1. Cato Institute

   Cato’s libertarian stance, once viewed as fringe, is now considered respectable. With its anti-incumbent, anti-Washington attitude, Cato has antagonized liberals with its push to privatize Social Security, as well as conservatives with its vigorous opposition to the Iraq war.

2. Brookings Institution

   From heathcare reform to recommendations on closing the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Brookings has a breadth of expertise that allows it to offer innovative fixes for nearly every critical issue facing the United States today.

3. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

   Carnegie’s role in opposing the invasion of Iraq and providing critical research on issues such as Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs places it at the heart of some of Washington’s defining policy debates.

Best New Think Tanks (of the last 5 years)

1. European Council on Foreign Relations

   Populated by European heavyweights like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari and former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, the ECFR aims to craft a common foreign policy for an increasingly integrated Europe.

2. Bruegel

   Funded by EU member states and located in Brussels, Bruegel specializes in driving European economic growth and making the continent more competitive in the global economy.

3. Center for American Progress

   Thanks to its all-star roster of experts and savvy use of new media, CAP has emerged as the intellectual center of Democratic D.C.

Most Impact on Public Policy Debates

1. Brookings Institution

   When important debates occur in Washington—whether over Middle East peace, global finance, or urban strategy—it’s a fair bet that Brookings is driving the conversation.

2. Heritage Foundation

   A partisan approach, obsession with the latest policy issues, an effective marketing strategy, and proximity to the seat of power (it is steps away from the U.S. Congress) give Heritage an influential edge.

Top 5 Think Tanks in Latin America and the Caribbean

1. Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales (Argentina)

2. Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (Costa Rica)

3. Libertad y Desarrollo (Chile)

4. Centro de Estudios Públicos (Chile)

5. Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (Argentina)

Top 5 Think Tanks in Asia

1. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (China)

2. Japan Institute of International Affairs (Japan)

3. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (India)

4. Centre for Strategic and International Studies (Indonesia)

5. Institute for International Policy Studies (Japan)

Top 5 Think Tanks in the Middle East and North Africa

1. Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (Egypt)

2. Center for Strategic Studies (Jordan)

3. Institute for National Security Studies (Israel)

4. Gulf Research Center (United Arab Emirates)

5. Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (United Arab Emirates)

Top 5 Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa

1. Centre for Conflict Resolution (South Africa)

2. South African Institute of International Affairs (South Africa)

3. Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)

4. Free Market Foundation (South Africa)

5. Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (Senegal)

Top 5 Security and International Affairs Think Tanks

1. Brookings Institution

2. Chatham House

3. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

4. Council on Foreign Relations

5. International Institute for Strategic Studies

Top 5 International Development Think Tanks

1. Brookings Institution

2. Overseas Development Institute

3. Council on Foreign Relations

4. Rand Corporation

5. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Top 5 International Economic Policy Think Tanks

1. Brookings Institution

2. Peterson Institute for International Economics

3. Fraser Institute

4. National Bureau of Economic Research

5. Adam Smith Institute