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| {{Short description|American think tank}} | |||
| '''Political Research Associates''' (PRA) is a research group, located in ], which studies the U.S. political ]. It was founded in 1981 by Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D., and now has a full-time staff of eight. The current director is Roberta Salper. Nikhil Aziz is associate director and director of research. ] is senior analyst. Researchers include Palak Shah and Pam Chamberlain. | |||
| {{Primary sources|date=January 2023}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} | |||
| {{Use American English|date=January 2024}} | |||
| {{Infobox organization | |||
| | logo = Political Research Associates (logo).png | |||
| | founded_date = {{start date and age|1981}} (as Midwest Research, Chicago)<br>{{start date|1987}} (as PRA) | |||
| | founder = Jean V. Hardisty | |||
| | location = ], United States<!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" --> | |||
| | origins = | |||
| | key_people = ], ] Peggy Shinner, Tarso Luís Ramos, Pam Chamberlain, Surina Khan | |||
| | area_served = Worldwide | |||
| | focus = Studying the U.S. ] | |||
| | method = | |||
| | revenue = $700,000 | |||
| | endowment = | |||
| | num_volunteers = | |||
| | owner = | |||
| | Non-profit_slogan = | |||
| | homepage = | |||
| | type = Tax exempt ] | |||
| | dissolved = | |||
| | footnotes = | |||
| | website = {{url|https://www.politicalresearch.org}} | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Political Research Associates''' ('''PRA'''), formerly '''Midwest Research, Chicago''' (1981–87), is a non-profit research group focused on social justice and the pursuit of building a just democracy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission & History |url=https://politicalresearch.org/about/mission-history |website=Political Research Associates |publisher=Political Research Associates |access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> The PRA is located in ]. | |||
| Critic Daniel Brandt has described PRA as a "private intelligence agency," a type of organization that will "generally inbreed with their adversaries and mutate into a peculiar political animal." However, most ] and ] activists are supportive of PRA, including Anne Braden of the Southern Organizing Committee and Suzanne Pharr of the Highlander Research Center . | |||
| ==Mission== | |||
| PRA studies the U.S. political ], as well as ], and ] organizations. It has a full-time staff of six. The Executive Director is Tarso Luis Ramos. ] was the founder and director from 1981 to 2004. ] was the group's senior analyst from 1981–2011. Peggy Shinner (a poet) was the first archivist. | |||
| PRA publishes a journal, '']'', quarterly, which reports on specific and current movements or trends within the U.S. political Right, and also produces special reports, past examples of which include "Calculated Compassion: How the Ex-Gay Movement Serves the Right's Attacks on Democracy,"<ref>{{cite web |last=Khan|first=Surina|title=Calculated Compassion |url=http://www.publiceye.org/equality/x-gay/Calculated_Compassion_TOC.html |publisher=Political Research Associates|access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> authored by former PRA research analyst, Surina Khan, which details attacks on ]s and ]s, and "Decades of Distortion," which alleged ]ing of welfare recipients.<ref name="about"></ref> | |||
| The group provides public speakers, and has staff on hand to answer queries from journalists, researchers, and activists. Its annual funding of approximately $700,000 per year comes from foundation grants, individual contributions, and the sale of research materials. Expenditures are directed toward staffing, general & administrative expenses, programs and fundraising.<ref> See page 16</ref> Among its major donors are the ] and the ]. | |||
| PRA is supported by a number of ] and ] activists, including Anne Braden of the ], and ] of the ]. Pharr has written that PRA "sets the standard for researchers and political analysts of integrity," and describes the group's research as "thorough, thoughtful, carefully researched, and presented within a broad context of understanding of the complex relationships and activities of the Right."<ref name="about" /> | |||
| ==Founding and early history== | |||
| What is now Political Research Associates in Massachusetts began as a small progressive ] think tank called '''Midwest Research'''. The organization was founded by ], a professor of history. Hardisty had been hired by the ] of ] to conduct research on the rise of the anti-feminist and ]. She wrote her report for the ACLU, and then left academia to devote herself full time to defending democracy and human rights against organized attacks by right wing groups and movements.{{cn|date=March 2021}} | |||
| The first two people hired by Dr. Hardisty were ], a poet and writer, and ], a journalist and photographer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tribute to Jean Hardisty |url=https://politicalresearch.org/about/tribute-jean-hardisty |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=Political Research Associates |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| When Hardisty was diagnosed with ], she was referred to a medical center in ]. Shinner chose to stay in Chicago with her partner. However, ] and his spouse moved to the Boston area. After a few examinations in Boston, Hardisty was told her best treatment would be received in ]. She left the organization she founded in the hands of her staff. She later returned to resume her leadership position.{{cn|date=March 2021}} | |||
| The year 1994 saw a rising wave of violence against persons in (or even suspected of being supportive of) ] communities. Hardisty contacted nationally-known organizers and strategists ] and ] and raised funds for a national strategy meeting at the ] in the ]. What emerged was "A Call to Defend Democracy and Pluralism", November 17, 1994.{{cn|date=March 2021}} | |||
| Hardisty testified as an expert witness in the ] over ], described by human rights groups as "homophobic". She was accompanied by staff member Chip Berlet and numerous boxes of documents prepared for submission as evidence in the case. The case defending Amendment Two quickly collapsed.{{cn|date=March 2021}} | |||
| Hardisty is listed in the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/hardisty-jean/|title=JEAN V. HARDISTY|website=The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * '']'', a 1987 report by ]. | |||
| * ], a ] watchdog that criticizes and monitors ] (especially ] & ]). | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ⚫ | * | ||
| * Mantilla, Karla. “Report says right wing is full of shit.” ], Vol. 28, No. 4, p. 3. | |||
| *, by Daniel Brandt of Namebase.org | |||
| * Davis-Cohen, Simon. “Sheriffs Collude with Anti-Immigrant Group.” ], Vol. 83, No. 4, August 2019, pp. 23–24. | |||
| == External links == | |||
| ⚫ | * - The Website of Political Research Associates | ||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:22, 12 June 2024
American think tank | This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Political Research Associates" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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| Founded | 1981; 43 years ago (1981) (as Midwest Research, Chicago) 1987 (1987) (as PRA) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jean V. Hardisty |
| Type | Tax exempt non-profit organization |
| Focus | Studying the U.S. political right |
| Location |
|
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Chip Berlet, Jean Hardisty Peggy Shinner, Tarso Luís Ramos, Pam Chamberlain, Surina Khan |
| Revenue | $700,000 |
| Website | www |
Political Research Associates (PRA), formerly Midwest Research, Chicago (1981–87), is a non-profit research group focused on social justice and the pursuit of building a just democracy. The PRA is located in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Mission
PRA studies the U.S. political right wing, as well as white supremacists, and paramilitary organizations. It has a full-time staff of six. The Executive Director is Tarso Luis Ramos. Dr. Jean V. Hardisty was the founder and director from 1981 to 2004. Chip Berlet was the group's senior analyst from 1981–2011. Peggy Shinner (a poet) was the first archivist.
PRA publishes a journal, The Public Eye, quarterly, which reports on specific and current movements or trends within the U.S. political Right, and also produces special reports, past examples of which include "Calculated Compassion: How the Ex-Gay Movement Serves the Right's Attacks on Democracy," authored by former PRA research analyst, Surina Khan, which details attacks on gays and lesbians, and "Decades of Distortion," which alleged scapegoating of welfare recipients.
The group provides public speakers, and has staff on hand to answer queries from journalists, researchers, and activists. Its annual funding of approximately $700,000 per year comes from foundation grants, individual contributions, and the sale of research materials. Expenditures are directed toward staffing, general & administrative expenses, programs and fundraising. Among its major donors are the Public Welfare Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
PRA is supported by a number of progressive and liberal activists, including Anne Braden of the Southern Organizing Committee, and Suzanne Pharr of the Highlander Research Center. Pharr has written that PRA "sets the standard for researchers and political analysts of integrity," and describes the group's research as "thorough, thoughtful, carefully researched, and presented within a broad context of understanding of the complex relationships and activities of the Right."
Founding and early history
What is now Political Research Associates in Massachusetts began as a small progressive Chicago think tank called Midwest Research. The organization was founded by Jean V. Hardisty, a professor of history. Hardisty had been hired by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois to conduct research on the rise of the anti-feminist and anti-abortion movements. She wrote her report for the ACLU, and then left academia to devote herself full time to defending democracy and human rights against organized attacks by right wing groups and movements.
The first two people hired by Dr. Hardisty were Peggy Shinner, a poet and writer, and Chip Berlet, a journalist and photographer.
When Hardisty was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, she was referred to a medical center in Boston. Shinner chose to stay in Chicago with her partner. However, Chip Berlet and his spouse moved to the Boston area. After a few examinations in Boston, Hardisty was told her best treatment would be received in Oklahoma. She left the organization she founded in the hands of her staff. She later returned to resume her leadership position.
The year 1994 saw a rising wave of violence against persons in (or even suspected of being supportive of) LGBTQ communities. Hardisty contacted nationally-known organizers and strategists Suzanne Pharr and Loretta Ross and raised funds for a national strategy meeting at the Blue Mountain Center in the Adirondacks. What emerged was "A Call to Defend Democracy and Pluralism", November 17, 1994.
Hardisty testified as an expert witness in the court fight over Colorado’s Amendment 2, described by human rights groups as "homophobic". She was accompanied by staff member Chip Berlet and numerous boxes of documents prepared for submission as evidence in the case. The case defending Amendment Two quickly collapsed.
Hardisty is listed in the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
See also
- Clouds Blur the Rainbow: The Other Side of New Alliance Party, a 1987 report by Chip Berlet.
- Media Matters, a progressive watchdog that criticizes and monitors news media (especially the right & far right).
References
- "Mission & History". Political Research Associates. Political Research Associates. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- Khan, Surina. "Calculated Compassion". Political Research Associates. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
- ^ PRA: About Us
- PRA Annual Report 2003-2004 See page 16
- "Tribute to Jean Hardisty". Political Research Associates. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- "JEAN V. HARDISTY". The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- Mantilla, Karla. “Report says right wing is full of shit.” Off Our Backs, Vol. 28, No. 4, p. 3.
- Davis-Cohen, Simon. “Sheriffs Collude with Anti-Immigrant Group.” The Progressive, Vol. 83, No. 4, August 2019, pp. 23–24.
External links
- PoliticalResearch.org - The Website of Political Research Associates