International Policy Network

This article is about the libertarian think tank International Policy Network. For the international progressive think tank, see Policy Network.
International Policy Network
Abbreviation IPN
Formation 1971
Founder Sir Antony Fisher
Extinction 2011
Type Non-partisan, non-profit think tank (UK charity)
Legal status Defunct
Location
  • London
Subsidiaries The Freedom to Trade Campaign
Formerly called
 The International Institute for Economic Research
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK)

The International Policy Network (IPN) was a think tank headquartered in the City of London. It defined itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, but has also been described as a "corporate-funded campaigning group".[1] IPN ran public education campaigns on international issues ranging from trade and development to healthcare and the environment.

In the context of global policy issues, IPN’s campaigns highlighted the role of markets and market institutions as a means of empowering individuals so that they were able to improve their own lives and the lives of others. IPN hopeed that as a result of its programmes, individuals would be better able to achieve their aspirations, regardless of race, colour, creed, nationality or human condition.

IPN ceased to exist in September 2011.[2]

Vision

According to its website, "IPN aims to empower individuals and promote respect for people and property in order to eliminate poverty, improve human health and protect the environment. IPN promotes public awareness of the importance of this vision for all people, both rich and poor.

"IPN seeks to achieve its vision by promoting the role of market institutions in certain key international policy debates: sustainable development, health, and globalisation and trade. IPN works with academics, think tanks, journalists and policymakers on every continent."

History

IPN was founded as a UK charity by Sir Antony Fisher in 1971. The mission of this body is to "Promote the advancement of learning by research into economic and political science and the publication of such research". The charity’s original name was The International Institute for Economic Research, and now is The Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK), but operates under the name International Policy Network.

IPN’s sister organization, International Policy Network US Inc., is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organisation incorporated in 2001. The two organisations are separate legal and financial entities with independent boards, working together with a common vision.

Funding

IPN is funded entirely by voluntary, charitable gifts from foundations, individuals and businesses. IPN does not receive any funding from governments or political parties, and it does no contract work. IPN develops and implements a research and advocacy agenda that encompasses not one or a few, but many public policy issues.

IPN has received grants totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the multinational energy company ExxonMobil,[3] although it has not received money from the energy sector for some years.

Programs

IPN undertakes ongoing work on public policy in the areas of health, environment, economic development, trade, creativity and innovation.

The Freedom to Trade Campaign[4] is run in collaboration with the Atlas Global Initiative. The campaign joins 73 think tanks in 48 countries to support free trade and oppose protectionism.

IPN’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism[5] was founded in 2002. The prize recognises and rewards journalists and commentators who support the free society. This year, IPN will award the first Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism.

IPN was founded by Antony Fisher in the UK as the International Institute for Economic Research (IIER) in 1971. Fisher went on to found the Atlas Economic Research Foundation in the USA in 1981, and from this point the IIER traded as Atlas Foundation UK. The organisation underwent a further rebranding in 2001, when it changed its name to IPN. In the USA, the Atlas Foundation also provides training and funding to start libertarian think tanks. Fisher founded the influential Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a classical liberal think tank based in London. The founding director of IPN, Julian Morris, was previously director of the IEA's Environment and Technology Programme.

People

Past notable trustees/directors

Past notable staff

Some of IPN's partners

References

  1. ↑ Monbiot, George (27 September 2006). "Smoke in our eyes". The Guardian. London.
  2. ↑ "Climate change sceptic think tank shuts down". The Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Owen, Jonathan; Paul Bignell (7 February 2010). "Think-Tanks Take Oil Money and Use it to Fund Climate Deniers". The Independent.
    - Monbiot, George (September 27, 2006). "How corporations have hijacked the climate change debate". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
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