Relationship between think tanks and political parties: regulation modes in Latin America

Abstract

This research note deals with the think tanks that many parties have promoted. This phenomenon has hardly been studied in Latin America despite the relevance it has acquired. As part of a larger project on centers of power within political parties that pays special attention to partisan think tanks, this research note is focused on the way legislation regulates partisan think tanks and their relationship with parties. Thirteen indicators are used to assess whether there is a specific treatment for think tanks in accordance with the type of functions they have assumed within the parties, the existence of specialized supervision of their activity, as well as their funding, including the type of economic relations allowed between think tanks and political parties. The prevailing trend in the eight cases analyzed is that, in contrast to the extensive legislation on electoral and party matters, there is a situation of under-legislation of party TT. They tend to share a similar legislative treatment and supervision Both their regulation and supervision to other types of associations, even though their role is markedly different from that of other associations.