The Main Characteristics of Top British Think Tanks and Their Means of Spreading China-related Opinions

Abstract

British think tanks play significant roles in opinion-shaping and policy-making both within and beyond Europe by taking advantage of the UK’s educational and cultural resources and the country’s international influence. Through analysing how the leading British think tanks establish themselves and promote their China-related ideas and opinions, this paper argues that these think thanks are able to effectively shape public opinions and policy processes through close and active engagements with politicians, academics, and the media. In addition, these think thanks also significantly benefit from the cultural legacies of the British Empire, the fact that English is widely adopted as a professional working language, and London’s unique position as a global city.