Behind the scenes of major global policies lies a shadowy force few have heard of: the Atlas Network. Its influence stretches across nations, shaping laws and suppressing dissent under the guise of freedom.
This is no ordinary organization. The Atlas Network connects over 500 think tanks worldwide, advancing an agenda that dismantles public protections, empowers corporate elites, and reframes democracy itself. In this article, we’ll expose the hidden workings of the Atlas Network, its global impact, and how we can shine a light on its influence.
The Atlas Network was founded in 1981 by Antony Fisher, a British entrepreneur inspired by Friedrich Hayek’s book, The Road to Serfdom. Hayek argued that socialism leads to tyranny, and Fisher believed the battle to preserve freedom lay in shaping ideas, not directly pursuing politics.
Fisher’s first success came with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in the UK, which helped legitimize the free-market policies that defined Margaret Thatcher’s government. Encouraged by this success, Fisher expanded his efforts internationally, creating the Atlas Network—a web of think tanks strategically placed to influence global policies. Today, its shadow looms over governance in countries across the globe.
Atlas-affiliated think tanks present themselves as independent research organizations, but their true aim is to shape public policy in favor of deregulation, privatization, and corporate power. High-profile members like the Heritage Foundation in the US and the Fraser Institute in Canada are key players in this effort, using their influence to craft policies that undermine democratic protections.
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The Atlas Network extends its shadow by manipulating media narratives. Think tanks supply “experts” who frame corporate priorities as economic necessities and label activists as radicals or threats. These media appearances rarely disclose the think tanks’ funding ties, allowing their messages to dominate public discourse unchecked.
For example, Greta Thunberg and other climate activists have been branded “radicals” by Atlas-affiliated organizations. Such framing creates a hostile environment for grassroots movements and justifies harsh anti-protest measures.
The policies driven by Atlas think tanks often echo the same themes: eroding labor protections, criminalizing dissent, and prioritizing corporate interests. The Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership provided a 900-page roadmap for the Trump administration’s policies, including anti-union measures and environmental deregulations. In the UK, think tanks like Policy Exchange have helped draft laws targeting climate protests.
In the US, the Heritage Foundation’s influence extends from anti-union policies to anti-protest laws, including measures criminalizing demonstrations near critical infrastructure like oil pipelines. These policies prioritize corporate profits over constitutional rights.
Policy Exchange and other Atlas-affiliated think tanks were instrumental in crafting laws that significantly curbed civil liberties, especially targeting groups like Extinction Rebellion. These laws frame protest as chaos, while ignoring corporate-driven crises.
In Germany, Atlas rhetoric branded the Letzte Generation climate movement as “terrorists.” This narrative led to police raids on peaceful activists and emboldened public hostility, all while shielding polluters from accountability.