Edmund Burke Foundation
The Edmund Burke Foundation is a conservative think tank based in the Netherlands. It was founded by Bart Jan Spruyt in December 2000 in an effort to “conserve the virtuous elements of Dutch society, and to restore those virtuous elements that have been lost”.[1]
The foundation’s website gives an account of how the think tank was founded:
“Resisting, the prevailing 'progressive' political and cultural climate in The Netherlands, a group of young conservatives hoisted the flag of conservatism high in December of 2000. They named their foundation after the founder of intellectual conservatism, the British Member of Parliament Edmund Burke (1730-1797). In the spirit of Burke we are of the opinion that much that was worth preserving and cherishing has been destroyed in recent decades in our country. Many fundamental ideas from the Judeo-Christian and classical-humanist traditions-the two pillars of our civilization-were unjustly pushed aside, social connections were broken, and within this vacuum of individualization and increasing anonymity the role of government has grown to grotesque proportions. ” [2]
Contents
The organisation
The Edmund Burke Foundation promotes strong free market reforms and opposing abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage. It also supports the idea that there is no convincing evidence for global warming. It was founded in 2000 and is the only conservative think-tank in the Netherlands.[3]
- The Burke Foundation regularly publishes reports and studies on a variety of topics, including the Dutch healthcare sector, privatization, wasteful government spending and conservative thought. Although the message of the Foundation would be considered a normal conservative Republican message in the United States, it places the Foundation in an awkward position in the Netherlands. Many radical activists regard the message of the Burke Foundation (which is in favor of healthcare privatization and tax cuts) as a threat to society." [6][4]
People
BOARD & STAFF
- Prof. Andreas Kinneging, Chairman
- Dr. Bart J. Spruyt,
Secretary & Treasurer
- Michiel Visser, International Secretary
Its director is Bart Jan Spruyt, who was a personal friend of the populist Pim Fortuyn. Fortuyn was murdered in 2002 in the runup to the elections in the Netherlands.[5][6]
Funding
Funding is received through private donations ranging from € 25 to € 500 per year. Possibilities for Corporate donations are "available upon request"[7] The pharmaceutical company Pfizer was funding the Edmund Burke Foundation from 2001 - 2005. The Edmund Burke Foundation has also received funding from Microsoft. [8]
Associations
Edmund Burke Foundation is listed in the Atlas Economic Research Foundation which describes itself as "[...] the leading international organization for supporting independent think tanks advancing freedom [since 1981]".[9]
Mission
To train students in conservative thoughts. The foundation organises seminars and summer camps for talented students .[10]
Resources
- The foundation's website: http://www.burkestichting.nl
- Sourcewatch on the foundation: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Edmund_Burke_Foundation
- Atlas Economic Research Foundation http://www.atlasusa.org/directory/institute_profile.php?refer=directory&org_id=571
- Sea Urchin Editions http://www.sea-urchin.net/radiobaghdad/bugger8.html
Contact
- Edmund Burke Foundation
- Postbus 10498
- 2501 HL The Hague
- T: +31 (0)70 - 3925180 +31 (0)70 - 3925180
- F: +31 (0)70 - 3651809
Notes
- ↑ Edmund Burke Foundation, Homepage, The Edmund Burke Foundation, Accessed 04-May-2010
- ↑ Edmund Burke Foundation, Homepage, The Edmund Burke Foundation, Accessed 04-May-2010
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ newsfilter.co.uk Encyclopedia, http://pedia.newsfilter.co.uk/wikipedia/b/bu/burke_foundation.html
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Moritz Schwarz, http://www.jf-archiv.de/archiv03/203yy09.htm "Ein ganz außergewöhnlicher Mann", interview published on 09/05/2003 in Junge Freiheit (independent German weekly newspaper)
- ↑ http://www.burkestichting.nl/en/support.html
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ [4]
- ↑ [5]
