New America Foundation

New America Foundation is a think tank that focuses on a wide range of public policy issues, including national security, technology, education, and economic policy. The organization was founded in 1999 by Ted Halstead, Sherle Schwenninger, and Michael Lind, with the goal of creating a new kind of think tank that would bring together Democrats and Republicans to develop innovative solutions to United States' most pressing problems, often in collaboration with Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The foundation has been led by prominent figures such as Steve Coll and Anne-Marie Slaughter, who have shaped its direction and activities, including partnerships with Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

● History

The history of the organization is closely tied to the careers of its founders, including Ted Halstead, who previously worked at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Michael Lind, who was a fellow at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The foundation's early years were marked by a focus on foreign policy and national security, with a particular emphasis on the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Iraq War, in collaboration with experts from RAND Corporation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Institute for Defense Analyses. Over time, the organization has expanded its scope to include a broader range of issues, such as climate change, health care reform, and immigration policy, often working with Environmental Defense Fund, American Medical Association, and National Immigration Law Center. The foundation has also established partnerships with other organizations, including Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, to explore the intersection of technology and public policy, as well as with World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations.

● Mission and Activities

The mission of the organization is to develop and promote innovative solutions to the most pressing problems facing the United States and the world, often in collaboration with European Union, NATO, and G7. The foundation's activities include research and analysis, public policy development, and advocacy, as well as hosting events and conferences on topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and global governance, frequently featuring speakers from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and California Institute of Technology. The organization also publishes a range of reports, articles, and books on these topics, often in partnership with The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Foreign Affairs, and has established a number of programs and initiatives to support its work, including the New America NYC program, which focuses on issues related to urban planning and economic development in New York City, and the New America CA program, which focuses on issues related to technology and innovation in California.

● Organization and Leadership

The organization is led by a board of directors that includes prominent figures such as Eric Schmidt, Walter Isaacson, and Rebecca Henderson, who have shaped its direction and activities, including partnerships with McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase. The foundation is also advised by a council of advisors that includes experts from a range of fields, including economics, politics, and technology, such as Nouriel Roubini, Joseph Stiglitz, and Lawrence Lessig, who have contributed to its research and analysis on topics such as financial regulation, tax policy, and intellectual property law. The organization has a staff of around 200 people, including researchers, analysts, and communications specialists, who work together to develop and promote the foundation's ideas and initiatives, often in collaboration with University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Columbia University.

● Programs and Initiatives

The organization has established a number of programs and initiatives to support its work, including the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, which focuses on issues related to internet freedom and digital rights, and the New America Foundation's Education Policy Program, which focuses on issues related to education reform and teacher training, often working with National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation has also established a number of fellowships and awards to support emerging leaders and thinkers, including the New America Fellowship and the New America Award for Excellence in Public Service, which have been awarded to individuals such as Samantha Power, Atul Gawande, and Sarah Kendzior, who have made significant contributions to human rights, health care, and journalism.

● Notable Fellows and Staff

The organization has a long history of attracting talented and influential fellows and staff, including Sarah Kendzior, Glenn Greenwald, and Julian Assange, who have worked on issues related to national security, surveillance, and whistleblowing, often in collaboration with The Guardian, The Intercept, and WikiLeaks. Other notable fellows and staff include Peter Bergen, Steve Clemons, and Rebecca Rosen, who have worked on issues related to foreign policy, terrorism, and technology, and have written for publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Foreign Policy, and have appeared on CNN, BBC, and NPR.

● Criticisms and Controversies

The organization has faced criticism and controversy over the years, including allegations of conflict of interest and lack of transparency, particularly with regard to its funding and partnerships with corporations and government agencies, such as Department of Defense, Department of State, and National Security Agency. Some critics have also accused the foundation of being too closely tied to the Democratic Party and the Obama administration, and of promoting a neoliberal agenda that prioritizes the interests of corporations and elites over those of ordinary people, as argued by Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Joseph Stiglitz. Despite these criticisms, the organization remains a prominent and influential voice in the world of public policy and think tanks, and continues to shape the debate on a range of critical issues, including climate change, inequality, and global governance, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, and International Labour Organization. Category:Think tanks