Political Science

A custom Google search of over 690 think tank websites. For the purposes of this search, think tanks are defined as institutions affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity.

From their website: A national nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies. Publishes the monthly magazine Arms Control Today.

From the Wikipedia: conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and global economy and development. Its stated mission is to "provide innovative and practical recommendations that advance three broad goals: strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans; and secure a more open, safe, prosperous, and cooperative international system." The University of Pennsylvania's Global Go To Think Tank Index Report has named Brookings "Think Tank of the Year" and "Top Think Tank in the World" every year since 2008. The Economist describes Brookings as "perhaps America’s most prestigious think-tank." Brookings states that its staff "represent diverse points of view" and describes itself as non-partisan.

From the CEIP website: A unique global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the United States. Our mission, dating back more than a century, is to advance peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decisionmakers in government, business, and civil society.
From the Wikipedia: In the University of Pennsylvania's 2015 Global Go To Think Tanks Report, Carnegie is ranked the third most influential think tank in the world,

From the Wikipedia: A bipartisan think tank that specializes in the United States' national security issues. CNAS's stated mission is to "develop strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values." CNAS focuses on terrorism and irregular warfare, the future of the U.S. military, the emergence of Asia as a global power center, and the national security implications of natural resource consumption

From the Wikipedia: funded by unspecified U.S. Defense Department agencies and corporations and focuses on U.S. defense and budget policy. On its website it states that it is "an independent, nonprofit public policy research institute established to promote innovative thinking about defense planning and investment strategies for the 21st century."

From the Wikipedia: founded at Georgetown University in 1962, it conducts policy studies and strategic analyses of political, economic and security issues throughout the world, with a specific focus on issues concerning international relations, trade, technology, finance, energy and geostrategy. In the University of Pennsylvania's 2013 Global Go To Think Tanks Report, it was ranked the number one think tank in the world for "Top Defense and National Security Think Tanks (Table 14)" and was also ranked as the 4th best think tank for "Think Tanks with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals (Table 44)". Since its founding, CSIS "has been dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world," according to its website. CSIS is officially bipartisan with scholars that represent varying points of view across the political spectrum.

An independent, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to being a resource to help society better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.

Provides science-based analysis of and solutions to protect against catastrophic threats to national and international security. Specifically, FAS works to reduce the spread and number of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism, promote high standards for nuclear energy’s safety and security, illuminate government secrecy practices, as well as prevent the use of biological and chemical weapons.

From the Wikipedia: United States–based think tank, ISW describes itself as a non-partisan think tank providing research and analysis regarding issues of defense and foreign affairs. Others have described ISW as "a hawkish Washington" group favoring an "aggressive foreign policy". It has produced reports on the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, "focusing on military operations, enemy threats, and political trends in diverse conflict zones". The non-profit organization is supported by grants and contributions from large defense contractors, including Raytheon, General Dynamics, DynCorp and others.

An international research institute that provides objective information on military, geopolitical and geo-economic developments that could lead to conflict.

A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner that works to prevent catastrophic attacks and accidents with weapons of mass destruction and disruption – nuclear, biological, radiological, chemical, and cyber.

Conducts defense policy research, analysis, and development, combining “common security” and “defense reform” perspectives.

From the Wiki: A research organization that develops American nonprofit global policy think tank created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the US Armed Forces. It is financed by the US government and private endowment, corporations, universities and private individuals. The company has grown to assist other governments, international organizations, private companies and foundations, with a host of defense and non-defense issues, including healthcare. RAND aims for interdisciplinary and quantitative problem solving by translating theoretical concepts from formal economics and the physical sciences into novel applications in other areas, using applied science and operations research.

An independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

A national nonprofit organization founded by scientists and students at MIT who sought to use the power of science to address global problems and improve people’s lives and solve the planet's most pressing problems by combining technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

From the Center's website: A research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2018, for the fifth year in a row, the Belfer Center was ranked the world's #1 University Affiliated Think Tank by University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. The Center has a dual mission: (1) to provide leadership in advancing policy-relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect; and (2) to prepare future generations of leaders for these arenas.

From the CCW website: xplore the ambiguity which surrounds war and armed conflict as a result of the manifold ways in which the character of war has changed. Our work enhances understanding of the actors, methods, environments, and wider context of contemporary and future armed conflict by exploring the responses of states and international organisations to these factors and tackling issues surrounding their legal and moral dimensions.

The Department of War Studies runs several research centers. Check out their research and publications.

From the Institute's website: a hub for Stanford scholars who want to work across disciplines on research that has international impact. Our areas of focus include: governance, security, international development and global health.