2025 Fall Elective: International Relations: POLICY PERSPECTIVES: Articles

Grey literature

What is grey literature?

'Grey' or 'gray' literature is produced by organizations whose primary activity is NOT publishing. In other words, grey literature is basically any source that's not traditionally published. The term grey literature was coined to distinguish this type of literature from traditionally published scholarly literature that was historically printed on white paper.

Grey literature is thus not tied to or controlled by established publishers, and is usually published only online.

Who produces grey literature?

Grey literature typically comes from:

• Universities
• Government departments or agencies
• Non-governmental organizations (NGO's) operating worldwide
• Research institutes and research groups
• Professional and scholarly associations (promoting a profession/academic field).
• Think tanks (research institutes providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems)
• Non-profit organizations
• Committees
• Businesses and industries

What types of material does grey literature include?

Grey literature includes, but is not limited to:

• Policy reports: extensive analyses of some of a nation’s most pressing domestic and foreign policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers and the general public.
• White papers: detailed and authoritative reports that present an issue or problem to help the reader understand the issue, and directs the reader towards making a specific decision. 
• Working papers: 'working' versions of scholarly journal articles, often released on dedicated websites so that other academics can comment on them before they are published.
• Reports: produced by governments, NGO's, (non profit) organizations, committees, and companies on specific topics or issues. 
• Research reports: documents that describe the history of a research study from start to finish.
• Conference papers: scholarly papers presented at a conference (those that are not traditionally published in book form or in a journal). Recent conference papers are valuable because they contain current research. 
• Discussion papers: documents which show and discuss the issues that surround a specific topic. 

A Think Tank is a research institute or other organization providing advice and ideas on national or commercial problems; an interdisciplinary group of specialist consultants. Think tanks are often affiliated with universities, foundations, advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations that generate policy research and analysis. Many are ideological; others strive to be independent and non-partisan. - Oxford University Press. 

“FAIR STUDY: Think Tank Spectrum 2012,” FAIR (blog), July 1, 2013, https://fair.org/extra/fair%e2%80%88study-think-tank-spectrum-2012/.

James McGann, “2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report,” TTCSP Global Go To Think Tank Index Reports, January 1, 2019, https://repository.upenn.edu/think_tanks/16.

American Enterprise Institute. Conservative think tank addressing government, politics, economics and social welfare.

The Brookings Institution. Conduct research on ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global levels.

Cato Institute. Libertarian think tank "dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace."

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Network of research centers dedicated to peace through analysis & development of policy with government, business, & civil society.

Center for American Progress. Progressive research and advocacy organization "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action."

Center for Strategic and International Studies.  International policy institute focused on defense, security; and many other transnational challenges.

Chatham House. The Royal Institute of International Affairs. Independent policy institute based in London dedicated to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world.

Council on Foreign Relations. Important US Foreign Policy Institute and publisher of Foreign Affairs. 

Harvard Center for International Development. Conducts research at international development at all academic levels.  See their working papers.

The Heritage Foundation.  Think tank with a mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies.

Hoover Institution. Think tank at Stanford specializing in economic policy and international affairs.

International Peace Research Institute Oslo. Conducts research on peaceful relations between states, groups and people

National Bureau of Economic Research. Private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research.

Pew Research Center. Nonpartisan institute conducting public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research.

Peterson Institute for International Economics.  Nonpartisan research institution devoted to study of international economic policy.

Public Policy Institute of California. Seeks to inform and improve public policy in California through independent nonpartisan research.

RAND Corporation.  Addresses security, health, education, sustainability, growth, and development. Much research conducted on behalf of public & private grantors and clients.

Resources for the Future. Independent nonpartisan organization conducting economic policy research concerning natural resources and the environment.

Russell Sage Foundation. Works on improvement of social and living conditions in the United States.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).  International institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

ATTRIBUTION: University of California, Berkley, Political Economy: Think Tanks, http://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/c.php?g=4451&p=2959075.