The American Enterprise Institute is one of the oldest think tanks in the U.S.
Founded in 1943, shortly after the country entered WWII and almost all the production in the country was geared for the military industry, its main goal was and has remained to influence national policy in favor of big business.
It was so successful that since its creation there has been a permanent revolving door between its members and government positions.
The list of AEI’s members and donors is a who’s who of the most powerful people in American business.
Its members and participating “scholars” are corporate-friendly economists, financial analysts, corporate lawyers and politically tied individuals such as former President Gerald Ford, economist Milton Friedman, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Lynne Cheney (the Vice-President’s wife), former Speaker Of The House Newt Gingricht and former assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle.
The bulk of their work is to produce articles and researches that shape public opinion, and to create a framework for public policy that can be effectively translated into governmental action.
The fact that so many of its members come from the corporate environment and then enter the government, or come from the government (at the highest levels) to go back to the corporate world while in the institution has been a strong factor for the corporatization of the U.S. government.
The following links are articles related to the American Enterprise Institute:
RightWeb:
History, membership and achievements of AEI.
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1431
Wikipedia: the American Enterprise Institute. List of most prominent scholars and fellows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Enterprise_Institute
Media Transparency: AEI and the institutional profile of some of its members.
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=19
Sourcewatch:
American Enterprise Institute. Brief history, landmark issues, members, scholars and funding.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Enterprise_Institute
Wikipedia:
Bruce Kovner, Chairman of the board of trustees of the AEI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Kovner
Wikipedia:
Lee Raymnond, Vice-Chairman of the board of trustees of AEI and former CEO and Chairman of Exxon-Mobil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Raymond
The Guardian:
Scientists offered cash by AEI to dispute climate study.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/feb/02/frontpagenews.climatec...
People for the American Way:
An overview of the issues, activities, history and main members of AEI.
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=4456
ExxonSecrets: Detailed funding of AEI by Exxon.
http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=9
CommonDreams:
An article by Ralph Nader.
Has the American Enterprise Institute Lost Contact with Reality?
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0613-01.htm
Salon.com: The real Iraq Study Group.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/01/06/aei/print.html
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