As I see it the think tank concept is to establish an academic front for other organisations. The beauty of it is that it is quick to set up and quick to dismantle (should the academics fail to realise who they serve). Much easier and safer then building up actual academic institutions for which there are rules and regulations.

So I am delighted that the term is diluted by people establishing themselves as think tanks. We can all be our own think tank.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se