Resources For Studying Right-Wing Funding and Policy-Making
Preface
Recognize that the Right is a complex movement.
No one organization “controls” the Right. No single funder is “behind” the
Right. Some large organizations are important, but many others appear
to be more influential than they really are. Recognize that there are
multiple networks of organizations and funders with differing and sometimes
competing agendas. Find out as much as you can about the groups you see.
Incorporate this information in your educational work. It is helpful
in organizing to know a great deal about your opponents. Be alert
to evidence of the Right’s “new racism.” The Right has replaced simple
racist rhetoric with a more complex, “colorblind” political agenda which
actually attacks the rights of people of color.
This advice is from the PRA flyer “Ground
Rules & Tips for Challenging the Right.”
Table of Contents
Policy Resources
Political Research Associates
Institute for Democracy Studies
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Policy Resources - Bibliography
Jump to the Web Resources - Policy
Page
Foundations and Funding
Media Transpareancy Website
Callahan Study
Foundations and Funding - Bibliography
Jump to the Web Resources - Funding
Page
Other Articles & Studies
Useful Groups
Further Web Resources
Jump to the Web Resources - Policy Page
Jump to the Web Resources - Funding Page
Jump to the Web Resources - Power Structure
Research Page
Jump to the Web Resources - Libraries Page
Policy Resources
Material from Political Research Associates
Check the PRA website for other publications & resources.
Print Resources
Defending
Reproductive Rights An Activist Resource Kit
Defending Public Education An
Activist Resource Kit
Calculated
Compassion Behind the Ex-Gay Movement is the Right's Attack on Democracy.
The Public Eye Magazine
On the Web
Studying the Right - A Scholarly
Approach
Studying Right-wing Funding & Policy-Making
Foundations & Funding: Web Resources
Links to Conservative and Right-wing Groups
Directory of Right-wing
Groups and their Allies
Web Research Resources
Topical Contents of PRA's Public Eye Website
Institute for Democracy Studies
Check IDS website for other publications.
"Slouching Towards Extremism: The Federalist Society and the Transformation
of American Jurisprudence." $5.00 (includes shipping/handling.)
Federalist Society leaders have emerged as the top attorneys for George
Bush in both the Florida Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United
States.
With Federalist Society DC Chapter President Ted Olson as lead attorney before
the Supreme Court, they are determined to win not just the Presidency, but
to begin the process of institutionalizing a comprehensive agenda challenging
every
aspect of a democratic judicial system. The Global Assault on Reproductive
Rights: A Crucial Turning Point. May 2000 (35 pages; includes a glossary)
$15. This briefing
paper profiles three leading international organizations that seek to roll
back reproductive rights and health care provision for women. Human Life
International,
the Population Research Institute, and the Catholic Family and Human Rights
Institute are examined, along with new developments in the global networking
of the wider
religious right, as exemplified by the Second World Congress of Families, held
in Geneva in 1999. The Assault On Diversity: Behind the Challenges to Racial
and Gender Remedies. December 1999 (22 pages) $10. This briefing paper profiles
five organizations that are using affirmative action as a wedge issue in order
to promote a broader, anti-diversity agenda. These organizations are: the American
Civil Rights Institute, the Center for Equal Opportunity, the Center for Individual
Rights, the Institute for Justice, and the Civil Rights Practice Group of the
Federalist Society. The efforts of these groups threaten racial and gender
justice and the broad consensus surrounding diversity in America.
Policy Resources from Other Groups
The Real Story Behind 'Paycheck Protection'
The Hidden Link Between Anti-Worker and Anti-Public Education Initiatives: An
Anatomy of the Far Right. Washington, DC: National Education Association,
1998. Well-researched and extremely useful, this report is a welcome contribution
from the labor movement—a sector long targeted and vilified by the Right. The
sections “The State-based Assault” and “State Battlegrounds” are good companion
pieces to understand, through the use of case studies, how the State Policy Network
operates. Also valuable is the guide to State Policy Network Members which gives
profiles of each organizational member in a state-by-state format. The precision
of the report, however, is somewhat marred by the author’s tendency to use inflammatory
rhetoric to describe the conservative movement. To obtain copies, contact: NEA
Communication, 1201 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 The Assault on Working
Families, by the Public Policy Department of AFSCME. Washington, DC: American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, 1998. In addition
to the standard, albeit important, descriptions of conservative policy
organizations, this report has some practical appendices. Included are an analysis
of state-based and regional research and policy analysis groups and samples of
model state legislation that move the anti-labor, anti-working family, anti-government
agenda of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Phillip H. Burch, Research
in Political Economy, Reagan, Bush, and Right-Wing Politics: Elites, Think Tanks,
Power and Policy, Greenwich, CT: Jai Press, 1997.
Supplement 1, Part A, The American Right-Wing Takes Command: Key Executive
Appointments
Supplement 1, Part B: The American Right-Wing at Court and in Action:
Supreme Court Nominations and Major Policy-Making
Burch, of Rutgers University, argues that the network Blumenthal called the Counter-Establishment
gained power during the Reagan administration, and many of his key appointees,
such as Edwin Meese, Caspar Weinberger, William Reinquist and Clarence Thomas,
had ties to this network. The Counter-Establishment network included policy institutes
such as The Heritage Foundation, conservative media such as The Wall Street Journal,
and funders such as Olin, Scaife, and the Coors family.
Additional Policy Bibliography
Jean Hardisty, Mobilizing
Resentment: Conservative Resurgence from the John Birch Society
to the Promise Keepers. (Boston: Beacon Press, 1999).
Chip Berlet & Matthew N. Lyons, Right-Wing
Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort. (New York: Guilford
Press, 2000).
Chip Berlet, ed., Eyes Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash,
(Boston: South End Press, 1995).
Sara Diamond, Roads to Dominion: Right–Wing Movements and Political
Power in the United States, (New York: Guilford, 1995).
Jerome L. Himmelstein, To The Right: The Transformation of American
Conservatism, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990).
Amy Elizabeth Ansell, ed., Unraveling the Right: The New Conservatism
in American Thought and Politics, (New York: Westview, 1998).
Amy Elizabeth Ansell. (1997). New Right, New Racism: Race and Reaction
in the United States and Britain. (New York: NYU Press, 1997).
“The Right-Wing Information Network,” October 1996. Series of articles
collected by Culture Watch, Data Center.
To Reclaim a Legacy of Diversity: Analyzing the ‘Political Correctness’ Debates
in Higher Education, (Washington, DC: National Council for Research on
Women, 1993).
Justice for Sale: Shortchanging the Public Interest for Private Gain,
(Alliance for Justice, 1993).
Clarence Y. H. Lo and Michael Schwartz, eds., Social Policy and the
Conservative Agenda, (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1998).
Steve Askin, A New Rite: Conservative Catholic Organizations and Their
Allies, (Washington, D.C.: Catholics for Free Choice, 1994).
Uncovering the Right on Campus: A Guide to Resisting Conservative
Attacks on Equality and Social Justice, (Cambridge, MA: Center for Campus
Organizing, 1997).
Sidney Blumenthal, Rise of the Counter-Establishment, The: From Conservative
Ideology to Political Power, (New York: Random House, 1986).
“The Right-Wing Media Machine,” special issue, Extra! (Fairness and
Accuracy in Reporting), March/April 1995.
Dennis King, Get the Facts on Anyone. 3rd edition, (New York: Macmillan,
1999).
Foundations & Funding
Media Transparency Website
MediaTransparency.org -- The
Money Behind the Media: A large searchable collection
of grant data from 990 forms from right-wing foundations and their grantees
on this site. Can be daunting at first, but worth the effort.
Also see:
Online excerpts from
NCRP report: Moving a Public Policy Agenda
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)
Check NCRP website for more materials
These studies are the best quick introduction to the topic of Foundations
and Funding.
(See also: Web Resources)
David Callahan, $1 Billion for Ideas: Conservative
Think Tanks in the 1990s, Washington, DC: National Committee for Responsive
Philanthropy, March 1999.
This report focuses on the top twenty conservative policy institutes of the
1990s. In addition to the well-known Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute and
the American
Enterprise Institute, Callahan examines seventeen less-known think tanks. The
report includes sections on: how conservative think tanks have expanded their
influence in the 1990s; how they operate both in terms of policy research,
marketing and change at the state and local levels; how they are supported;
and how they
are structured internally. Of particular interest is Callahan’s analysis of the
Right’s victories in 5 policy areas: welfare; Social Security and Medicare;
deregulation and the environment; taxes; and education. Sally Covington, Moving
A Public
Policy Agenda: The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative Foundations,
Washington, DC: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy,
July 1997.
Online excerpts at Media
Transparency. Extensively researched and sharply analytical, this report
documents the important role conservative foundations have played in building
the infrastructure of the Right and influencing public policy at the national,
state and local level. Covington analyzes 12 key foundation’s grant-making
programs and the missions, activities, staff and boards of grantees. The report
includes
sections on types of institutions supported; strategic funding; how philanthropic
resources have been mobilized; and the institutional, ideological and public
policy impact of this conservative philanthropy. Special Report, Burgeoning
Conservative Think Tanks, Washington, DC: National Committee for Responsive
Philanthropy, Spring 1991. Groundbreaking collection of articles that examines
how the Right
developed sophisticated and well-networked centers and think tanks. Articles
cover: the role the Madison Group plays in linking conservative think tanks;
the efforts of the Right at the state legislature level; how these think-tanks
exalt the market as the best solution to most problems in society; an examination
of the influence and strength of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC);
plus a look at a number of individual conservative think tanks.
Foundations and Funding: Important Overviews:
(See also: publications from the National Committee for Responsive
Philanthropy and Web Resources)
Ellen Messer-Davidow, “Manufacturing the Attack on Liberalized Higher Education,” Social
Text, Fall 1993, 40-80.
An important early discussion of the creation of the “political correctness” debate
by a handful of right-wing think tanks and their ideological allies. Jean Stephancic
and Richard Delgado, No Mercy: How Conservative Think Tanks and Foundations Changed
America’s Social Agenda, Philadelphia: Temple University
Press, 1996. Documents the Right’s formidable political machine which has shifted
US policy by focusing its efforts on dovetailing sequences of issues; effectively
training young conservatives, and its careful use of money, media, and “brains.” While
their premise is that the polity benefits from an equal infusion of ideas from
the left and right, their recommendation is that the left emulate the structure
of the right’s policy juggernaut.
Foundations and Funding: Additional Bibliography
Beth Schulman, "Foundations for a Movement: How the Right Wing Subsidizes
its Press," Extra! (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), special issue
on "The Right-Wing Media Machine," March/April 1995, p. 11.
David Callahan, "Liberal Policy's Weak Foundations: Fighting the 'Bull
Curve,' " The Nation, November 13, 1995, pp. 568-572.
Lawrence C. Soley, Leasing the Ivory Tower: The Corporate Takeover
of Academia, (Boston: South End Press, 1995).
Lawrence Soley, "Right-Think Inc.," City Pages, (Minneapolis, MN),
10/31/90, p. 10.
James A. Smith, The Idea Brokers: Think Tanks and the Rise of the New
Policy Elite, (New York: The Free Press, 1991).
Buying a Movement: Right-Wing
Foundations and American Politics. Report. (Washington, DC: People
for the American Way, 1996).
Leon Howell, Funding the War of Ideas. Report. (Cleveland: OH:
United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, 1995).
Mark Schapiro, Who’s Behind the
Culture War?: Contemporary Assaults on Freedom of Expression.
Report. (New York: Nathan Cummings Foundation, 1994).
David Callahan, $1 Billion for Ideas: Conservative
Think Tanks in the 1990s. Report. Washington, DC: National Committee
for Responsive Philanthropy, March 1999.
Sally Covington, Moving
A Public Policy Agenda: The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative
Foundations. Report. Washington, DC: National Committee for Responsive
Philanthropy, July 1997.
Burgeoning Conservative Think Tanks. Special report in newsletter.
Washington, DC: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Spring
1991.
Academic Studies
Jean Stephancic and Richard Delgado, No Mercy: How Conservative Think
Tanks and Foundations Changed America’s Social Agenda, Philadelphia:
Temple University Press, 1996.
Messer-Davidow, Ellen. (1993). “Manufacturing the Attack on Liberalized
Higher Education.” Social Text, Fall, pp. 40–80.
Messer-Davidow, Ellen. (1994). “Who (Ac)Counts and How.” MMLA (The
Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association), vol. 27, no. 1, Spring,
pp. 26–41.
Burch, Philip H., Jr. (1997). Reagan, Bush, and Right-Wing Politics:
Elites, Think Tanks, Power, and Policy: Part A. The American Right
Wing Takes Command: Key Executive Appointments. Supplement 1, Vol. 16,
Research in Political Economy, Paul Zarembka (Ed.). Greenwich: CT: JAI
Press.
Burch, Philip H., Jr. (1997). Reagan, Bush, and Right-Wing Politics:
Elites, Think Tanks, Power, and Policy: Part B. The American Right
Wing at Court and in Action: Supreme Court Nominations and Major Policymaking.
Supplement 1, Vol. 16, Research in Political Economy, Paul Zarembka (Ed.).
Greenwich: CT: JAI Press.
Other Articles and Studies
The Mighty
Wurlitzer
What progressives can learn from David Brock's account of the conservative
machine.
By Robert Borosage
The American Prospect, 5.6.02
Losing Ground
On The Left
by Joanna Mareth
Common Wealth: NonProfits, Philanthropy, and Civil Society
The American Prospect/Economic Policy Institute
CONSERVATIVE FOUNDATIONS LAVISHLY SUBSIDIZE AUTHORS WHILE THE LEFT LOSES OUT.
The 'Right'
Books and Big Ideas
by ERIC ALTERMAN
The Nation, November 22, 1999
GIFTS TO RIGHT-WING THINK TANKS HAVE BECOME
A FORM OF POLITICAL DONATION.
$1
Billion for Conservative Ideas
by DAVID CALLAHAN
The Nation, April 26, 1999
Why Do Progressive
Foundations Give Too Little To Too Many?
By Michael H. Shuman
The Nation, January 12, 1998
Useful Groups
for understanding policymaking, funding, and foundations:
Political Research Associates
1310 Broadway, Suite 201, Somerville, MA 02144. 671/666-5300. fax: 617/666-6622
Email: publiceye@igc.org
Website: http://www.publiceye.org
Extensive eighteen-year file and publication archive on right-wing movements
ranging from New Right to white supremacist groups. Publishes a newsletter, The
Public Eye. Extensive publications list.
Institute for Democracy Studies
177 East 87th Street, Suite 501, New York, NY 10128. 212/423-9237. fax: 212/423-9352
E-Mail: info@institutefordemocracy.org
Website: http://www.institutefordemocracy.org/index.html
Timely topical reports.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
2001 S St., NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20009. 202-387-9177 (Voice), 202-332-5084
(Fax)
E-Mail: info@ncrp.org
Website: http://www.ncrp.org/
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has been at the forefront
in tracking and analyzing the growth and influence of conservative public policy-making. They
have published three important reports.
Demos: A Network for Ideas and Action
155 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013 212.633.1405 (Voice).
212.633.2015 (Fax)
Website: http://www.demos-usa.org/
Demos is committed to a long-term effort to reframe and redesign policy and
politics to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century. We seek to bring
everyone into the life of American democracy and to achieve a broadly shared
prosperity characterized by greater opportunity and less disparity.
DataCenter
1904 Franklin Street, Suite 900, Oakland, CA 94612, 510/835-4692, fax: 510/835-3017
Email: datacenter@datacenter.org
Website: http://www.igc.org/datacenter/
Research by contract into a variety of topics with special expertise in corporations
and current political issues. Large collection of clippings and specialized
computer skills for searching electronic databases. Write for complete resource
list.
People for the American Way
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, 202/467-4999, fax: 202/293-2672
Email: pfaw@pfaw.org
Website: http://www.pfaw.org
Has several reports and press releases on the rise of the Religious Right and
homophobic campaigns. Resources include a newsletter, Right-Wing Watch and
a videotape, The Religious Right, Then and Now. Extensive publications list.
National Council for Research on Women
11 Hanover Square, 20th floor, New York, NY 10005, 212/785-7335, fax: 212/785-7350
Email: ncrw@ncrw.org
Website: http://www.ncrw.org
An independent association of 79 primarily academic women's studies centers
and organizations that provide resources for feminist research, policy analysis,
and educational programs for women and girls. Publishes reports, directories,
papers and two quarterly journals Women's Research Network News and Issues
Quarterly.
Policy Action Network
Moving Ideas (formerly Electronic Policy Network)
The American Prospect
2000 L St. NW suite 717, Washington DC, 20036, Phone: (202) 776-0730, Fax:
(202) 776-0740
5 Broad St, Boston, MA 02109, Phone: (617) 570-8030, Fax: (617) 570-8028
Website: http://movingideas.org/index.html
Dedicated to explaining and popularizing complex policy ideas to a broader
audience. Our goal is to improve collaboration and dialogue between policy
and grassroots organizations, and to promote their work to journalists and
legislators.
Economic Policy Institute (EPI)
1660 L Street N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-775-8810, fax:
202-775-0819
Website: http://www.epinet.org/
The mission of the Economic Policy Institute is to provide high-quality research
and education in order to promote a prosperous, fair, and sustainable economy.
The Institute stresses real world analysis and a concern for the living standards
of working people, and it makes its findings accessible to the general public,
the media, and policy makers.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
820 1st Street, NE, #510, Washington, DC 20002, Ph: 202-408-1080, Fax: 202-408-1056
Website: http://www.cbpp.org/
Founded in 1981, the Center works on fiscal policy issues and issues affecting
low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The Center specializes
in research and analysis oriented toward policy decisions that policymakers
face at both federal and state levels. The Center examines data and research
findings and produces analyses designed to be accessible to public officials,
other non-profit organizations, and the media.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)
2001 S Street, NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 387-9177 (Voice),
(202) 332-5084 (Fax)
Website: http://www.ncrp.org/
info@ncrp.org
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
dedicated to promoting philanthropy that addresses the unmet needs of disadvantaged
populations, including very low-income communities, people of color, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender
populations, and other groups facing discrimination or marginalization. NCRP
conducts action research, provides technical assistance to nonprofits, and
engages in policy advocacy. NCRP's reform activism targets foundations,
corporations, individual donors, and workplace fund-raising.
Catholics Choice
1436 U Street, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20009, 202/986-6093
Website: http://www.cath4choice.org
Policy analysis, education, and advocacy on issues of gender equality and reproductive
health. Write for list of current publications in English & Spanish. Excellent
book on the Catholic Right, with updates.
ConWebWatch
Keeping an eye on the conservative internet media
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