures in the September 11 Commission, have played a highly significant role in directing and prioritizing U.S. foreign policy in the post-September 11 era.