Atlas Network

Atlas Network, formerly known as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, is a nonprofit organization based in the United States. The group aims to promote free-market economic policies across the world.[5] The stated mission of the Atlas Network is "Atlas Network increases global prosperity by strengthening a network of independent partner organizations that promote individual freedom and are committed to identifying and removing barriers to human flourishing."[1] Atlas Network has awarded grants of over $20 million.[6] Atlas promotes think tanks that support private-property rights, limited government, the rule of law, and market economics.[7] Atlas Network is not named after Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged.[8]

This article is about the United States-based organization that supports think tanks. For the European police organization, see ATLAS Network.
Atlas Network
Founder(s)Antony Fisher
Established1981 (1981)
Mission"Atlas Network increases global prosperity by strengthening a network of independent partner organizations that promote individual freedom and are committed to identifying and removing barriers to human flourishing."[1]
ChairmanLinda Whetstone[2]
Chief Executive OfficerBrad Lips
BudgetRevenue: $10,815,000
Expenses: $12,585,000
(FYE December 2017)[3]
Members506[4]
Formerly calledAtlas Economic Research Foundation
Location
Arlington, VA
,
United States

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 U.S. foreign policy, with Atlas-affiliated think tanks receiving funding from the United States Department of State and the National Endowment for Democracy. The organization'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.[9]

History

Atlas was founded in 1981 by Sir Antony Fisher. After founding the Institute of Economic Affairs in London in 1955, Fisher had helped to establish the Fraser Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Pacific Research Institute in the 1970s. Fisher conceived of Atlas as a means to connect various think tanks via a global network through which the organizations could learn best practices from one another and "pass the best research and policy ideas from one to the other, and so avoid the need to reinvent the wheel."[10] Atlas has been described as "self replicating, a think tank that creates think tanks."[11]

According to the 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, Atlas is ranked number 54 (of 109) in the "Top Think Tanks in the United States".[12]

The chief executive officer of Atlas Network is Brad Lips.[13] Lips joined Atlas Network, then known as Atlas Economic Research Foundation, in 1999 and became CEO in 2009. Matt Warner is President.[6]

Funding

As of 2005, Atlas had received $440,000 from ExxonMobil,[14] and has received at least $825,000 USD from the tobacco company Philip Morris.[15] Of Atlas Network partners, 57% in the United States had received funding from the tobacco industry.[15] Atlas has received funding from Koch family foundations.[9]

As of 2017, the Atlas Network had assets of $7,483,000.[3]

Programs

Training and networking

Atlas Network offers a variety of grant and award programs as well as financial support to enable think tank executives to participate in conferences that feature training sessions on non-profit management.[7] The organization holds four regional Liberty Forums (in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe) and an international conference in the United States that draws thank tank staff and attendees from all over the world.[6]

Atlas Network directly operates online and in person training programs that help think tank leaders and intellectual entrepreneurs develop and refine strategic plans for their organizations. The courses includes seminars, classroom exercises, group projects, and lectures from outside speakers and Atlas Network staff.

Past Programs

Atlas has partnered with the F.A. Hayek Foundation in Slovakia, the Association for Liberal Thinking in Turkey, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, and Libertad y Desarrollo in Chile to establish Free Enterprise Training Centers.[6] These centers are now defunct.

Working with Judy Shelton, FreedomWorks, and Representatives Paul Ryan and Mike Pence, Atlas Sound Money Project's A Guide to Sound Money was published in December 2010.[16] The project seeks to define principles of "sound money," countering the government policies Atlas considers to be inflationary.[17]

The Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award was given in honor of Sir Antony Fisher, the late founder of Atlas Network, to the think tank that produced the best book or other publication that improves public understanding of the free society. The award was given through 2016.

Grants

Atlas provides limited amounts of financial support to new think tanks on a case-by-case basis. Grants are usually given for specific projects and range between $2,000 and $5,000.[18] In 2014 Atlas Network provided funding in the form of grants at USD 4,340,000 to 177 partners in 68 different countries.[15]

The organization has provided grants to free-market think tanks in Latin America, including to groups that supported the Free Brazil Movement. Atlas provided funding to a think tank that merged with the political party formed by Mauricio Macri, a businessman who became the president of Argentina. Atlas has also supported the anti-government movement in Venezuela and the campaign of Sebastián Piñera, the president of Chile.[9]

Outreach programs

Atlas Network's Doing Development Differently campaign is guided by the principles of a global manifesto published by the Building State Capability program at Harvard University's Center for Global Development Global Initiative.[19]

Templeton Freedom Awards

Awarded since 2004, the Templeton Freedom Award is named for the late investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton.[20] The award annually honors his legacy by identifying and recognizing the most exceptional and innovative contributions to the understanding of free enterprise, and the public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation, and human fulfillment via free competition. The award is supported by Templeton Religion Trust and is presented during Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner closing ceremony in New York City. The winning organization receives a $100,000 prize and the five runners-up receive $20,000.

Sir Antony Fisher Achievement Awards

This award is given in honor of Sir Antony Fisher, the late founder of Atlas Network, to an individual for his or her work to advance a free, prosperous, and peaceful world where the principles of individual liberty, property rights, limited government, and free markets are secured by the rule of law. In 2019 the first recipient of the award was Lawrence J. Mone, former president of Manhattan Institute. The 2020 recipient is Ronald Manners, Officer of the Order of Australia and founder of Mannkal Economic Education Foundation.

References
  1. "Our Mission". Atlas Network. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. "Board of Directors". Atlas Network. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. "Annual Report 2017" (PDF). Atlas Network. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  4. "Global Directory". Atlas Network. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  5. Peck, Jamie (2010). Constructions of Neoliberal Reason. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0191625015.
  6. Ball, Stephen (2012). Global Education Inc: New Policy Networks and the Neo-liberal Imaginary. Routledge. p. 19–40. ISBN 978-0415684095.
  7. "Fighting the war of ideas". Washington Times. June 6, 2004. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. FAQS (2014-08-14). "Was Atlas Network named after the book Atlas Shrugged?". Atlas Network. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  9. Fang, Lee (August 9, 2017). "Sphere of Influence: How American Libertarians Are Remaking Latin American Politics". The Intercept. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. Steinmo, Sven (2007). Growing Apart?: America and Europe in the 21st Century. Cambridge University Press. pp. 145–149. ISBN 978-1139468619.
  11. Meagher, Richard (2008). Right Ideas: Discourse, Framing, and the Conservative Coalition. City University of New York. p. 94. ISBN 978-0549807100.
  12. James G. McGann (Director) (January 27, 2020). "2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report". Retrieved May 16, 2020. Other "Top Think Tank" rankings include #37 (of 131) in International Development, #13 (of 75) for Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks, #39 (of 74) for Best Managed Think Tanks, #29 (of 65) for Best Think Tank Conference, #9 (of 86) for Best Think Tank Network, #23 (of 87) for Best Use of Social Networks, #32 (of 77) of Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program, and #16 (of 65) for Best Use of the Internet.
  13. "People". Atlas Network. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  14. "Put a Tiger In Your Think Tank". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  15. Smith, Julia; Thompson, Sheryl; Lee, Kelley (2016-01-01). "The atlas network: a "strategic ally" of the tobacco industry". The International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 32 (4): 433–448. doi:10.1002/hpm.2351. ISSN 1099-1751. PMC 5716244. PMID 27125556.
  16. "A Guide to Sound Money" (PDF). Soundmoneyproject.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  17. "U.S. Monetary and Economic Policy". C-SPAN Video Library. December 7, 2010.
  18. Wyszomierski, Sara (2010). Guide to Funding for International & Foreign Programs. University of Michigan. p. 409.
  19. "the DDD Manifesto". Building State Capability. October 2014.
  20. "The Templeton Freedom Award | Research Funding". researchfunding.duke.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-28.

Further reading
  • Marie Laure Djelic: Building an architecture for political influence: Atlas and the transnational institutionalization of the neoliberal think tank. In: Christina Garsten, Adrienne Sörbom (eds.), Power, Policy and Profit. Corporate Engagement in Politics and Governance. Elgar, Cheltenham 2017, ISBN 978 1 78471 120 7

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