Northern lights : exploring Canada's think tank landscape / Donald E. Abelson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Abelson, Donald E., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Research institutes--Canada.

Research institutes.

Policy sciences--Canada.

Policy sciences.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (391 pages) : illustrations, tables

Place of Publication:

Montreal, [Quebećbec] : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2016.

Summary:

Think tanks are often thought of as a uniquely US phenomenon. Although the largest concentration of think tanks is in the United States, they can be found in virtually every country. Often overlooked, Canada’s think tanks represent a highly diverse and eclectic group of public policy organizations such as the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the C.D. Howe Institute, the Fraser Institute, and the Mowat Centre among others. In Northern Lights, Donald Abelson explores the rise of think tanks in Canada and addresses many of the most commonly asked questions about how, and under what circumstances, they are able to affect public opinion and public policy. He identifies the ways in which Canadian think tanks often prioritize political advocacy over policy research, and seeks to explain why these organizations are well-suited and equipped to shape the discourse around key policy issues. The first comprehensive examination of think tanks in Canada, Northern Lights is both a primer for those looking to understand the role and function of think tanks in the policy-making process and a guide to the leading policy institutes in the country.

Contents:

Front Matter

Contents

Tables and Figures

Acknowledgments

Acronyms

Introduction

What Is (and Is Not) a Think Tank?

Are All Think Tanks Alike?

How Has the Role of Think Tanks Changed?

What Do Think Tanks Do, and How Do They Do It?

With Whom Do Think Tanks Communicate?

In What Ways Are Canadian and American Think Tanks Similar? How Are They Different?

How Do Think Tanks Evaluate Their Impact, and Why Should We Be Skeptical?

Conclusion: Looking Back and Thinking Ahead: The Future of Canadian Think Tanks

Profiles of Canadian Think Tanks

Appendices

References to Selected Canadian Think Tanks in the National Media, 2000–2015

Appearances by Selected Canadian Think Tanks before Parliamentary Committees, 1999–2015

References to Selected Canadian Think Tanks in Parliament, 1994–2015

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-7735-9972-X