Foundations and Public Policy: The Mask of Pluralism (Suny Series in Radical Social and Political Theory)

Annotation In This Pathbreaking Study Of Foundation Influence, Author Joan Roelofs Produces A Comprehensive Picture Of Philanthropy's Critical Role In Society. She Shows How A Vast Number Of Policy Innovations Have Arisen From The Most Important Foundations, Lessening The Destructive Impact Of Global Marketization. Conversely, Groups And Movements That Might Challenge The Status Quo Are Nudged Into Line With Grants And Technical Assistance, And Foundations Also Have Considerable Power To Shape Such Things As Public Opinion, Higher Education, And Elite Ideology. The Cumulative Effect Is That Foundations, Despite Their Progressive Goals, Have A Depoliticizing Effect, One That Preserves The Hegemony Of Neoliberal Institutions. What Are Foundations? -- Ideology And Information -- Reforming Government -- Market Supplement: Arts And Culture -- Market Supplement: Social Welfare And The Economy -- Foundations And The Legal System -- Social Change Organizations -- International Activities -- Conclusions And Questions For Further Research -- Inquiry Letter For Haymarket Research -- Haymarket Research Questionnaire -- Selected Groups Funded By Haymarket 1974-1978. Joan Roelofs. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-257) And Index. Documents how even progressive foundations serve to reinforce the political status quo. In this pathbreaking study of foundation influence, author Joan Roelofs produces a comprehensive picture of philanthropy's critical role in society. She shows how a vast number of policy innovations have arisen from the most important foundations, lessening the destructive impact of global "marketization." Conversely, groups and movements that might challenge the status quo are nudged into line with grants and technical assistance, and foundations also have considerable power to shape such things as public opinion, higher education, and elite ideology. The cumulative effect is that foundations, despite their progressive goals, have a depoliticizing effect, one that preserves the hegemony of neoliberal institutions. Foundations and Public Policy 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Preface 10 1. Introduction 14 2. What Are Foundations? 20 3. Ideology and Information 40 4. Reforming Government 78 5. Market Supplement 94 6. Market Supplement 102 7. Foundations and the Legal System 114 8. Social Change Organizations 134 9. International Activities 170 10. Conclusions and Questions for Further Research 210 Appendix A 224 Appendix B 226 Appendix C 228 Notes 232 Select Bibliography 262 Index 272 A 272 B 272 C 273 D 274 E 274 F 275 G 276 H 276 I 276 J 277 K 277 L 277 M 277 N 278 O 279 P 279 Q 280 R 280 S 281 T 281 U 282 V 282 W 282 Y 282 Z 282