Business-Managed Democracy

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In the US several wealthy foundations, which have gained their money from large successful business enterprises, provide much of the finance for the neoconservative movement, including the push for market reforms of school education and increasing the privatisation of US schools. Although “total philanthropic giving to K-12 schooling” is less than $1.5 billion (in 2002) out of some $500 billion government spending, private donors tend to make sure that their donations are leveraged to give them disproportionate influence. It enables donors to “define effective practice, forge school-community relationships, shape policy agendas, and redirect research.”

For example, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation promotes privatisation of public education via vouchers, lobbies state governments for voucher schemes and funds private voucher programmes, including $14.4 million to Partners Advancing Values in Education (PAVE). John M. Olin Foundation also donated millions of dollars to promote vouchers and school choice.

The diagram below shows how a few wealthy foundations are funding a vast network of organisations in the US, which are campaigning to introduce market reforms into education, including vouchers and charter schools. These organisations and many others campaign for these reforms through local organising, mass media and political lobbying.

Sources: R. G. Neas, ‘Following the Money: Funding and Support for Voucher Programs’, Washington DC, People for the American Way Foundation, 2003; Media Transparency, ‘Media Transparency: The Money Behind Conservative Media’, Cursor, Inc, accessed 20 May 2006; ‘Vouchers: Who's Behind It All?’ American Association of School Administrators, 21 October 2005.

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See also: Walton Family Foundation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation

References

 

© 2009 Sharon Beder
http://www.herinst.org/BusinessManagedDemocracy/education/campaigns/foundations.html