{"id":2852032,"date":"2025-09-16T05:44:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T10:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/?p=2852032"},"modified":"2025-09-16T13:12:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T18:12:13","slug":"between-polarisation-and-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/articles\/between-polarisation-and-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Between polarisation and purpose: How think tanks navigate shrinking neutral ground"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Political polarisation not only shapes public discourse; it also directly affects how think tanks operate.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">This is reflected in the findings from this year\u2019s\u00a0<em>State of the Sector<\/em> survey, which show that most research organisations face constraints on their work due to<\/span> growing political polarisation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In response, many think tanks are recalibrating by expanding their work, strengthening collaboration and partnerships, and finding new ways to build trust and foster engagement across differences. This blog explores how think tanks are navigating the shrinking neutral ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"o-button--black o-button\" href=index-1882.html>Download the On Think Tanks State of the Sector Report 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"4\">Polarisation is reshaping research and policy environments<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The survey findings suggest a growing concern among research and policy organisations: polarisation is not only influencing how research is received; it is limiting organisations&#8217; ability to operate. When asked to what extent polarisation has impacted their country\u2019s research environment:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Only 8% of respondents said it has had <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">no impact at all<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A combined 56%\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">reported that the effect was\u00a0<em>moderate<\/em>\u00a0(39%) or\u00a0<em>significant<\/em> (17%).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An additional 5% reported that polarisation has affected their work \u201cvery much\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In total, three out of every four respondents now see polarisation as a constraint on their ability to carry out research and function effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Polarisation is intensifying across all regions, with 33% of think tanks in Africa and 32% in Latin America reporting that it has <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">significantly<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> impacted their ability to operate\u2014the highest among all regions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Globally, the percentage of respondents\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">stating that polarisation had\u00a0<em>no impact at all<\/em> decreased by more than half, from 17.7% in 2024 to\u00a0<\/span>8.4% in 2025.\u00a0The decline was especially steep in Africa and Asia, where the percentage fell by 27.8 and 19.5 percentage points, respectively. This suggests that few countries or organisations remain fully insulated from growing political divides.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In terms of how political polarisation has affected their work, 61% said it impacts the way they share research and engage with diverse audiences, 32% said it hinders collaboration and interaction with policy experts from different political backgrounds, and 25% said it affects their ability to obtain funding. The work of think tanks, which includes sharing evidence, shaping public debate, and engaging decision-makers, has always been political in a broader sense. But in more polarised settings, these activities carry a greater risk of being misunderstood, mistrusted, or drawn into partisan dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There is an increasing concern that researchers are no longer seen simply as objective voices contributing to public understanding. Instead, their motives are scrutinised and their credibility is called into question. This erosion of trust weakens the public\u2019s access to fact-based discussion, independent thought, and collaborative problem-solving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As polarisation grows, maintaining dialogue across political divides becomes harder. In 2025, only 27.5% of respondents said it was <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">easy or very easy<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to engage individuals across political lines\u2014down from 38% the previous year. Meanwhile, 22% reported it as <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hard or very hard<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a 5-point increase from last year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Without institutions that are seen as fair, credible, and impartial:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Evidence loses power, as facts are dismissed as partisan tools.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Public discourse becomes more polarised, with fewer spaces for constructive dialogue.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Policy decisions become more reactive and ideological, rather than grounded in data and collective interest.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If think tanks cannot function as neutral conveners or trusted analysts, it weakens the mechanisms that keep democracy inclusive and responsive to society\u2019s interests.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"4\">Navigating complexity through growth, collaboration, and credibility<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Despite the pressures of polarisation, most think tanks remain focused on growth. Globally, 61% of respondents expect to expand within the next 12 months. This anticipated growth is not just about scaling up operations; it reflects a strategic commitment to impact. The areas identified for expansion include research (78%), partnerships (67%), and policy engagement (61%), suggesting that organisations are choosing to invest in more profound influence, broader collaboration, and more evidence-informed dialogue even as the operating environment becomes more complex. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many think tanks remain focused on their core mission, and the data suggests a commitment to addressing real-world challenges over responding to partisan trends. When asked what drives changes in their research agendas, 78% cited public policy needs\u2014well above the 54% who pointed to political shifts. Funding (64%) and stakeholder demands (50%) are also influential factors.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think tanks appear to be adapting with intention, staying grounded in their purpose to inform and improve public policy. In Central Europe, some think tanks have emerged as \u201c<\/span><a href=index-2435.html><span data-contrast=\"none\">depolarisation entrepreneurs<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d stepping into contested civic spaces and employing both passive and active strategies. These include avoiding confrontation and tension, as well as more proactive approaches such as building trust through shared experiences and collaborative problem-solving. In 2018, a consortium of <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">thinkzines<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in Poland launched the Short Circuit (Spiecie) Project as a demonstration of cooperation and open exchange of ideas across diverse ideological perspectives. They facilitate discreet, cross-bloc dialogues, Chatham\u2011House\u2011style convenings, and joint publications to maintain a \u2018middle ground\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the OTT Conference 2025, several speakers offered concrete examples of how think tanks can<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">adapt strategically and act as catalysts in polarised environments. Luciana Servo, President of Brazil\u2019s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) detailed <\/span><a href=index-2436.html><span data-contrast=\"none\">how IPEA maintains its autonomy within government\u2014embedding staff in ministries\u2014while safeguarding its credibility across political transitions<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Mavis Owusu\u2011Gyamfi, President &amp; CEO of Ghana\u2019s African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), showcased <\/span><a href=index-2437.html><span data-contrast=\"none\">how think tanks in Africa are embracing \u201cco<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2011<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">competition\u201d, pooling resources, co-bidding for projects, and building trust-based networks that amplify collective influence<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. And Sara Pantuliano, CEO of ODI Global, shared <\/span><a href=index-2367.html><span data-contrast=\"none\">how ODI has pivoted from focusing on research volume to values-driven influence, committing to fewer but deeper engagements and leveraging creative formats like podcasts to maintain resonance in complex, polarised settings<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. These examples underscore opportunities that exist for think tanks to have impact and influence, even in fragmented public domains.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"4\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In polarised contexts, the role of think tanks becomes not just harder to fulfil, but more essential. The path forward calls for a purpose-driven approach and strategic adaptation. This paper highlights several ways think tanks are rising to the challenge:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Collaborating to build shared influence through trust-based networks<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Communicating with clarity and creativity to promote values-driven engagement and make evidence more accessible<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maintaining autonomy while staying close to power<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fostering dialogue across divides by creating space for diverse perspectives<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think tanks cannot control the political environment, but they can choose how they respond. As stewards of the spaces where evidence and engagement inform action, they can build bridges and foster trust through inclusive dialogue, adaptive communication, and sustained collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"message-list_1758017343.161589\" class=\"c-virtual_list__item\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-qa=\"virtual-list-item\" data-item-key=\"1758017343.161589\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__background c-message_kit__background--hovered p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message\" role=\"presentation\" data-qa=\"message_container\" data-qa-unprocessed=\"false\" data-qa-placeholder=\"false\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__hover c-message_kit__hover--hovered\" role=\"document\" aria-roledescription=\"message\" data-qa-hover=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--default\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__gutter\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__gutter__right\" role=\"presentation\" data-qa=\"message_content\">\n<div class=\"c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text\">\n<div class=\"c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text\" data-qa=\"message-text\">\n<div class=\"p-block_kit_renderer\" data-qa=\"block-kit-renderer\">\n<div class=\"p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first\">\n<div class=\"p-rich_text_block\" dir=\"auto\">\n<div class=\"p-rich_text_section\">This blog is part of the\u00a0<a class=\"c-link\" href=index-2332.html target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/state-of-the-sector-2025-partner-insights\/\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">State of the Sector 2025 regional analysis series<\/a>, contributed by our partners to share perspectives from their own contexts.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-message_actions__container c-message__actions\" role=\"group\">\n<div class=\"c-message_actions__group\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Message actions\" data-qa=\"message-actions\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"message-list_bottomSpacer\" class=\"c-virtual_list__item\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-qa=\"virtual-list-item\" data-item-key=\"bottomSpacer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2852402\" src=index-2438.html alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.png 1200w, https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8-1024x171.png 1024w, https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8-768x128.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Political polarisation not only shapes public discourse; it also directly affects how think tanks operate.\u00a0This is reflected in the findings from this year\u2019s\u00a0State of the Sector survey, which show that most research organisations face constraints on their work due to growing political polarisation. In response, many think tanks are recalibrating by expanding their work, strengthening [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[207,3575,181,3588],"class_list":["post-2852032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-africa","tag-polarisation","tag-politics-and-context","tag-state-of-sector-report","article-types-case-study","people-natida-nivasnanda","people-tracy-jooste","series-state-of-the-sector-2025","theme-communications","theme-understanding-think-tanks"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2852032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2852032"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2852032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2852466,"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2852032\/revisions\/2852466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2852032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onthinktanks.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2852032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}