13-01-2025
According to a new study by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the 50 largest US think tanks are funded by foreign governments and Pentagon contractors.
The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft is a think tank that aims to ‘reconceptualise’ US foreign policy assumptions to ensure that they serve both vital US interests and the wider common good.
The study is based on the publicly accessible database created by Think Tank Fundraiser, which tracks funding provided by the US government, Pentagon contractors and foreign governments to the top 50 US think tanks over the past five years.
What does US think-tank funding look like?
Under US law, think tanks are not obliged to disclose their funding. Nevertheless, there are significant differences in the amount of donor information that different think tanks make public. Think tanks are intended to provide independent analysis, yet the reliance on funding from specific interest groups raises concerns about intellectual freedom, self-censorship, and the selective presentation of perspectives. Furthermore, instances where researchers simultaneously occupy roles in think tanks and within governments or foreign companies highlight clear potential conflicts of interest.
The study conducted by the Quincy Institute reveals that out of 50 of the main think tanks, 9 (18%) are totally transparent, 23 (46%) are partially transparent and finally 18 (36%) do not reveal their donors and have totally opaque funding. These are known as ‘dark money’ think tanks.
In terms of sources of funding, the study reveals that:
- The US government has directly contributed at least $1.49 billion to US think tanks since 2019. However, $1.4 billion went to the Rand Corporation, which works directly for the US government.
- The top 100 defence companies also contributed more than $34.7 million.
- As for foreign governments and their entities, they have contributed more than $110 million to the 50 leading think tanks in the United States. Among the largest donors were the United Arab Emirates with 16.7 million dollars, the United Kingdom with 15.5 million and Qatar with 9.1 million.
Something for the European Union to think about
In Europe as in the United States, think tanks often influence public policy and societal debates. Transparency in the funding of think tanks is therefore essential to guarantee their credibility, identify any bias linked to private interests, and ensure their compliance with democratic principles by avoiding conflicts of interest. Some EU member states already impose transparency requirements on think tanks, but a common legal approach across the EU is still lacking.
At EU level, think tanks that interact with the EU institutions are encouraged to register with the Transparency Register, which requires reporting on sources of funding and the proportion of public and private funding. Although registration is voluntary, it is becoming de facto mandatory insofar as think tanks engage with the EU institutions.
What recommendations can be drawn from this?
The study offers some recommendations to increase the overall transparency and accountability of think tank’s funding and operation. Some of them might be considered in the EU:
- Encourage the media to adopt a professional standard for reporting conflicts of interest with sources who discuss foreign policy.
- Pass legislation requiring all not-for-profit organisations seeking to influence public policy to publicly disclose corporate and government donors and improve conflict of interest disclosure requirements.
- Encourage think tanks to stop paid research and to take proactive steps to identify conflicts of interest.
As the survey revealed, disclosing the sources of funding, whether local or foreign, is an essential step towards greater transparency and ethics in the work of think tanks. At a time when foreign interference and conflicts of interest seem to be on the increase, it is crucial to establish a harmonised framework at European level, and to make this information public and easily accessible to all.