Atlas Network
The Atlas Network is a US organisation which aims to promote free-market economic policies across the world. Its stated mission is "To strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by cultivating a highly effective and expansive network that inspires and incentivises all committed individuals and organisations to achieve lasting impact."
The Atlas Network has awarded grants of over $20m. Atlas promotes think tanks that support private-property rights, limited govt, the rule of law, and market economics.
According to journalist Lee Fang, writing for The Intercept, the libertarian Atlas Network has "reshaped political power in country after country," operating as an extension of US foreign policy, with Atlas-affiliated think tanks receiving funding from the United States Department of State and the National Endowment for Democracy. The organisation's methods include providing grants for new think tanks, providing courses on political management and public relations, sponsorship of networking events around the world, and encouraging libertarians to influence public opinion through social media and online videos. (WP)
Founded by British citizen Antony Fisher in 1981 as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, ... heavily influenced by Hayek, "father of the neoliberal movement" ... Oliver Letwin commented "Without Fisher, no IEA; without the IEA and its clones, no Thatcher and quite possibly no Reagan; without Reagan, no Star Wars; without Star Wars, no economic collapse of the Soviet Union." ref
Some more history here. Note Fisher was one of the founders of the IEA ref
Tobacco Industry: the Atlas Network is considered a “strategic ally” of the tobacco industry, with 37% of the group’s partners in the USA receiving funding directly from tobacco companies. Donors include Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, JTI-Macdonald Corp, Japan Tobacco’s Canadian subsidiary.[1]
Partners
- Adam Smith Institute
- Big Brother Watch
- Centre for Education Economics
- Centre for Policy Studies
- Civitas
- Cobden Centre
- Conservatives for Liberty
- Freedom Association
- Geneva Network
- Initiative for Free Trade
- Institute of Economic Affairs
- Legatum Institute
- Open Europe
- Taxpayers' Alliance
- #Network for a Free Society
Network for a Free Society
The NFS is basically the bastard child of the IEA and Atlas, whose remit is to push a book "Foundations of a Free Society" by the Adam Smith Institute's Eamonn Butler link. They didn't know what else to do with the abanded original Atlas. See also Our History
Articles
- Nov.29.2019: How the right’s radical thinktanks reshaped the Conservative party. Thinktanks have long been influential in British politics, but the sheer number of connections between Johnson’s cabinet and ultra free market thinktanks was something new. US thinktanks and their affiliates, largely funded by rightwing American billionaires and corporations, have teamed up with British politicians and London-based counterparts such as the IEA, the Legatum Institute and the Initiative for Free Trade, to help write detailed proposals for what the UK’s departure from the EU, and its future relationships with both the EU and the US, should look like, raising questions about foreign influence on British politics. Felicity Lawrence, Rob Evans, David Pegg, Caelainn Barr, Pamela Duncan, The Guardian.
- Jan.23.2019: Revealed: the free-market groups helping the Tobacco Industry. Free-market thinktanks around the world provide a powerful voice of support to cigarette manufacturers in battles against tougher regulations. The industry has found support from free-market thinktanks, including from some of the most prestigious. Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco, Altria Group Inc (parent of Philip Morris USA), and Reynolds American Inc have all donated to the free-market thinktanks. Some are highly influential and well-connected, and some have received funding from diplomatic outposts. In the US, the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute and Americans for Tax Reform all accepted donations from the Tobacco Industry, and went on to comment on tobacco policy. In the UK, the Adam Smith Institute and the Institute of Economic Affairs did the same. Jessica Glenza, The Guardian.
- Sept.28.2018: US groups raise millions to support rightwing UK thinktanks. Anonymous donors have given $5.6m since 2008 to groups linked to 4 thinktanks. The Institute of Economic Affairs, the Adam Smith Institute, Policy Exchange and the Legatum Institute have all received financial support from US backers via this route. They are strong proponents of radical free trade deals with reduced regulation – positions likely to benefit big American businesses, which have opposed Europe's regulations. Rob Evans, Felicity Lawrence, David Pegg, The Guardian.
References
- ^ Revealed: the free-market groups helping the tobacco industry. More than 100 free-market thinktanks from North America to Europe and south Asia took positions helpful to the tobacco industry or accepted donations. Jessica Glenza, The Guardian, Jan.23.2019.