TheThirdUNistheecologyofsupportivenon-stateactors-intellectuals,scholars,consultants,thinktanks,NGOs,thefor-profitprivatesector,andthemedia-thatinteractswiththeintergovernmentalmachineryoftheFirstUN(memberstates)andtheSecondUN(staffmembersofinternationalsecretariats)toformulateandrefineideasanddecision-makingatkeyjuncturesinpolicyprocesses.Someadvocateforparticularideas,othershelpanalyzeoroperationalizetheirtestingandimplementation;manythushelptheUN’think’.Whilethinktanks,knowledgebrokers,andepistemiccommunitiesarephenomenathathaveenteredboththeacademicandpolicylexicons,theirintellectualroleremainsmarginaltoanalysesofsuchintergovernmentalorganizationsastheUnitedNations.
