Brookings Institution Study

Applying the historical approach and the case study method, I analysed thechronology and the operational mechanism of the institution on the literature basisof Brookings’ publications, declassified documents of the United States and otherfirst-hand materials, to discover the dynamics of its successful operation. TheBrookings Institution is among the most long-standing think tanks that exertsignificant influence over the public and the government in the United States. ThisInstitution, the successor of the Institution for Government Research which foundedin1916, now has five research programs, twelve research centers and more thanthree hundred experts. At the beginnings, the Brookings Institution was workingclosely with the U.S. government and played important roles in building the nationalbudget system and reforming the Indian Administration, but it soon turned to be thegreatest opponent of the New Deal; during the Cold War, it helped the U.Sgovernment shape the Marshell Plan and improve China-U.S. relations; and in nowadays, it expands the fields of research and continually to provide consolationsto the U.S government. I argue that the common approaches which the BrookingsInstitution apply to cast influence on governmental decisions include the mechanismof revolving door and influencing the parliament, while the major elements behindits successful story include consistent academic research of high-quality, quickreaction to hot topics and a close relationship with the government.