Neoliberal think tanks were designed to influence elites rather than politicians

Evidence

Fisher did the same for most think tanks created before his death. Building on his experience, he had a clear framework in mind. First, a think tank should stay out of politics and focus instead on building influence. Hence, key targets were the media and policy influencers even more than policy-makers. Second, think tanks should stay away from governmental or political financing. Hence foundation and private funding were privileged. Third, think tanks should work like businesses. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 576

Categorization

• XREF: This is the classic Gramscian ‘war of position’ strategy and directly echoes the Mont Pelerin Society’s stated aim of influencing opinion-formers prior to policy; connects to the reader’s broader Austerity/Neoliberalism reading. — connects to: Neoliberals deliberately bypassed universities in favor of a closed, hand-picked elite society.; Neoliberal think tanks deliberately concealed their political aims from the public in the 1950s. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 2175; Postwar business conservatives built think tanks that functioned like political parties without mass support. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 1440 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Neoliberal think tanks deliberately concealed their political aims from the public in the 1950s. #expands (0.85) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 2175
• Postwar business conservatives built think tanks that functioned like political parties without mass support. #expands (0.80) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1440