The Social Affairs Unit was a right-leaning think tank in the United Kingdom.it is "commonly described as a right wing 'think-tank'". M. E. Tasker; D. E. Packham, "Freedom, funding and the future of the universities", Studies in Higher Education, Volume 15, Issue 2 1990, pages 181 - 195. p190 Founded in 1980 as an offshoot of the Institute of Economic Affairs, it published books on a variety of social issues. Its website notes that "many SAU supporters are inclined to believe that the generation which fought the Second World War were rather too keen on social engineering over the goals of personal responsibility".Social Affairs Unit, , accessed 9 August 2010
The Unit published Standpoint (2008 - 2021), a monthly cultural and political newsstand magazine edited by Daniel Johnson (2008 - 2018), Michael Mosbacher (2018 - 2019), Edward Lucas (2019 - 2020) and Andreas Campomar (2020 - 2021).
History The Social Affairs Unit was established in December 1980 as an offshoot of the Institute of Economic Affairs, in order to carry the IEA's economic ideas into the field of sociology. "Within a few years the Social Affairs Unit became independent from the IEA, acquiring its own premises."Muller, Christopher (1996), "The institute of economic affairs: Undermining the post-war consensus", Contemporary British History, Volume 10, Issue 1 Spring 1996, pages 88 - 110. p102 Founded in 1980 as a registered charity,Social Affairs Unit, Charity Commission, charity number 281530 its founder chairman was Professor Julius Gould, and its founder Director, Dr. Digby Anderson. Anderson often contributed leading articles to UK national newspapers, was Director from 1980 to 2004, when he retired and was succeeded by Michael Mosbacher.Digby Anderson, Social Affairs Unit February 24, 2005], Accessed May 2, 2008
Funding Documents released as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement showed that the Unit accepted funding from British American Tobacco in the 1980s.Legacy Tobacco Documents Library
People Trustees Prof. David Womersley Prof. Simon Green Mark Fisher CBE FRSA
Other Director: Michael Mosbacher (2004 - 2019) Media Fellow: Richard D. North (2004 - 2012) (died 2025)
Advisory Council Dr. Digby Anderson Dr. Alejandro Chafuen Professor Christie Davies (died 2017) Professor Adrian Furnham Professor Jacques Garello (died 2025) Professor Nathan Glazer (died 2019) Dr. Simon Green Professor Leonard Liggio (died 2014) Professor David Martin (died 2019) Professor Antonio Martino (died 2022) Professor Michael Novak (died 2017) John O'Sullivan
See also List of UK think tanks
Books
References
External links