Third Way

For the organization Third Way, see Third Way organization.

The Third Way, according to New Democrats Online, the Democratic Leadership Council's online community, is "a global movement dedicated to modernizing progressive politics for the information age. Third Way politics seeks a new balance of economic dynamism and social security, a new social compact based on individual rights and responsibilities, and a new model for governing that equips citizens and communities to solve their own problems." 

"The core principles and ideas of this Third Way movement are set forth in The New Progressive Declaration: A Political Philosophy for the Information Age." 

The DLC states that, "Starting with Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign in 1992, Third Way thinking is reshaping progressive politics throughout the world. Inspired by the example of Clinton and the New Democrats, Tony Blair in Britain led a revitalized New Labour party back to power in 1997. The victory of Gerhard [Shroeder ]  and the Social Democrats in Germany the next year confirmed the revival of center-left parties which either control or are part of the governing coalition forming throughout the European Union. From Latin America to Australia and New Zealand, Third Way ideas also are taking hold.

"On Sunday, April 25, 1999, the President Clinton and the DLC hosted a historic roundtable discussion, The Third Way: Progressive Governance for the 21st Century, with five world leaders including British PM Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Dutch PM Wim Kok, and Italian PM Massimo D'Alema, the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and DLC President Al From.

"The Third Way philosophy seeks to adapt enduring progressive values to the new challenges of he information age. It rests on three cornerstones:


 * the idea that government should promote equal opportunity for all while granting special privilege for none;
 * an ethic of mutual responsibility that equally rejects the politics of entitlement and the politics of social abandonment; and,
 * a new approach to governing that empowers citizens to act for themselves.

"The Third Way approach to economic opportunity and security stresses technological innovation, competitive enterprise, and education rather than top- down redistribution or laissez faire. On questions of values, it embraces 'tolerant traditionalism,' honoring traditional moral and family values while resisting attempts to impose them on others. It favors an enabling rather than a bureaucratic government, expanding choices for citizens, using market means to achieve public ends and encouraging civic and community institutions to play a larger role in public life. The Third Way works to build inclusive, multiethnic societies based on common allegiance to democratic values." 

Third Way Key Documents 1989 - 2004

SourceWatch Resources

 * Compassionate Conservatism
 * communitarianism
 * Democratic Leadership Council
 * Progressive Policy Institute
 * Senate Centrist Coalition
 * Third Way Foundation

Funders of Progressive Policy Institute
Media Transparency lists PPI as receiving nine grants totalling $350,000 from nine grants over the 1997 to 2002 originating from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. 

The conservative Capital Research Centre database lists PPI's funding as comprising:

2001

 * Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation $100,000 2001
 * AT&T Foundation $40,000 2001
 * Eli Lilly & Company Foundation $25,000 2001
 * Prudential Foundation $15,000 2001
 * Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation $10,000 2001

2000

 * AT&T Foundation $40,000 2000
 * Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Fund, Inc. $25,000 2000
 * Eastman Kodak Charitable Trust $16,000 2000

1999

 * AT&T Foundation $40,000 1999
 * Prudential Foundation $15,000 1999
 * Georgia-Pacific Foundation $10,000 1999

1998

 * AT&T Foundation $50,000 1998
 * Ameritech $25,000 1998
 * Chevron $10,0001998

1994-1997

 * BP Foundation, Inc. (formerly BP Amoco Foundation, Inc.) contributed $10,000 in each of 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

1994

 * Eastman Kodak Charitable Trust $5,000 1994