Norm diffusion in global health governance: the role of think tanks

The theory of norm diffusion provides a fundamental framework for analysing the emergence, cascade and internalisation of norms in global health governance. As think tanks combine policy expertise with sharp responsiveness to emerging crises, this study investigates their specific role in global health governance, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of their contribution to the norm diffusion mechanism.

We collected reports from 12 globally representative think tanks, covering the period from 15 June 2007 to 31 December 2022. Using the R programming language, we employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, including structural topic modelling and co-occurrence analysis, to identify topic priorities and correlations between key terms.

Globally, think tank discussions on health governance norms centre on four primary areas: the global economy and trade, responses to infectious diseases and public health crises, cooperation and aid in global health governance, and the social impacts of health norms. Regionally and temporally, think tanks in the USA, East Asia, Europe and parts of the Global South prioritise health governance norms differently, with these priorities evolving over time in response to varying levels of development and the specific Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) encountered. Moreover, think tanks underscore the pivotal role of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) in shaping global health governance, as these international organisations are central to managing health emergencies, setting global standards and coordinating international cooperation.

This study found that think tanks serve as norm entrepreneurs, promoters and internalisers at different stages, supporting norm introduction, adoption and integration of global governance health norms. Our findings underscore the potential for policy-makers to harness the expertise and policy recommendations of think tanks to address future health challenges, thereby enhancing the resilience and sustainability of global health systems.