British-American Project

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Originally the British-American Project for the Successor Generation, the British American Project was founded in 1985 by Nick Butler to perpetuate the close relationship between the United States and Britain^[1]. The project was launched by former British Steel chairman, Sir Charles Villiers with support from London's Royal Institute of International Affairs and the School for Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.^[2] It has a membership of around 600 leaders and opinion formers from both countries. It holds an annual conference to which journalists are not invited and rarely appears in the media, although many members are themselves journalists.

Since its official formation it has received sponsorship from, among other companies, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Monsanto, Saatchi and Saatchi, Phillip Morris, Coopers & Lybrand, American Express, Apple Computer, British Airways, BP, Cadbury Schweppes and Camelot.

Each year, 24 new participants are selected from a large depth and breadth of intellectual and influential society on both sides of the Atlantic. At the start of each year, each existing member can nominate up to three people aged between 28 and 40. These nominees are then interviewed and tested: there are competitive debates, management games and personal presentations. Nominees are selected according to their willingness to listen to other people and their ability to assimilate with the existing group. The selective nature of the organisation's membership, and its transatlantic focus, have earned it the nickname "Junior Bilderberg".

The patrons of the British American Project are Lord Carrington, a former Secretary General of NATO, Philip Lader, former U.S. Ambassador to Britain, George J. Mitchell, former United States Senate Majority Leader, and Lord Robertson, another former Secretary General of NATO.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• British-American Project (official website)
• [1] (The Guardian reports)