Brent, DougHexham, Jeremy Johnston2018-04-242018-04-242018-04-20Hexham, J. J. (2018). An exploration of the communication strategies of three early think tanks (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/31819http://hdl.handle.net/1880/106533This thesis discusses the development of communications strategies by three early think tanks. These are the British Socialist Fabian Society founded in 1884, the South African Afrikaner Broederbond founded in 1918, and the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) founded in 1929. All three are generally accepted as highly influential organizations. The Fabian Society is arguably the earliest modern think tank. Its members developed two modes of communication which are identified in this thesis as rational-scientific and cultural-identity communications. In practice the Fabian Society concentrated on rational-scientific communications. The Afrikaner Broederbond developed cultural-identity communications while the SAIRR primarily used rational-scientific communications combined with the strategic use of cultural-identity communications. All three organizations had a major impact on their host societies for good and ill. The Fabians and the Broederbond were the most effective although the long-term influence of the SAIRR should not be underestimated. What the thesis does is create a vocabulary for understanding certain types of think tank communications and provides a framework for the future study and discussion of political communications.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Political CommunicationFabian SocietyAfrikaner BroederbondSouth African Institute of Race RelationsThink TankRational-scientific communicationsCultural communicationsWorldviewEconomics--HistoryPolitical Sciencedoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/31819