The Encyclopedia
of World Problems
& Human Potential

Bogus public interest groups

Nature

There are numerous associations and institutes which appear and profess to operate in the public interest but are actually subsidiaries of or work in conjunction with industry, thereby perpetuating the best interests of the industry rather than the public at large. Such organizations may use deceptive titles and credentials to push industry propaganda or may promote projects that produce little benefit and distract attention from authentic groups whose budgets are miniscule by comparison.

Incidence

The (USA) Calorie Control Council incited people to speak out about how they felt concerning the proposed ban on saccharin, but no mention was ever made in all their propaganda that the council was an association of dietetic food and drink producers.

Broader

Deception

Narrower

Denial of rights of indigenous people to be self-governing

Aggravated by

Misuse of nonprofit associations as front organizations by government

Value(s)

Type

(E) Emanations of other problems

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

www.uia.org

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Bogus public interest groups

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA