The Roles of Government, Businesses, Universities and Media in China’s Think Tank Fever: A Comparison with the American Think Tank System

A think tank development fever promoted by the Chinese government has proliferated in China since late 2012. This study reviews Xi Jinping’s promotion of think tanks, discusses the different definitions and unique characteristics of Chinese think tanks, and then compares China’s think tank system with America’s in order to understand their key differences. The analysis shows that four sectors, namely the government, businesses, universities and media, have played different roles in developing think tanks in recent years. Also discussed are the limiting effects of China’s government-driven top-down mobilisation on think tank development.