MANILA -- As the complexity of the issues facing our societies continues to grow, political decision-makers increasingly face the problem of how to handle what is often termed information overkill.
As a way out, they often seek the assistance of intellectual helpers -- academics, consultants, advisers. Often, these aides belong to think tanks -- companies or institutes that research and write reports that address the challenges of our times. The proliferation of these think factories, as they are also aptly called, has provoked a debate regarding the role of these institutes in the political system.
While everybody seems to agree that these advisers are necessary, as even the brightest politicians are unable to grasp the complexities of many issues they deal with, critics argue that think tanks are rarely objective and are mainly concerned with promoting their own agenda.