Atlas is seeking think tank leaders and staff to contribute to a new column in the Atlas Network News Blog. For two weeks, these intellectual entrepreneurs  will post on the daily life of running a think tank; from struggles, to successes to national current events. These posts will be published regularly on  Atlas’s Network News blog, which boasts a worldwide audience. If you’re interested in being a guest blogger, please send an email with a description of your organization, your ideas for posts, and two English writing samples to Cindy Cerquitella. Selections will be made on a rolling basis.

Look for the first contributor in early July!

Whether you are starting a think tank, work with an organization or are interested in the advance of freedom around the world, here is your first stop to learning about all that Atlas has to offer.

Atlas  is your one stop for information about the  global free market think tank movement. Take a look around our site and you’ll find the resources you need to  start your think tank, better manage your organization or  meet others who share your beliefs and vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I think I’d like to start a think tank, what is my first step?

At Atlas we strive to provide personal assistance to individuals looking to start a Free Market institute. Atlas has a dedicated staff member for each region of the world, who will work to assist you through the process.   We suggest you begin by sending an introductory email to  Joseph Humire.

In addition to personal consulting services Atlas has developed several products that should help you in the beginning stages of your institute. We recommend you take the time to read the Think Tank Primer- a compilation of helpful advice from successful think tank leaders around the world. In addition Atlas now runs a Toolkit blog, which features regularly updated content discussing various management tips and suggestions. This blog will also offer tech and new media tips, and will feature a special question and answer column. Finally, Each year in August Atlas runs a 2 week intensive think tank management training course, we highly encourage that you apply for this program.

Q. How does Atlas distribute grants?

Atlas is not an endowed organization; we must fundraise for all of our specific programs and grants. Our most substantial grant opportunities come through our Prize & Award programs, which occur annually and award institutes with solid track records and innovative projects.  Occasionally Atlas has extra funding to supply travel grants to specific events, or to distribute small trial grants. To be considered for these opportunities Atlas encourages think tanks to stay in contact with our Institute Relations team, and to fill out an application for the Fisher Venture Grant program. This application gives the Atlas staff the information necessary to evaluate an institute’s capabilities and needs.

Q. How do I become involved with the Global Network of think tanks?

Again, Atlas encourages young intellectual entrepreneurs and think tanks to keep in contact with their Institute Relations officers.  Atlas works with a wide array of individuals and organizations around the world, and officers are eager to share those contacts with interested parties. In addition Atlas has several products that allow you to become more involved with the greater think tank movement:

• Atlas has compiled a listing of over 500 free market focused think tanks around the world, look for partners in your country or region here.
• Atlas Flagship events: Each year Atlas hosts a Liberty Forum ( A prime opportunity for networking and collaboration), In addition there are several regional meetings like the European Resource Bank, and the African Resource Bank that allow for a more regional focus.
• Read the Atlas Network News blog, which features regular news from think tanks around the world. This site acts a source on what is taking place in the freedom movement around the world, whether it be a new study, an effective article, a conference or an award opportunity
• Keep updated about local events via the Freedom Calendar (You can post your institute’s events here as well) and Visit the Freedom Classified often to learn about job opportunities, Calls for Proposals and more.

Join the Campaign for Free Trade

Dear Friends,

In cooperation with the International Policy Network and a worldwide group of think tanks, we are circulating this petition to combat recent moves toward harmful economic nationalism.  I urge you to sign it.

Besides English, this petition  is now  available in over 30 languages.  (Please see below).  We are working toward an authentically worldwide effort on behalf of freedom of trade.  Your help toward that end will be greatly appreciated.

If you would like more information, please contact my colleague David Archer.

Free Trade Is the Best Policy

The specter of protectionism is rising.  It is always a dangerous and foolish policy, but it is especially dangerous at a time of economic crisis, when it threatens to damage the world economy.  Protectionism’s peculiar premise is that national prosperity is increased when government grants monopoly power to domestic producers.  As centuries of economic reasoning, historical experience, and empirical studies have repeatedly shown, that premise is dead wrong.  Protectionism creates poverty, not prosperity. Protectionism doesn’t even “protect” domestic jobs or industries; it destroys them, by harming export industries and industries that rely on imports to make their goods.  Raising the local prices of steel by “protecting” local steel companies just raises the cost of producing cars and the many other goods made with steel.  Protectionism is a fool’s game.

But the fact that protectionism destroys wealth is not its worst consequence.  Protectionism destroys peace.  That is justification enough for all people of good will, all friends of civilization, to speak out loudly and forcefully against economic nationalism, an ideology of conflict, based on ignorance and carried into practice by protectionism.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, Montesquieu observed that “Peace is the natural effect of trade. Two nations who differ with each other become reciprocally dependent; for if one has an interest in buying, the other has an interest in selling; and thus their union is founded on their mutual necessities.”

Trade’s most valuable product is peace.  Trade promotes peace, in part, by uniting different peoples in a common culture of commerce – a daily process of learning others’ languages, social norms, laws, expectations, wants, and talents.

Trade promotes peace by encouraging people to build bonds of mutually beneficial cooperation.  Just as trade unites the economic interests of Paris and Lyon, of Boston and Seattle, of Calcutta and Mumbai, trade also unites the economic interests of Paris and Portland, of Boston and Berlin, of Calcutta and Copenhagen – of the peoples of all nations who trade with  each other.

A great deal of rigorous empirical research supports the proposition that trade promotes peace.

Perhaps the most tragic example of what happens when that insight is ignored is World War II.

International trade collapsed by 70 percent between 1929 and 1932, in no small part because of America’s 1930 Smoot-Hawley tariff and the retaliatory tariffs of other nations.  Economist Martin Wolf notes that “this collapse in trade was a huge spur to the search for autarky and Lebensraum, most of all for Germany and Japan.”

The most ghastly and deadly wars in human history soon followed.

By reducing war, trade saves lives.

Trade saves lives also by increasing prosperity and extending it to more and more people.  The evidence that freer trade promotes prosperity is simply overwhelming. Prosperity enables ordinary men and women to lead longer and healthier lives.

And with longer, healthier lives lived more peacefully, people integrated into the global economy have more time to enjoy the vast array of cultural experiences brought to them by free trade.  Culture is enriched by contributions from around the world, made possible by free trade in goods and in ideas.

Without a doubt, free trade increases material prosperity.  But its greatest gift is not easily measured with money. That greatest gift is lives that are freer, fuller, and far less likely to be scalded or destroyed by the atrocities of war.

Accordingly, we the undersigned join together in a plea to the governments of all nations to resist the calls of the short-sighted and the greedy to raise higher the barriers to trade.  In addition, we call on them to tear down current protectionist barriers to free trade. To each government, we say: let your citizens enjoy not only the fruits of your own fields, factories, and genius, but also those of the entire globe.  The rewards will be greater prosperity, richer lives, and enjoyment of the blessings of peace.

Click here to Sign the Petition

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