16
February 2012
Past Event
Are Think Tanks Becoming Too Political?

Are Think Tanks Becoming Too Political?

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
February 16, 2012
Share:
Default Event Image
16
February 2012
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Read Transcript Read Transcript Read Transcript
Speakers:
Christopher DeMuth,

Hudson Distinguished Fellow and former President of the American Enterprise Institute

Michael Franc,

Heritage Foundation Vice President for Government Studies

Will Marshall,

President and Founder of the Progressive Policy Institute

Neera Tanden,

President of the Center for American Progress

Tevi Troy,

Hudson Senior Fellow

"Over the past half-century, think tanks have come to play a central role in policy development — and even in the surrounding political combat. Over that period, however, the balance between these two functions —policy development and political combat — has been steadily shifting. Today, while most think tanks continue to serve as homes for some academic-style scholarship regarding public policy, many have also come to play more active (if informal) roles in politics. . . . Every incentive — political, financial, and professional — points toward the further politicization of think tanks."

So wrote Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Tevi Troy in a recent article in the Winter 2012 issue of National Affairs, arguing that American think tanks are becoming less incubators of thoughtful policy ideas than political combat vehicles.

Required Reading

Tevi Troy, Devaluing the Think Tank, National Affairs, Winter 2012.

Related Events
See More
28
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Africa’s Role in Addressing America’s Critical Minerals Refining Vulnerability
Featured Speakers:
Dr. J. Peter Pham
Michael Hollomon II
Ben Kincaid
Joshua Meservey
Getty Images
28
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Africa’s Role in Addressing America’s Critical Minerals Refining Vulnerability

This discussion will cover the scale of the challenge, how the US government can better support domestic and allied refining, and how African nations can climb the critical minerals supply chains.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Dr. J. Peter Pham
Michael Hollomon II
Ben Kincaid
Joshua Meservey
Learn More
28
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Future of US Broadband and Spectrum Strategy
Featured Speakers:
Arielle Roth
Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Getty Images
28
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Future of US Broadband and Spectrum Strategy

To discuss how the administration is strengthening US leadership in communications and technology, Senior Fellow Harold Furchtgott-Roth will host Arielle Roth, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information and administrator of the NTIA.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Arielle Roth
Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Learn More
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Getty Images
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?

Join noted Russian and Ukrainian economists and Hudson Senior Fellow Thomas Duesterberg for an event that will analyze how growing economic problems are affecting Vladimir Putin’s war effort and its ability to avoid an economic crisis.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Learn More
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu
Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership

Senior Fellow Jason Hsu will host Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee and a former member of the bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, for a conversation on securing American AI leadership.

Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu
Learn More
See More
Related Research
See More
See More