Rockridge Institute
{{Infobox organization
|name = Rockridge Institute
|image = Rockridge institute logo.png
|size = 300px
|alt = Rockridge Institute logo
|formation = 1997
|leader_title = Senior Fellows
|leader_name = George Lakoff
Glenn W. Smith
Eric Haas
|leader_title2 = Executive Director
|leader_name2 = Bruce Budner
|headquarters = Berkeley, California, United States
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090122050616/http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/ rockridgeinstitute.org]
}}
The Rockridge Institute was an American non-profit research and progressive think tank founded in 1997 and located in Berkeley, California, from 2003 until April 30, 2008.{{cite web|title=The Rockridge Era Ends |url=http://www.rockridgenation.org/blog/archive/2008/04/21/the-rockridge-era-ends |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727222343/http://www.rockridgenation.org/blog/archive/2008/04/21/the-rockridge-era-ends |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }} Its stated goal was to strengthen democracy by providing intellectual support to the progressive community.{{cite web|title=About Us — Rockridge Institute |url=http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/aboutus |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701230249/http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/aboutus |archive-date=July 1, 2008 }} The Rockridge Institute promoted progressive ideas and values, studied their implications, and worked to provide an effective articulation of those values to shift public discourse.
Framing
{{Main|Framing (social sciences)}}
Founded by the prominent cognitive linguist George Lakoff, the Rockridge Institute sought to examine the way that frames—which Lakoff describes as "the mental structures that influence our thinking, often unconsciously"—determine our opinions and values.[http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/people/fac/lakoff.html Welcome to Berkeley Linguistics][https://www.pbs.org/now/politics/lakoff.html Politics & Economy. George Lakoff: Biography | PBS], NOW with Bill Moyers Based on extensive research in human cognition, the Rockridge Institute argued that the way an issue is framed—the language used to describe it and the metaphors used to understand it—influences our political views as much, or more, than the particulars of a given policy.[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4105213 NPR: The Thinking Behind Red and Blue States], Talk of the Nation, 2004-10-12
Accordingly, the Rockridge Institute attempted to monitor the manipulative use of framing, particularly by right wing organizations and politicians, and to promote frames that encourage progressive thinking. A much discussed example of framing is the Bush administration's use of the phrase War on Terror to describe its policies following the September 11th attacks. The use of the "war" metaphor, the Rockridge Institute and others contended, had a tremendous effect on U.S. policy and public debate.[http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?pid=119330 It's Not a 'War' on Terror], The Nation, 2006-09-08 They further contended it has allowed the president to assume war powers, makes opposition to the "war" seem unpatriotic, and was used to justify the invasion of Iraq, although cooperation between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein had not occurred.{{cite news | first=R. Jeffrey | last=Smith | title=Hussein's Prewar Ties To Al-Qaeda Discounted | date=2007-04-06 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040502263.html | work =Washington Post | pages =A01 | access-date = 2008-03-22 }}
If the U.S. response to September 11 had been framed as a criminal proceeding, the Rockridge Institute and others argued, such extraordinary measures would never have garnered sufficient political support.Brzezinski, Zbigniew, [http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070327_terrorized_by_war_on_terror/ Terrorized by ‘War on Terror’], Truthdig, 2007-03-07
The Rockridge Institute sought to raise consciousness about manipulative framing and to propose progressive frames on a wide range of issues, including the economy, immigration, religion, and the environment.
In December 2005 the Rockridge Institute invited its participants to apply for the 25 openings for the Advisory Board for its on-line community of practice called the Rockridge Nation.Chuck Watts, advisory board member, Rockridge Nation.
Dissolution
The Rockridge Institute announced its closure in April 2008.
Cognitive Policy Works, an offshoot organization formed by former Rockridge fellows, maintains an online archive of [http://www.cognitivepolicyworks.com/resource-center/rockridge-institute/ Rockridge materials].
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v19n2/gamson_elephants.html Public Eye on Lakoff and framing]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090122050616/http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/ Rockridge Institute website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090218001803/http://www.rockridgenation.org/ Rockridge Nation (Rockridge Institute community blog)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170629135552/http://www.cognitivepolicyworks.com/resource-center/thinking-points/ Lakoff's Thinking Points available online]
- {{cite web |title=Rove's Trap - The president's strategist is politicizing the Iraq war for partisan political gain. Will the Dems figure out how to fight back? |first=Eleanor |last=Clift |author-link=Eleanor Clift |work=Newsweek |date=June 2006 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13367209/site/newsweek/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619214118/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13367209/site/newsweek/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-06-19 |access-date=Nov 12, 2009 }}
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Category:Defunct progressive organizations in the United States
Category:Think tanks established in 2003
Category:2003 establishments in California