Previous
We are living through an exceptional moment in history: a time of profound global uncertainty, in which geopolitical tensions, prolonged armed conflicts, trade disputes, and a rapidly transforming multilateral system are reshaping the international landscape.
These increasingly frequent and converging economic, political, environmental, religious, and social crises have led to what is now commonly known as a polycrisis. This type of crisis is reflected in countries through economic stagnation, democratic backsliding, declining trust in public institutions, and the climate crisis. On the one hand, this scenario reveals the limits of state intervention and international cooperation. On the other hand, it shows that we are losing our collective capacity to solve problems.
Download the On Think Tanks State of the Sector Report 2025
The polycrisis is, therefore, embedded in a broader context of social disaffiliation, both at the micro and macro levels. Our ties with institutions are eroding, and every social interaction is undergoing profound transformation: the way we relate with others, with religion, school, work, and even our own families.
Disaffiliation is visible in childhood, when children and adolescents increasingly skip or drop out of school. It is reflected in the decline of voter turnout, as adults lose faith in the relevance of democratic systems and the importance of choosing their representatives. For example, globally, only half of the people trust their governments. In Latin America, the number drops to 28%, and in Argentina, it is as low as 17%.
In short, this manifests as the predominance of individualisation and privatisation across all spheres of social life, detrimentally affecting the public good and communal life.
The role of civil society organisations and think tanks in times of crisis
In this context, civil society organisations (CSOs) play a fundamental role. We support vulnerable groups, drive innovation in public policy, promote democratic dialogue, and sustain support networks in the face of the weakening of states. In Argentina, 62% of the population trusts CSOs, and 1 in 10 people actively participates in one.
Think tanks, a specific type of CSO focused on research, analysis, and the development of policy ideas and proposals, play a strategic role in this scenario of polycrisis and disaffiliation. Amid growing distrust of traditional institutions and increasingly complex global and local challenges, we contribute with rigorous evidence, building bridges between technical knowledge and decision-making, and fostering informed public debate.
Within this ecosystem, think tanks act as intermediaries between the state, citizens, and other sectors, identifying social demands and translating them into concrete, feasible proposals, while supporting policymakers in their implementation. Additionally, by serving as meeting spaces for diverse actors, we have the potential to strengthen the social and democratic fabric, as well as collective deliberation, in contexts where achieving consensus is increasingly challenging. In times of fragmentation, think tanks offer platforms to rebuild dialogue, revalue the public sphere, and reclaim the capacity to imagine shared futures.
Operational and financial challenges: A snapshot of the sector
Nonetheless, our work faces significant obstacles. Preliminary data from the OTT’s State of the Sector Survey 2025 shows that in Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly one in four organisations (23.6%) experienced severe operational difficulties in the past year. In Argentina, the situation is even more critical: 54.5% of think tanks reported a moderately challenging year, and 18% faced significant difficulties.
The domestic political context also directly affects our work. Some 64% of Argentine think tanks believe the recent political environment has negatively impacted their operations and public standing.
However, the greatest pressure lies in financial sustainability. In the context of a transforming multilateral system and shrinking traditional cooperation mechanisms, economic challenges have become structural, especially when compounded by a deep economic recession that constrains both private sector and government funding due to tight fiscal space. According to the survey, 64% of Argentine think tanks saw a decline in income over the past year. Moreover, 82% depend primarily on international organisations to finance their activities, revealing a high level of reliance on external funding.
This fragility deepens when considering that 64% of Argentine organisations obtain funding mainly through specific projects, implying a high dependence on conditional resources and limited ability to sustain long-term, strategic national agendas that may not attract international funding. This level of dependence is considerably higher than the regional average, indicating that Argentine think tanks face greater structural constraints when it comes to developing their own strategies, planning long-term, and investing in strengthening organisational capacities without being fully tied to externally driven agendas.
An opportunity from the global south
Yet not everything is bad news. In the Global South, we know what it means to live and operate amid uncertainty. We have developed a historical capacity for adaptation, creativity, and response in the face of instability—now a strategic asset. Amidst complexity, innovative experiences, transformative alliances, and new forms of participation are emerging, paving the way for sustainable, context-specific solutions.
Rather than paralysing us, this challenging scenario should drive renewed effort and commitment. It is time to reaffirm the role of think tanks as generators of strategic knowledge, drivers of institutional innovation, and defenders of the public interest.
In times of social fragmentation and political uncertainty, we have the responsibility to lead today’s debates that will anticipate tomorrow’s dilemmas. Only by doing so can we contribute to sustained improvements in the quality of democratic institutions and the state—and, in turn, restore citizens’ trust in the political system and its transformative capacity.
From the experience of CIPPEC, one of the most prominent think tanks in Latin America, founded in 2000, we know the potential of Argentina—and of the Global South—not only to survive uncertainty, but to lead processes of transformation. With commitment, boldness, and shared vision, think tanks are called to be active protagonists of that path. At CIPPEC, we will rise to this call and invite other think tanks in the region to do the same.
CIPPEC is an independent nonprofit organisation based in Argentina that works on building better public policies. Its mission is to influence public policies for equitable development and the strengthening of democratic institutions through applied research, open dialogues, and working with public administrations.
