Germany's Think Tank Scene Booms: Over 200 Institutions Now Call the Country Home
Germany's think tank landscape has evolved significantly over the years. Today, over 200 think tanks call Germany home, with Berlin emerging as a global hub for international affairs-oriented institutions. This growth is a far cry from the post-World War II era when public-policy research institutes began to flourish in West Germany during the 1960s.
The first think tank in Germany, the Kiel Institute of World Economics, was established around 1914. However, the country's think tank scene truly took off after World War II. The early 1950s saw the establishment of the first privately funded think tanks, including the Deutsche Industrie-Institut (DI), which later became the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) Köln. These institutes were supported by industrial member associations like the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie and the Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände.
Over time, Germany's think tanks have grown in number, size, resources, and diversity. They now rival those of other countries and have carved out niches on the policy landscape, both domestically and internationally. Notable examples include the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). Despite this growth, German think tanks have historically been reluctant to actively engage in policy advocacy due to historical reasons.
From a single institute in the early 20th century to over 200 today, Germany's think tank scene has come a long way. With Berlin now a hub for international affairs-oriented think tanks, Germany no longer needs to hide behind other countries in terms of its think tank landscape. As these institutions continue to grow in influence and visibility, they play an increasingly important role in shaping policy both within and beyond Germany's borders.
