| Article |
|---|
| Article name |
The role of “think tanks” in foreign policy decision-making: french experience |
| Authors |
Chagry A.. , Chikhachev A.. postgraduate, |
| Bibliographic description |
|
| Category |
Politology |
| DOI |
327 |
| DOI |
10.21209/2227-9245-2020-26-2-97-105 |
| Article type |
|
| Annotation |
This article explores the phenomenon of “think tanks” and their role in the formulating of diplomatic course taking France as an example. By the use of institutional approach, the authors has shown that in French case professional foreign policy analysis originally was not as popular as in the United States and Great Britain.
It is noted that the rise of Anglo-Saxon “think tanks” was encouraged by pluralistic political system; a specific decision-making culture based on negotiations and advocacy; the ending of the First World War when Wilsonian America tried to play a global role. On the contrary, in France such circumstances as bureaucratization of power, “royal prerogatives” tradition and apathy of interwar establishment dramatically decreased the interest in independent expertise. It is stressed that other factors (globalization, new contacts with American elites, but also the president V. Giscard-d’Estaing’s willingness to rationalize decision-making process) eventually lead to the creation of a modern analytical center capable of representing French thinking in the world. The authors consider this center, known as the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI, established in 1979), to be a sample of how foreign policy expert work is organized today in France.
The article outlines IFRI operation features: sources of finance, research topics, administrative bodies, public activities. Its mission to operate as an international forum for experts, businessmen and politicians to conduct so-called “influence diplomacy” is especially emphasized. The pieces of IFRI impact are cited, such as paper contributions to pre-election debate on foreign policy issues and involvement in international initiatives of the French government. The authors conclude that IFRI still maintains a leading position in France and is able to compete on equal terms with American and British centers although it does not have comparable financial capabilities
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| Key words |
“think tanks”; foreign policy; diplomacy; democracy; separation of powers; decision-making; expert community; France; Fifth Republic; IFRI |
| Article information |
Chikhachev А., Chagry А. The role of “think tanks” in foreign policy decision-making: french experience // Transbaikal State University Journal, 2020, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 97–105. DOI: 10.21209/2227-9245-2020-26-2-97-105. |
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