"The triumph of the think tank" : the American Enterprise Institute, fulcrum of the conservative network

Abstract

This study is an analysis of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), arguably the most powerful and influential think tank in the U.S. over the last few decades. While recognizing the many dimensions of AEI and the work produced there, it is primarily AEI s neoconservative legacy and the institution s role in defining neoconservatism as a political ideology and the institution s efforts in promoting that ideology within the larger conservative movement and American politics in general, which takes up the major portion of this study. I argue that an account of the ascent of neoconservatism would be incomplete without a close consideration of the institutional context provided by AEI. I approach this development from a distinct perspective, viewing AEI primarily as an institution tightly embedded in a conservative network consisting of think tanks, foundations, corporations, journalists, political advisers and appointed and elected politicians. I argue that without understanding the nature of conservative networking one cannot understand the role and function of AEI in modern conservative politics; one cannot understand the nature of the conservative movement as a whole without understanding its network structure. In the course of this study I analyze the background and reasons for the distinct role AEI plays in conservative politics. I argue that AEI displays rather unique organizational features distinguishable from other think tanks which is worthy of a sharp focus.