Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

　　This paper discusses the role of think tanks in foreseeing, understanding, and explaining changes in the international security environment and recommending modifications of security strategy to senior policy makers. It illuminates some useful think tank attributes and offers thoughts on how the think tank community might advance its collective interests.

　　There are several attributes that a think tank must possess to substantially influence national security planning and the international security environment. First and foremost, an institute must have a well thought-out vision, charter, and mission statement that guides, focuses, and organizes it. The vision, charter, and mission should be effectively communicated to institute members and to prospective consumers of the institute's products. Ranking second in importance is the need for sufficient independence to perform and communicate critical strategic analysis. For an institute to have such independence, its funding must be assured regardless of the content of the institute's analysis. Another attribute of a successful think tank is the ability to identify key strategic issues sufficiently in advance to permit timely, relevant analysis. Think tanks are successful when they foresee strategic issues early enough to produce research products that are available to the practitioner when needed. To have the impact it desires, a think tank also must identify, in priority order, the specific audiences it seeks to reach. Furthermore, the think tank must develop thorough understanding of how members of each key audience accesses information. Only then will the think tank be able to craft the most effective product line for communicating its analysis. Finally, the think tank must have a self-evaluation feedback mechanism to determine its effectiveness.

　　In closing, the paper offers some final thoughts. The author believes great research and analysis synergy can be achieved through better think tank interaction, both within our various nations and internationally. For example, increased interaction would allow for better peer review of our research and analysis and better dissemination of our research products. Furthermore, if we were better informed of one another's research plans, we could tailor our individual institute's research programs more effectively and efficiently.