Architecture of Power Changing Our World
This is a web site created by the Interhemispheric Resource Center to map the players involved in the rightward course of American politics. Included are profiles of individuals, descriptions of institutions and organizations -- and their interlocking memberships.
Right Web represents a revival of a former IRC program called GroupWatch (1985-1991) that profiled more than 125 private, quasi-governmental, and religious organizations that were closely associated with the implementation of U.S. foreign policy goals, especially in Central America . Right Web, however, adds a new a new component to this earlier endeavor: It shines a spotlight on not just organizations, but on the dozens and dozens of individuals who develop the ideas, promote the policies, and provide the cash needed to make the right wing the most powerful force in America today.
By establishing Right Web, the Interhemispheric Resource Center joins a broad movement of concerned citizens who are working to check the rightward shift in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Since the 1970s the right-wing has aimed to shatter the policy frameworks established by liberals and progressives since the turn of the century. These changes--such as reducing taxes for the wealthy and ending environmental regulations at home and asserting U.S. military supremacy and privileging U.S. corporations abroad--are the part of a radical agenda spun by a web of right-wing think tanks and policy institutes. We call this right-wing web an architecture of power--and it's an architecture that is systematically changing all liberal or progressive policy frameworks.
The right wing has been yanking U.S. policy--domestic and foreign--to the right for the past three decades. However, never before has the right wing been so integrated into U.S. government, having gained control over all three branches--legislative, judicial, executive--of the federal government. Since George W. Bush took over in the White House--and especially since the September 11, 2001 , terrorist attacks-- America 's right wing has led the country into uncharted and dangerous territory, at home and abroad.
The "right web" profiled on this site is not new to this administration, rather it is the product of the determined efforts of right-wing strategists and organizers since the early 1970s. This architecture of power is a political project of the right--not a "cabal," as some neoconservatives ironically call themselves (and some "paleocons" and liberals seriously believe them to be). In fact, as readers of this website will see, the leaders of this network have for years revealed their ideas and visions in studies, policy proposals, published articles, op-eds, books, and interviews. Nor is it the only interlocking network of institutes, foundations, politicians, and media. Liberals, progressives, socialists, and old right conservatives have all built networks of relations that date back decades.
The increasing power of the right-wing's web of institutes and individuals to shape policy agendas sets it apart from other political networks. A large part of this part is explained by its architecture, integrating political, cultural, religious, diplomatic, military, and economic policy agendas (and associated constituencies) into an overall policy framework. The rapid growth of the right's architecture of power can be partly explained by its larger funding base--provided by many corporations, right-wing foundations, and hundreds of thousands of individual constituents. The right-wing's policy proposals cater to the special interests of Corporate America--a relationship that distinguishes the right-wing's network from less powerful political networks. Another factor that has contributed to the success of this right-wing architecture of power in implementing its radical policy agendas has been its ability to push popular resentments and vulnerabilities into backlash populist movements.
The agendas of this right-wing architecture of power are radical--and are truly “changing our world”--in the sense that they shatter liberal and progressive policy frameworks for managing domestic and international affairs. As the spouse of one IRC employee said, "Sure, there are lots of networks out there. But this one is scary."
The People Web has photos of the individuals profiled, and some of those profiles are wicked. Check out the one for George W. Bush. The lengthy quote from Al Franken runs the Bush meanness back to Barbara.
Posted by Donald Douglas at December 23, 2003 11:17 AM