The influence of think tanks on United States foreign policy. (c2012)

Abstract

In an attempt to help bridge the gap between policy research and policy outputs, this thesis examines the role of research institutions, or think tanks, as domestic factors of influence on United States foreign policy. A case study is presented which examines the foreign policy outputs of President Barack Obama’s administration towards Iran with respect to policy research recommendations made by analysts, scholars, and fellows in four major think tanks in the United States. This thesis seeks to accomplish two tasks. First, it attempts to establish the contribution of think tanks to foreign policy decision makers. Second, it examines the relationship between think tanks and other domestic factors which contribute to making think tanks one of the most important domestic factors of influence on United States foreign policy.