Neoliberals themselves framed think tanks as waging a war of ideas

Evidence

The first mode of explanation is ideational. In this model, based on the political power of economic ideas, neoliberal theory incubates in think tanks before being transformed into policy. We can think of a range of examples tracking the diffusion of policy models, from the Laffer Curve to central bank independence, austerity, formalization of property in the Global South, the move to floating exchange rates, and the globalization of all manner of “zones.” This conception of intellectual mobilization reflects the discourse of neoliberals themselves. In 1986, Edwin Feulner spoke of the “war of ideas.” — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 202

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the ideational model of think-tank-driven policy, which is the self-image of the neoliberal movement.