‘Network Intellectuals’ and ‘Networked Intellectuals’: Relational approaches to the study of British think tanks

Drawing upon research on British think tanks, this chapter explores two relational approaches to the study of think tanks and knowledge production: ‘Network Intellectuals’ and ‘Networked Intellectuals’. Inspired by policy network theories, the ‘Network Intellectual’ approach presents think tanks and their researchers as members of an ideological clique. Here the think tank is both a hub and ideologue for the coalition. In contrast, the ‘Networked Intellectuals’ approach draws upon social network analysis and the sociology of expertise and focuses on the products think tanks use to intervene in the knowledge-policy nexus. Interventions are used to trace the emergent relationships think tanks form as they mobilize intellectual and material resources from various professions to produce knowledge for public policy. Whilst the network and networked intellectuals approaches differ, they should not be seen as oppositional or incompatible.