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Think Tanks And Power In Foreign Policy
What is the role of elites in shaping foreign policy? Did unaccountable foreign policy elites shape the post-1945 world order? Chatham House and the Council on Foreign Relations were vital in America's shift from isolationism to globalism, and in Britain's shift from Empire to its current pro-American orientation and were also fundamental in engineering public backing for a new world order. Inderjeet Parmar presents new evidence to show how well-organized and well-connected elite think tanks helped to change the world.
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First published June 12, 2004
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February 20, 2025
Inderjeet Parmar’s Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy (2004) is a critical examination of the influence of elite policy-planning institutions on foreign policy decision-making in the United States and the United Kingdom. Focusing on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in the U.S. and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA, commonly known as Chatham House) in Britain, Parmar explores how these organizations shaped foreign policy during a critical period in world history, from the aftermath of World War I to the end of World War II. Through a historical and sociological analysis, he argues that these think tanks were not neutral, objective sources of expertise but rather elite-driven institutions that played a central role in maintaining and expanding Anglo-American hegemony.
Parmar challenges the conventional perception of think tanks as independent bodies producing disinterested academic research. Instead, he situates them within a broader framework of elite power and policy networks, arguing that they function as mechanisms for elite consensus-building and strategic planning. He contends that the CFR and RIIA were deeply embedded in political, economic, and military elites and played a crucial role in shaping foreign policy by aligning expert knowledge with the interests of ruling classes.
A key argument of the book is that these think tanks did not merely respond to geopolitical realities; rather, they actively shaped them by fostering ideological justifications for American and British global dominance. Parmar illustrates how these institutions cultivated relationships with policymakers, corporate leaders, and academics to establish intellectual and strategic foundations for interventions, alliances, and economic expansion. He highlights their role in preparing the groundwork for key foreign policy decisions, such as Britain’s imperial strategy and America’s postwar global leadership.
Parmar employs a historical-sociological approach, drawing on archival research, institutional analysis, and elite theory. He examines primary sources such as internal think tank documents, policy memos, and correspondence between policymakers and think tank members. By doing so, he provides an in-depth account of how these institutions operated behind the scenes, shaping the discourse and direction of foreign policy.
His methodological approach is influenced by the work of C. Wright Mills and Antonio Gramsci, particularly in his emphasis on the interconnections between intellectuals, policymakers, and economic elites. Through this lens, Parmar argues that think tanks function as sites of hegemony, where dominant ideas are constructed, disseminated, and legitimized. This perspective challenges traditional pluralist models of policy-making that assume a more open and competitive marketplace of ideas.
While Parmar’s approach is rigorous and well-documented, some critics might argue that his structural emphasis underplays the potential for internal debate and diversity within think tanks. By framing these institutions as instruments of elite power, there is a risk of oversimplifying their role and neglecting instances where they may have fostered alternative or dissenting perspectives. However, Parmar does acknowledge variations in influence and internal dynamics, though his primary concern remains the overarching structures of power.
One of the book’s central themes is the relationship between intellectual expertise and elite power. Parmar demonstrates that the CFR and RIIA were not simply advisory bodies but were deeply integrated into elite networks, influencing both formal policy-making and public discourse. He shows how these institutions cultivated close ties with government officials, military strategists, and business leaders, ensuring that their research and recommendations aligned with elite interests.
Through detailed case studies, he illustrates how the CFR played a key role in shaping U.S. grand strategy during and after World War II, particularly in promoting the idea of American global leadership. Similarly, he examines how the RIIA influenced British imperial policy, helping to sustain Britain’s global position even as it faced challenges to its empire.
Parmar applies Gramscian concepts of hegemony to analyze how think tanks helped construct and legitimize dominant ideologies. He argues that these institutions were instrumental in promoting liberal internationalism, free-market economics, and interventionist foreign policies as natural and necessary responses to global challenges. By positioning themselves as neutral experts, think tanks were able to shape public debates and policy decisions in ways that reinforced elite interests.
This analysis is particularly relevant for understanding how intellectuals and policy experts contribute to the maintenance of global power structures. Parmar’s work challenges the notion that foreign policy decisions emerge purely from democratic deliberation or objective analysis, instead highlighting the deeply embedded role of elite institutions in shaping policy discourses.
By examining both American and British think tanks, Parmar provides valuable comparative insights into the transatlantic policy-planning process. While the CFR and RIIA operated in different national contexts, they shared key structural features: both were elite-driven, maintained close connections to state and corporate interests, and played a crucial role in legitimizing foreign policy decisions.
However, Parmar also notes important differences. The CFR, he argues, was more directly engaged in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the transition to American global hegemony after World War II. The RIIA, by contrast, was more constrained by Britain’s declining imperial position, functioning as both a policy-planning institution and a forum for managing the country’s changing role in world affairs. This comparative approach strengthens the book’s argument by demonstrating how similar institutional mechanisms operated within different geopolitical contexts.
Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy has been widely praised for its empirical depth and theoretical sophistication. It contributes to the growing literature on elite power, foreign policy, and the sociology of knowledge, offering a critical perspective on institutions that are often taken for granted as neutral actors in international affairs. Scholars of international relations, political sociology, and diplomatic history will find its analysis particularly valuable.
One potential criticism is that Parmar’s structural emphasis on elite networks could downplay the agency of individual policymakers and intellectuals. While he effectively demonstrates the systemic role of think tanks in shaping foreign policy, a more detailed exploration of internal dissent, competing ideas, or unintended consequences might have added further nuance. Nonetheless, the book remains a significant contribution to debates on the role of expertise and elite influence in international politics.
The book’s themes remain highly relevant today, particularly in an era where think tanks continue to wield considerable influence in foreign policy debates. Institutions like the CFR and Chatham House remain central to policy-making circles, and Parmar’s analysis raises important questions about their role in sustaining elite power structures. In an age of geopolitical competition, economic globalization, and shifting power dynamics, understanding how think tanks operate remains crucial for analyzing contemporary foreign policy.
Inderjeet Parmar’s Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy is a landmark study of the role of elite institutions in shaping Anglo-American foreign policy. By combining historical research with a theoretical analysis of power and hegemony, Parmar offers a compelling critique of the notion that think tanks are neutral arbiters of policy expertise. Instead, he demonstrates that these institutions function as integral components of elite governance, helping to construct and legitimize dominant policy paradigms.
While some may debate the extent of their influence or the internal complexities of these organizations, Parmar’s work provides a crucial framework for understanding the intersection of intellectual expertise, institutional power, and foreign policy formation. As think tanks continue to play a major role in global politics, this book remains essential reading for scholars and policymakers alike.
GPT
Parmar challenges the conventional perception of think tanks as independent bodies producing disinterested academic research. Instead, he situates them within a broader framework of elite power and policy networks, arguing that they function as mechanisms for elite consensus-building and strategic planning. He contends that the CFR and RIIA were deeply embedded in political, economic, and military elites and played a crucial role in shaping foreign policy by aligning expert knowledge with the interests of ruling classes.
A key argument of the book is that these think tanks did not merely respond to geopolitical realities; rather, they actively shaped them by fostering ideological justifications for American and British global dominance. Parmar illustrates how these institutions cultivated relationships with policymakers, corporate leaders, and academics to establish intellectual and strategic foundations for interventions, alliances, and economic expansion. He highlights their role in preparing the groundwork for key foreign policy decisions, such as Britain’s imperial strategy and America’s postwar global leadership.
Parmar employs a historical-sociological approach, drawing on archival research, institutional analysis, and elite theory. He examines primary sources such as internal think tank documents, policy memos, and correspondence between policymakers and think tank members. By doing so, he provides an in-depth account of how these institutions operated behind the scenes, shaping the discourse and direction of foreign policy.
His methodological approach is influenced by the work of C. Wright Mills and Antonio Gramsci, particularly in his emphasis on the interconnections between intellectuals, policymakers, and economic elites. Through this lens, Parmar argues that think tanks function as sites of hegemony, where dominant ideas are constructed, disseminated, and legitimized. This perspective challenges traditional pluralist models of policy-making that assume a more open and competitive marketplace of ideas.
While Parmar’s approach is rigorous and well-documented, some critics might argue that his structural emphasis underplays the potential for internal debate and diversity within think tanks. By framing these institutions as instruments of elite power, there is a risk of oversimplifying their role and neglecting instances where they may have fostered alternative or dissenting perspectives. However, Parmar does acknowledge variations in influence and internal dynamics, though his primary concern remains the overarching structures of power.
One of the book’s central themes is the relationship between intellectual expertise and elite power. Parmar demonstrates that the CFR and RIIA were not simply advisory bodies but were deeply integrated into elite networks, influencing both formal policy-making and public discourse. He shows how these institutions cultivated close ties with government officials, military strategists, and business leaders, ensuring that their research and recommendations aligned with elite interests.
Through detailed case studies, he illustrates how the CFR played a key role in shaping U.S. grand strategy during and after World War II, particularly in promoting the idea of American global leadership. Similarly, he examines how the RIIA influenced British imperial policy, helping to sustain Britain’s global position even as it faced challenges to its empire.
Parmar applies Gramscian concepts of hegemony to analyze how think tanks helped construct and legitimize dominant ideologies. He argues that these institutions were instrumental in promoting liberal internationalism, free-market economics, and interventionist foreign policies as natural and necessary responses to global challenges. By positioning themselves as neutral experts, think tanks were able to shape public debates and policy decisions in ways that reinforced elite interests.
This analysis is particularly relevant for understanding how intellectuals and policy experts contribute to the maintenance of global power structures. Parmar’s work challenges the notion that foreign policy decisions emerge purely from democratic deliberation or objective analysis, instead highlighting the deeply embedded role of elite institutions in shaping policy discourses.
By examining both American and British think tanks, Parmar provides valuable comparative insights into the transatlantic policy-planning process. While the CFR and RIIA operated in different national contexts, they shared key structural features: both were elite-driven, maintained close connections to state and corporate interests, and played a crucial role in legitimizing foreign policy decisions.
However, Parmar also notes important differences. The CFR, he argues, was more directly engaged in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the transition to American global hegemony after World War II. The RIIA, by contrast, was more constrained by Britain’s declining imperial position, functioning as both a policy-planning institution and a forum for managing the country’s changing role in world affairs. This comparative approach strengthens the book’s argument by demonstrating how similar institutional mechanisms operated within different geopolitical contexts.
Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy has been widely praised for its empirical depth and theoretical sophistication. It contributes to the growing literature on elite power, foreign policy, and the sociology of knowledge, offering a critical perspective on institutions that are often taken for granted as neutral actors in international affairs. Scholars of international relations, political sociology, and diplomatic history will find its analysis particularly valuable.
One potential criticism is that Parmar’s structural emphasis on elite networks could downplay the agency of individual policymakers and intellectuals. While he effectively demonstrates the systemic role of think tanks in shaping foreign policy, a more detailed exploration of internal dissent, competing ideas, or unintended consequences might have added further nuance. Nonetheless, the book remains a significant contribution to debates on the role of expertise and elite influence in international politics.
The book’s themes remain highly relevant today, particularly in an era where think tanks continue to wield considerable influence in foreign policy debates. Institutions like the CFR and Chatham House remain central to policy-making circles, and Parmar’s analysis raises important questions about their role in sustaining elite power structures. In an age of geopolitical competition, economic globalization, and shifting power dynamics, understanding how think tanks operate remains crucial for analyzing contemporary foreign policy.
Inderjeet Parmar’s Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy is a landmark study of the role of elite institutions in shaping Anglo-American foreign policy. By combining historical research with a theoretical analysis of power and hegemony, Parmar offers a compelling critique of the notion that think tanks are neutral arbiters of policy expertise. Instead, he demonstrates that these institutions function as integral components of elite governance, helping to construct and legitimize dominant policy paradigms.
While some may debate the extent of their influence or the internal complexities of these organizations, Parmar’s work provides a crucial framework for understanding the intersection of intellectual expertise, institutional power, and foreign policy formation. As think tanks continue to play a major role in global politics, this book remains essential reading for scholars and policymakers alike.
GPT
May 6, 2020
I would opt for Chatham House over CFR ten times out of ten.
August 23, 2015
The author carefully traces how the CFR and Royal Institute worked together to change American opinion, among policy makers and the general public, during World War II. With British power greatly diminished by the war, the elites of both the U.S. and Britain sought to change American foreign policy from an "isolationist" perspective to a "globalist" perspective.
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