Leveraging the Roles and Constraints of Think Tanks in Enhancing Industrialization in Tanzania

Abstract

In order to maintain the recent attained low middle-income status, Tanzania needs to invest heavily in the industrialized economy so as to spur multiple economic growths. While some efforts have been made to facilitate industrialisation, think tanks have not been given the desired attention notwithstanding their critical roles in increasing the pace of industrialization. By using critical integrative literature review method, this paper posits that, in Tanzania, think tanks have lightly partaken in the industrialization process in areas like; forging better industrial policy, undertaking a niche in research for industrial development, collaborating with other think tanks from global North to elevate industrialisation and giving technical expertise through consultancy for industrial development. While think tanks have played the role of pushing for Tanzania’s industrial path, their scope is hampered by several setbacks including their nascent stature, unqualified personnel, funding as well as poor political support. This article holds the view that think tanks have the capacity to facilitate sustainable industrial development having increased their capacity to conduct large scale industrial research capable of influencing policy change at the national level. In this regard, the government should increase the level of commissioning local think tanks to conduct several policy related tasks that influence industrial development. This will be possible if the government will honour setting aside 1% of its GDP to research and development to ensure the sustainability of TTs.

Key Words: Think Tanks, Industrialization, Globalization, Tanzania