Introduction

This chapter uses to various indicators to examine the capacity of Spanishthink tanks to carry out policy analysis. The goal of think tanks, as mostthink tanks explicitly state on their own websites, is to influence society.This purpose can be achieved both directly, by influencing governmentactions, and indirectly, by generating opinion in civil society.

Think tanks do not have a long tradition in Spain. Taking information fromvarious sources, we have registered a total of 87 organisations, which rangefrom independent think tanks to those linked to political parties andgovernment-affiliated think tanks (at the national or regional levels). Morethan half were founded in the last 30 years. Older think tanks did notconsider themselves to be think tanks at the time of their establishment,but rather information centres (CIDOB, 1973), research centres(Fundación Ortega y Gasset, 1978), business associations (Instituteof Economic Studies, 1979), or study centres (Spanish Institute forStrategic Studies, 1970). The first think tank in Spain, according to itsfounding principles, was the ‘Cercle d’Economia’(Economics Circle, 1950). It defines itself as ‘a civic associationthat seeks to improve the quality of public debate through the publicationof independent opinion on the main challenges that determine economic,social and political progress’. Currently, the Circle is comprised of1,250 members and 105 collaborating entities, and is a plural andindependent organisation. It is financed by contributions from its partnersand collaborating entities.

The location of think tanks also largely determines their actions, as it ishighly important to interact with political elites. In this sense, a thinktank’s location depends largely on its objectives and the fact thatbeing based in major cities attracts talent that can develop a thinktank’s activities. Of the 87 Spanish think tanks we identified, 46are based in Madrid, 22 are based in Barcelona, and the remaining 19 arelocated in other cities in Spain. If we exclude think tanks affiliated withpolitical parties, a similar proportion emerges. In both cases, more thanhalf of all Spanish think tanks are based in Madrid.

The chapter is organised as follows: the following section summarises thetypology of think tanks.