Table of contents

Introduction

This article, other than this introduction, has been made entirely using AI tools. If you would like to know more about the Atlas Network I recommend reading the following:

DeSmog – ‘Atlas Network (Atlas Economic Research Foundation)‘

Prof. Julia Steinberger – ‘What We are Up Against‘

Multinationals Observatory Investigative Media and Corporate Watchdog – ‘The Koch-funded Atlas Network is also targeting Europe‘

I have also created an AI podcast based on the above (with some additional source material):

AI Video

The Atlas Network: Shaping the World Through a Global Web of Free Market Think Tanks

The Atlas Network, a Washington, DC-based non-profit organisation, stands as a significant and multifaceted actor on the global stage. Describing itself as supporting a growing network of over 500 “free market” organisations in nearly 100 countries, the Atlas Network plays a crucial role in shaping policy discussions and advocating for free-market principles worldwide.

Understanding its scope, history, goals, impact, effectiveness, and the deeper ideology that drives it is essential to comprehending its considerable influence on contemporary political and economic landscapes.

A History Rooted in Free Market Ideals

The Atlas Network began as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, established in 1981 by the British entrepreneur Antony Fisher.

Fisher’s vision was profoundly influenced by Austrian School economist F.A. Hayek’s seminal 1944 book, “The Road to Serfdom,” which cautioned against centralised government planning and advocated for free markets as a cornerstone of individual liberty. Inspired by Hayek’s ideas and the success of his first think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in London (founded in 1955), Fisher conceived of the Atlas Network as a “think tank that creates think tanks“.

“[the goal is] to litter the world with free-market think-tanks”.
(John Blundell, Atlas Network’s president 1987-1990)

The organisation quickly garnered endorsements from prominent free-market proponents, including Margaret Thatcher, Milton Friedman, and Hayek himself. Alejandro Chafuen, who served as president from 1991 to 2018, described the Atlas Network’s target audience as “elites,” believing them to be the key customers who both benefit from and serve the network’s goals.

Global Scope and Decentralised Structure

From its initial 15 think tanks in nine countries in the mid-1980s, the Atlas Network has expanded dramatically. As of 2024, it claims a membership of 581 partner organisations operating in over 100 countries across the globe.

This vast network includes a diverse array of think tanks, advocacy groups, and other organisations committed to the principles of a free society. Despite its significant global footprint, the Atlas Network maintains a relatively small central staff of approximately 30 people.

It operates through regional centres for Africa, Latin America, the United States and Canada, Europe, and Asia and Oceania, indicating a decentralised approach to its global operations.

To motivate and enhance the performance of its partners, the Atlas Network employs a strategic model known as “Coach, Compete, Celebrate!™”. This involves providing guidance and mentorship, fostering a spirit of competition through awards and recognition, and celebrating the successes of its partner organisations.

The Stated Goals: Promoting a Free Society

The core mission of the Atlas Network is to foster global prosperity by strengthening a network of independent partner organisations dedicated to promoting individual freedom and dismantling barriers that impede human flourishing.

Its stated vision is a world characterised by freedom, prosperity, and peace, where the principles of individual liberty, clearly defined property rights, a limited role for government, the operation of free markets, and the consistent application of the rule of law are firmly established.

The Atlas Network aims “to give all individuals the right to economic and personal freedom through its global network of think tanks“. I

Its long-term strategy involves developing and sustaining alternative policy ideas until they become politically viable.

“to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable”.
(Atlas Network CEO Brad Lips)

Funding the ‘Freedom’ Movement

The Atlas Network is not endowed and does not accept government funding. It relies on the financial support of generous individuals, philanthropies, and businesses who entrust it with resources to build a greater public consensus around the ideas of a free society.

While it does not disclose all its donors, publicly available information and reports from monitoring organisations reveal significant funding from conservative foundations and corporations, including entities with interests in the fossil fuel industry and the tobacco industry. In 2023, the organisation reported a total revenue of $28.8 million and expenses of $22.1 million.

The Atlas Network employs a structured grant application process, offering various funding opportunities to its partner organisations across categories such as Public Policy Advocacy, Engaging Hearts & Minds, and Organisational Capacity.

Several major donors and connected groups are identified in the sources:

Major Funders of the Atlas Network:

Koch Family Foundations (including the Charles G. Koch Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute) have been significant supporters of the Atlas Network for an extended period. Millions of dollars have been received from Koch-affiliated groups.
The John Templeton Foundation is a major donor, providing over $4 million in 2024 according to one source, and has contributed over $9.6 million in reported donations overall.
Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund are “dark money” groups that do not disclose their own donors and have provided substantial funding. Reported donations from these funds amount to over $1.4 million between 2010 and 2015.
The Sarah Scaife Foundation has also contributed significant funding.
ExxonMobil historically provided significant funding, particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s. Over $1 million in contributions are reported between 1998 and 2014. As of 2005, direct funding from ExxonMobil was $440,000. While the Atlas Network stated in 2023 that it had received no funding from oil and gas companies for nearly 15 years, historical ties are well-documented.
Tobacco companies such as Philip Morris (until at least 2001) and British American Tobacco (2015-2016) have also funded the Atlas Network. Philip Morris donated over $475,000 in 1995 alone.
Other notable donors include the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and MasterCard.
Smaller contributions have been received from foundations such as the Earhart Foundation, George Edward Durell Foundation, Bradley Impact Fund, and William E Simon Foundation.

Many of the people and groups funding the Atlas Network also fund or are connected to the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025.

Project 2025

Groups Connected to the Atlas Network:

Global Network of Think Tanks: The Atlas Network describes itself as supporting a growing network of more than 500 “free market” organizations in nearly 100 countries. As of 2020, this number was reported as 457 think tanks in 96 countries. In 2023, it claimed 589 partners in 103 countries.
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA): Founded by Antony Fisher, the founder of the Atlas Network, the IEA in the UK is a key partner and was one of the first members of the Atlas Network. It has significantly influenced economic policy in the UK.
International Policy Network (IPN): Founded by Fisher, the IPN in the UK is described as effectively a UK variant of the Atlas Network. The UK Atlas Economic Research Foundation worked as the International Policy Network, later becoming the “Network for a Free Society”.
Member Think Tanks Involved in Climate Change Denial: Many member think tanks of the Atlas Network have supported climate science denial and campaigned against greenhouse gas emission limits. Examples include the Heartland Institute, which the Atlas Network co-sponsored conferences of, and others funded by extractive industries.
Think Tanks Linked to Tobacco Industry: More than a fifth of Atlas Network affiliates worldwide had either opposed tobacco controls or taken tobacco donations. The Atlas Network is described as a “strategic ally” of the tobacco industry, channeling funding to think tanks to produce industry-supportive publications.
Conservative and Libertarian Think Tanks: Major American think tanks in the Atlas Network have included the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Cato Institute, The Heritage Foundation (until 2020), and the Heartland Institute, which are active in conservative politics.
European Partner Organisations: These include EPICENTER (Belgium), the F. A. Hayek Foundation (Slovakia), the Association for Liberal Thinking (Turkey), the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, Fundalib (Spain), the Institute for Market Economics (Bulgaria), Instituto Liberale (Italy), Civic Institute (Czech Republic), and Timbro (Sweden).
Think Tanks in Other Regions: These include the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Fraser Institute (Canada), the Centre for Independent Studies and Institute of Public Affairs (Australia), and the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (New Zealand).

Political Parties and Movements: Partner organizations often align ideologically with conservative and libertarian political parties.

Examples include connections to the ACT New Zealand party and the Brexit movement in the UK. The Atlas Network also had a role in the Free Brazil Movement.
Tufton Street Network (UK): This hub of pro-Brexit lobbying groups is linked to the Atlas Network and has associations with individuals within Donald Trump’s political circles.
Students for Liberty: This is an Atlas Network partner that trains students to become leaders in the libertarian movement.

Activities and Strategies for Influence

The Atlas Network engages in a range of core activities designed to support and strengthen its global network of partners. A central component is the Atlas Network Academy, which offers training programs and professional development opportunities in areas such as fundraising, marketing, organisational leadership, and think tank management.

Financially, the Atlas Network invests over $5 million annually in projects initiated by its partners. Collaboration is fostered through events like regional Liberty Forums held in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as an annual international conference in the United States, providing crucial networking and idea-sharing opportunities.

The network also publishes “Freedom’s Champion” magazine to highlight the successes of its partners. The Atlas Network actively encourages its think tank partners to produce white papers, engage with the media, and write legislation to advance their policy ideas. It has been described as a “connector,” putting “freedom intellectuals” and local think tanks in contact and financing their trips.

The organisation even boasted about being an early adopter of the internet in the 1990s to facilitate regular communication and idea sharing among its members. Their strategy to “litter the world with free-market think-tanks” aims to replicate materials and strategies worldwide, shifting the boundaries of acceptable public debate towards more radical free-market perspectives – a concept known as “Overton’s window“.

Global Impact and Effectiveness

The Atlas Network and its partner organisations have demonstrably influenced political discourse and policy debates across the globe. In the UK, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a key Atlas Network partner, is widely credited with playing a significant role in popularising neoliberal ideas and influencing the election and subsequent policies of Margaret Thatcher.

The network’s influence has also been linked to significant political events such as Brexit in the United Kingdom. In Latin America, the Atlas Network has been described as a significant force behind right-wing movements and policy shifts, including the rise of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and the election of Javier Milei in Argentina, whose campaign strategies reportedly drew on the Atlas Network’s “Coach, compete, and celebrate” model.

The network actively supports opposition movements in countries with authoritarian regimes, such as Venezuela and Syria, aligning with its stated mission of promoting freedom. The Atlas Network’s think tank partners “produce white papers, meet with politicos, liaise with the media, write legislation, and much more”. Academic Karin Fischer noted in 2018 that Atlas Network campaigns for deregulation and property rights have had such influence that the World Bank’s “Doing Business Index” “follows exactly Atlas’ policy recommendations“.

The sheer scale and global distribution of the network suggest a significant potential for influencing policy debates and shaping public opinion worldwide.

The Driving Ideology: Neoliberalism and its Critiques

The deeper ideology driving the Atlas Network is fundamentally neoliberal, with intellectual roots in the Austrian School of economics, particularly the work of F.A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises.

This ideology prioritises individual liberty and economic freedom as the foundations for all other freedoms, advocating for free markets, limited government intervention, deregulation, privatisation, and reduced social safety nets. Critics argue that this emphasis on economic freedom often comes at the expense of social and political equality, potentially benefiting corporations and financial elites while exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

Some observers have characterised the Atlas Network as a “global political party in the making,” suggesting its aim is to exert influence over governments worldwide to implement its specific ideological vision. The network’s promotion of business-friendly policies and its role in disseminating climate change denial have also drawn significant criticism.

Controversies and Criticisms

The Atlas Network has faced numerous controversies and criticisms regarding its activities and associations. Its historical and ongoing links to the tobacco and oil industries have raised concerns about potential undue influence on its agenda, particularly in opposing tobacco controls and downplaying or denying climate change. Academics have described the Atlas Network as an “oil-industry-funded transnational network” and “the predominant vehicle for fossil capital’s global mobilisation against climate science and policy“.

While the Atlas Network has stated that it no longer receives funding from oil and gas companies, its past and present funding from other corporate and conservative sources continues to raise questions about potential conflicts of interest.

The network’s ties to right-wing and conservative movements, including those associated with Brexit and anti-government protests in Latin America, have also been scrutinised. Concerns have been raised about the network’s potential “apathy towards the radical right” and whether some of its affiliates might see nationalist and authoritarian mobilisation as a tactical opportunity to advance free-market causes.

Despite officially claiming to be nonpartisan, the consistent ideological alignment of its partner organisations and the pattern of its activities strongly suggest a political agenda that primarily supports right-leaning ideologies and movements. Critics also point to a perceived lack of transparency in its funding and operations, contributing to the characterisation of it as a “shadowy” network.

The Atlas Network actively refutes claims that it operates as a “shadowy” or conspiratorial organisation, emphasising its open commitment to promoting free markets and individual liberty as a means of fostering prosperity and safeguarding fundamental rights.

While often described as right-leaning, the network officially states that it is nonpartisan. It highlights its support for pro-democracy movements and opposition to authoritarian regimes as evidence of its commitment to democratic values. Regarding historical funding from ExxonMobil, CEO Brad Lips stated that these donations reflected past leadership perspectives and that climate change is no longer a central focus. The network asserts that its mission is to support principles that ultimately benefit individuals and societies globally.

Impact On Politicians, Laws & Law Enforcement

The Atlas Network and its affiliated think tanks exert influence on laws and law enforcement across the globe through various means, including promoting specific policy ideas, shaping public discourse, and networking with policymakers. This influence has manifested in areas such as environmental policy, protest laws, and economic regulations.

Here are some examples of how the Atlas Network has impacted laws and law enforcement globally:

Influence on Anti-Protest Laws: Think tanks within the Atlas Network have played a role in framing environmental and climate protests as terrorists, extremist or dangerous, which has contributed to the development and implementation of stricter anti-protest laws.
In Germany, a scholar associated with an Atlas Network partner recommended a strong response to Last Generation activists, which was followed by police raids and investigations into the group.
In the UK, Policy Exchange, a former Atlas Network partner, produced a report describing Extinction Rebellion as an extremist organisation. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later admitted that this think tank “helped us draft” the UK Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act of 2022, which criminalised certain forms of protest. This legislation gave police greater powers to restrict and shut down protests.
In Canada, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), an Atlas Network affiliate, published papers portraying First Nations activists as potentially violent during the Idle No More protests against tar sands expansion. This framing coincided with provinces passing anti-protest legislation and the formation of a new police unit to handle protests.
In Australia, after protests against coal expansion, the Queensland government passed the “Dangerous Attachment Devices” law explicitly targeting environmental protestors. An Atlas Network think tank, the Institute for Progress, suggested further penalties, such as stripping protesting organisations of their charity status. Subsequently, nearly all Australian states passed legislation criminalising protest.

Impact on Environmental Regulations: Many Atlas Network member think tanks have historically supported climate science denial and campaigned against legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions. They have also been linked to the tobacco and oil industries, opposing regulations in these sectors.

In Australia, the Institute of Public Affairs, an Atlas Network finalist for its Templeton Freedom Awards, campaigned against the country’s laws that put a price on greenhouse gas emissions, which were eventually repealed.
Globally, documents show that ExxonMobil collaborated with free-market think tanks connected to the Atlas Network to delay global climate policies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Atlas Network has also reportedly co-sponsored events promoting climate skepticism.

Influence on Economic Policies: The Atlas Network promotes neoliberal ideas of limited government and low regulation. Their influence can be seen in the adoption of such policies in various countries.

In the UK, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) significantly influenced the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher. Members of the IEA have also received peerages, indicating close ties to the government. The IEA is platformed frequently in the media, often without challenge regarding its funding or representation.
In Argentina, Javier Milei’s government, which has implemented radical austerity and deregulation, is reported to be heavily influenced by Atlas Network think tanks and their policy recommendations. Milei’s campaign strategies reportedly followed the Atlas Network’s model.

The Atlas Network funds organisations like Costa Rica’s IDEAS Labs, which helped reform the country’s pension laws in 2020. They also support think tanks working on property rights and reducing business regulations in countries like the Philippines and Burundi.

The Atlas Network describes its mission as promoting economic and personal freedom. However, critics argue that their promotion of free-market policies can prioritise corporate power and undermine democratic processes and environmental protections. The network’s connections to conservative and right-wing movements, and its historical ties to industries with vested interests in deregulation, have also drawn scrutiny.

The Deeper Ideology Driving The Atlas Network

Julia Steinberger, an ecological economist and IPCC Lead Author, offers a critical assessment of the deeper ideology behind the Atlas Network, particularly in its connection to actors like the Kochs. Her analysis, as presented in the sources, characterises the driving ideology as fundamentally neoliberal and anti-democratic.

“Its aim is to give free-reign over our societies to corporations, not citizens”
(Julia Steinberger)

She identifies the fossil fuel industry as a long-time promoter and beneficiary of this neoliberal takeover, noting that they seek a “free market capitalism” free from state interference or democratic scrutiny to maintain their existence. The Koch brothers, with their significant interests in the fossil fuel industry, align with this characterisation from Steinberger’s perspective.

Steinberger argues that the Atlas Network serves as a key coordinator in this ideological project. These think tanks promote business-friendly neoliberal economic policies, often presented as democracy-compatible under the guise of “market freedom”. A central tenet of this agenda, according to Steinberger, is climate denial and delay, with the Atlas Network’s think tanks arguably acting as a major global conduit for this.

In her view, the Atlas Network achieves significant, albeit relatively obscured, effectiveness in pushing this agenda. Steinberger posits that unless one is among the “billionaire donors or chosen protégés” of the network, its influence is likely to be negative. She suggests that the network’s work ultimately undermines democracy and destabilises the climate.

Steinberger’s analysis aims to expose “what we are up against” in confronting the Atlas Network and to mobilise efforts towards “pro-equality, pro-democracy and pro-climate political change” as a counter to their influence. In essence, she sees the Atlas Network, with the backing of entities like the Kochs, as a well-coordinated force promoting a neoliberal ideology that prioritises corporate interests and undermines democratic and environmental well-being.

A Powerful Force In the World

The Atlas Network operates as a significant and influential global network of think tanks, playing a substantial role in shaping political discourse and policy debates worldwide.

Fueled by private donations and guided by a core neoliberal ideology, it actively works to promote free-market principles and individual liberty through its extensive network, training programs, and grant-making activities. While the network champions ideals of freedom and free markets, its historical associations with industries like tobacco and oil, its involvement in climate change scepticism, and its ties to right-wing and potentially illiberal movements have drawn considerable criticism.

The effectiveness of the Atlas Network in achieving its long-term goals is evident in the growth of its network and the reported influence on policy shifts in various countries. However, its significant resources and strategic sophistication, coupled with the controversies surrounding its funding and activities, necessitate ongoing scrutiny and a nuanced understanding of its complex global impact on democratic processes, environmental policies, and social welfare.

Understanding the Atlas Network’s structure, operations, and underlying ideology is crucial for anyone seeking to comprehend the forces shaping the contemporary global political and economic landscape.