Reform and Opening-Up and Think Tanks in Contemporary China
- Beijing: China Renmin University press, 2022
- 228p.;ill. ;Table ;25cm.
The book Rethinking Think Tanks in Contemporary China by Silvia Menegazzi, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018, examines the evolving role of think tanks in China post-Reform and Opening-Up (1978–present). It explores how these institutions contribute to policy-making, particularly in foreign policy, and how they navigate the complex relationship between the state, the Chinese Communist Party, and civil society
The study employs the concept of "knowledge regimes" to analyze think tanks as knowledge-producing organizations shaped by China's national context. This framework moves beyond the debate on think tank independence, focusing instead on their functions within the political system. The book includes case studies on think tanks involved in economic and environmental diplomacy, highlighting their roles in global governance and multilateral negotiations. It also discusses the characteristics of "new-type think tanks" established after 2007, which are more international in scope and staffed by professionals with diverse backgrounds. Overall, Menegazzi's work offers insights into the institutional and organizational dynamics of Chinese think tanks, their influence on policy, and the implications for China's governance and international engagement.