Applying the Amazon.com Model to the Promotion of Freedom

Cato Institute Launches Innovative Web-based Programs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Cato Institute has
established itself as one of the most international of think tanks with active
research and publication programs in nine major languages. On December 12,
Cato is adding six new foreign-language programs to promote individual
liberty, free markets, limited government, and peace.

One of the foremost goals of these programs is to uphold classical liberal
values. The Bush administration made the promotion of democracy and freedom a
key part of its foreign policy but has become far more muted on the subject of
the benefits of political liberty overseas as it became clear that democracy
can be messy and lead to the elevation of those who do not necessarily share
the policy goals of the United States. Although Cato has strongly opposed the
neo-conservative foreign policy of the Bush administration, the Institute
remains committed to advancing the ideas of democracy and liberty.

The new programs will publish in Chinese, Portuguese, French, Persian,
Kurdish, and on the continent of Africa in English and Swahili.

NEW PROGRAMS
Chinese: www.TianDaoCN.org
French: UnMondeLibre.org
Portuguese: OrdemLivre.org
Persian: Cheragheazadi.org
Kurdish: Chiraiazadi.org
African: AfricanLiberty.org

JOINING
English: Cato.org
Spanish: Elcato.org
Russian: Cato.ru
Arabic: MisbahalHurriyya.org

In addition to actively maintaining the websites, each of the programs will be
publishing books and studies, running seminars on libertarian ideas and
policies and syndicating articles to the popular media. Summer Schools in
Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, and other languages are planned to
promote understanding of classical liberal ideals and goals worldwide.

Cato vice president for international programs Tom G. Palmer described the
initiative as "a truly global initiative for the ideas of human rights,
freedom of trade, limited government, and peace." Palmer is director of the
Institute's Center for Promotion of Human Rights, which coordinates Cato
programs around the world. Palmer explained that "each language or region has
its own brand which is a website URL -- the Lamp of Liberty, for example, and
we use the brand on every product, so that if you read a syndicated op-ed in a
newspaper or a book, you will be able to find the website and all the other
products, including essay contests, summer schools, podcasts, and more. We're
applying the Amazon.com model to the promotion of freedom."

Palmer stressed that the initiative is "one hundred percent independent,
unconnected to and not financed by any government." All funding for the
programs, according to Palmer, "is raised voluntarily from donors who share
our belief in the universality of human rights and the benefits of peace and
free trade."

The whole Web-based initiative aims to change the terms of public policy
debate in the Middle East, China, Africa and Eastern Europe by broadening
awareness of the ideas of liberty, and providing "intellectual ammunition" to
its defenders, in the form of arguments and evidence.

More information is available at:
here

SOURCE Cato Institute

Cato Institute media department, +1-202-789-5200, pr@cato.org