The nexus between knowledge and action in the U.S. foreign policy: the role of think tanks in the construction of the Middle East

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the nexus between knowledge and power or, in other words, it is focused on the following question: What are the features of the nexus between the U.S. think tanks and governmental institutions in the construction of the knowledge of the Middle East? Even though it is generally considered that think tanks have to be a “bridge” between academia and the policy, this research provides insights into how it does not always become the case due to the process of knowledge (re)production. In many ways it challenges a widely accepted belief that think tanks are merely knowledge producers or that policy makers are only knowledge consumers. This determines the main focal point of this dissertation which is the role of think tanks in U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East on ideational or perceptional levels. It is assumed that both decision-makers and think tank researchers have come from the same groups of people that shared ideas because of a similar mindset which is primarily driven by the aim of finding or suggesting sensible foreign policy solutions. This research is a qualitative, in-depth-orientated study employing three main methods – an intertextual interpretation, semi-structured interviews and the observation method. The main takeaway of this dissertation (which was drawn from all three methods applied) is that think tanks are adjusting themselves to the existing political discourse. Therefore, the key feature of the nexus is conformism when researchers are careful not to criticize too severely the government by suggesting non-conventional ideas as they might jeopardize their relations with the governmental officials or the future employers.