Foreign Policy of Small States and the Instrumentalization of Think Tanks for the National Interest

The core of knowledge about think tanks is based on theoretical assumptions drawn from the American case analysis. Contrarily to that, this research focuses on the unique features of think tanks in small states. This paper combines the theoretical perspectives on the foreign policy of small states and the role of think tanks. The paper argues that the governments of small states with fewer think tanks are pursuing to impact the think tanks inside their countries and abroad by instrumentalizing them for the national interest. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with ten small European countries’ think-tankers and governmental officials. The research reveals that thinks-tanks operating in small states have peculiarities dictated by the relatively small expert, academic, and policy communities. Importantly, the national specifics blend with the small states’ survival strategies in the international system and empower them to use every possible channel to communicate their interests to the powerful international players who define the conditions for the small states’ existence. For instance, small states make efforts to contribute to the debates of the more powerful nations’ capitals through think tanks’ channel, hoping for some benefits and support for their positions in the international arena. Furthermore, local think tanks are perceived as knowledge transmitters or supporters of governmental messages for domestic and foreign audiences in some cases. Moreover, think tanks are not seen as capable as one might expect when it comes to providing new policy solutions. However, it should be emphasized that the above-mentioned characteristics are more common to states where think tanks are financed from the government budget. To summarize, the study shows the relationship between think tanks and governments of small states and provides insights into how the instrumentalization of think tanks for the national interest functions.