Global Affairs Study Resources

White Papers: informative documents issued by a company or non-profit organization to emphasize features of a solution, project, or service that the organization offers. They are also used as a method in government to present policies/ legislations and gauging public opinion

Grey Literature: information produced on at any and all levels of government, academics, business and industry in various formats which are not constrained by commercial or academic restrictions. This can include white papers, policies, or speeches, or other documents used for internal use or broader sharing and distribution of information.

Much of the analysis published by non-profits and think tanks are considered grey literature and may be more current as a result of their limited restrictions. These organizations hire experts, practitioners, and/or scholars to research and publish reports on relevant topics. The objective of some think tanks is to inform and influence policy, and these organizations are privately funded; therefore, it is important to consider underlying motivations and methods when reading grey literature. 

Top 5 Think Tanks Worldwide (U.S and non U.S) as stated by UPenn: 

Rankings are based on a survey of international scholars, grouped by topical issue areas, regional focus, and country of origin.

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – United States

• Bruegel – Belgium

• French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) – France

• Center for Strategic and International Studies -- United States

• Fundação Getulio Vargas -- Brazil