All-Russian scientific conference
"e-Government in the Information Society: Theory and Practice"

THE INTERNET AS A NUTRITIOUS SOLUTION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THINK TANKS AND PUBLIC POLICY CENTERS

A.Yu. Sungurov

St.Petersburg Center for Humanities and Political Studies STRATEGY
St.Petersburg

The possible role of the Internet in the development of Think Tanks and Public Policy Centers is discussed. The history of Thinks tanks development and its classification is analyzed. The view is concentrated on USA think tanks experience as well as on the experience of the first Russian think tanks - INDEM Foundation, INTERLEGAL Foundation, SPb STRATEGY center.

The second target for analysis - is the special kind of think tanks - the virtual think tanks "without walls". Activity of these Think tanks is impossible without the Internet space.

Finally, three dimension of the Internet in context of think tanks are formulated:

• Internet as a source of information for Think tanks;
• Internet as a space of inner activity of Think tanks;
• Internet as a tool for promotion of outputs of think tanks activities.

[Russian version]