Worldwide Changes in Policy Research.

• Position: Report on research institutes - Brief Article

Think tanks once specialized in Cold War strategy, Now, government support has declined and they are having to refocus on domestic issues or on more-diverse international topics, such as global warming and famine relief in Africa, James G. McGann, president of a consulting firm specializing in think tanks, told the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md. Today's 3,000 think tanks "must compete in two distinct markets: one to obtain funding and one to sell policy advice." The playing field of policy research has changed remarkably since the end of the Cold War for a variety of reasons:

Money is tight. Because governments worldwide have slashed general funding for think tanks, large foundations and other powerful donors are beginning to call the shots in the global market of policy thinking.

Funders want it their way. Think tanks must constantly retool their agendas to meet new funding requirements. Many funders want quick results--more action and fewer conferences and...