In theory, yes—small-scale, grassroots versions of the Brookings Institution could exist everywhere, deeply embedded in the social fabric. However, the viability of such institutions raises critical questions about power, expertise, access to knowledge, and the structural conditions necessary for their success.

1. The Challenge of Expertise & Scale

Lippmann’s model relied on highly specialized experts working with access to the best available information. Grassroots institutions, by contrast, would need to cultivate local expertise while interfacing with broader knowledge networks. This is possible—think of community-based research groups, cooperative think tanks, or citizen science initiatives—but it requires sustained investment in knowledge-sharing infrastructure.

2. Democratization of Knowledge vs. Technocracy

A grassroots Brookings model would need to balance expertise with democratic participation. Traditional think tanks often suffer from elite capture—serving the interests of those funding them. A grassroots model would have to be structured to prevent this, ensuring that knowledge remains accessible and accountable to the communities it serves rather than becoming another form of detached technocracy.

3. Embedding Institutions in the Social Fabric

For this model to work, these institutions would have to be situated—responding to local conditions rather than imposing abstract, top-down solutions. This resonates with Donna Haraway’s notion of situated knowledge and Adam Robbert’s knowledge ecologies. Instead of a single centralized authority, these institutions could function as distributed networks, each tailored to its specific context while remaining connected to broader flows of expertise.

4. Historical & Contemporary Precedents

• Workers’ Inquiry & Popular Education: Historically, radical groups have created their own knowledge institutions—like 19th-century workers’ inquiry movements or Paulo Freire’s popular education models. These efforts sought to develop grassroots expertise outside elite structures.
• Community Research & Public-Interest Think Tanks: There are existing examples of community-driven research institutions, such as the Highlander Folk School (which trained civil rights organizers) or cooperative urban planning initiatives.
• Decentralized Knowledge Networks: Some modern organizations, such as the P2P Foundation or certain hacker/maker spaces, function as grassroots knowledge hubs, demonstrating that distributed research institutions are possible.

5. Political & Structural Barriers

Powerful interests may resist the proliferation of decentralized knowledge institutions. Existing elite think tanks serve specific power structures, and widespread grassroots alternatives would likely face funding, credibility, and institutional legitimacy challenges.

Conclusion: Possible, But With a Shift in Power Relations

A world filled with localized, embedded research institutions is possible—but it would require rethinking how expertise is cultivated, shared, and legitimized. It would also demand structural changes that allow for more democratic forms of knowledge production, rather than reinforcing existing hierarchies. If successful, such a model could challenge the dominance of centralized elite institutions, fostering a more participatory, context-sensitive, and ecologically embedded approach to policy and knowledge.