Open Society Foundation

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) is a network of philanthropic organisations established by George Soros, active internationally in promoting what it defines as an open society.

Soros's philosophy advocates for breaking down old certainties (God, Family, Nationhood) that he viewed as "untruths", thus transgressing established norms and institutions with the aim of destroying inherited ideas of truth, identity, and morality is not merely an abstract theory but a deep personal conviction for Soros.

Operational Modus Operandi

The Open Society Foundations operate as a significant component of the "donor class", co-investing with government entities such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department in various operations.

These entities also contribute to political campaigns. Soros's personal investments have profited massively from the operations he donates into and drafts off of, a practice described as the "ultimate insider trading card" due to the backing of the US military, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the State Department.

The OSF frequently acts as a donor to USAID and State Department initiatives, supplying supplementary capital when congressional funding is insufficient. This creates a "favours-for-favours relationship", granting Soros preferential access to assets and regulatory licences in regions of interest.

Geographic Focus and Activities

The Open Society Foundations primarily direct their resources towards global projects, with only 15% of their dedicated funding allocated to US institutions.

Key areas of operation include:

Eastern Europe: 

OSF has been instrumental in fostering numerous "Colour Revolutions" across the region, including in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Ukraine, often in conjunction with the US government. Over nearly a quarter-century, the Foundations have invested $1.6 billion in democratic development across Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on "exporting political unrest" to former communist states.

Russia: 

In the 1990s, Soros supported the Clinton administration's efforts to privatise state-held Russian assets following the Cold War. In collaboration with the Harvard Institute for International Development, which received substantial funding from USAID, OSF facilitated the sale of these assets at deeply discounted prices to Western investors through closed auctions. In these auctions, only the Harvard Endowment and George Soros's Quantum Fund were permitted to purchase the newly privatised assets, granting them exclusive access. This process is characterised as dismantling the country and selling its assets to foreign entities.

Ukraine: 

OSF is extensively involved in Ukraine, participating in the sale of its natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, and agriculture, to Wall Street investment firms and multinational corporations. Soros acquired a significant stake in Halliburton and lobbied for NATO expansion, with Halliburton holding contracts for oil and gas processing in Ukraine.

Romania: 

Since 1990, OSF has invested $160 million in Romania, a sum proportionally higher than its investment in the United States relative to national economic size. The Foundations have actively sought to control Romania's internal politics. Following a fatal nightclub fire in 2015, Soros-trained activists mobilised protests that, despite minimal public support, led to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the appointment of Soros-connected individuals to the cabinet. Soros was notably the first civilian to arrive in Bucharest after the communist regime's collapse, subsequently visiting the newly formed Group for Social Dialogue. The Soros Foundation, established with a budget of $1.5 million, later expanded its mission to influence education by introducing its own textbooks into schools, as well as engaging in media, culture, arts, and public health sectors.

Mongolia: 

In 2007, the Open Society Foundation Mongolia influenced public debate surrounding a major copper mine deal. A memo from the Foundation argued against the proposed terms, citing issues of corruption, environmental impact, and the deal's extractive nature for the Mongolian government. The Foundation claimed responsibility for instigating street protests that destabilised the government and halted the parliamentary agreement. Subsequent to these events, the George Soros management fund acquired a substantial stake in the company involved in the mine negotiations, which was seen as a move that benefited Soros regardless of the mine's immediate development.

Lithuania: 

The US State Department actively defended the Open Society Fund from criticisms in Lithuanian media, dismissing reports of its activities as a "smear campaign". Accusations included that Soros's fund undermined political stability, funded civil society organisations linked to crime, terrorism, and the CIA, and interfered in the impeachment of a former president who opposed privatisation efforts. The OSF network is described as having controlled prosecutors and judges and influenced the drafting of the country's penal code. It is also involved in controlling ethnic minority groups for political leverage and managing public health and economic activities.

United States: 

While the majority of OSF's funding is international, it has supported left-wing movements in the US, including Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, and Color of Change. Soros is reported to have contributed significantly to Democratic political campaigns.

Relationship with US Government and Intelligence Apparatus

The relationship between the Open Society Foundations and the US government is profound, often blurring the lines between private philanthropy and statecraft. The OSF has been a powerful force in Washington, with US foreign policy being explicitly synchronised with OSF's policy recommendations since the 1990s. A former US Deputy Secretary of State referred to the OSF as an "independent but allied partner country," akin to the UK or France.

OSF frequently co-invests and co-sponsors initiatives with US government agencies such as USAID and the State Department. USAID has directly funded Open Society Foundation entities, such as giving $5 million to Open Society Foundation Macedonia. These funds are then distributed by Soros-affiliated groups to local political figures, judicial officials, anti-corruption organisations, media outlets, and labour unions. This includes funding for the translation of street protest manuals.

The US State Department is documented to have actively protected the Open Society Fund against media criticism in various countries, framing critical reporting as "smear campaigns". There have been allegations that Soros's activities are linked to the CIA, with State Department cables attempting to counter such rumours. The underlying principle of an "open society" in this context implies a nation's openness to control by US interests, encompassing influence over media, judicial systems, and access to natural resources. The OSF network is viewed as a covert influence operationintegral to controlling the internal politics of numerous countries.

Controversies and Criticisms

Astroturfing and destabilisation: 

Accusations include orchestrating "rental riots" and "astroturf protests" to destabilise governments. The term "nonviolent action," used by OSF-affiliated groups, has been equated by critics with "mob violence" and "mostly peaceful arson".

Economic exploitation: 

OSF-backed initiatives have been accused of "ripping countries apart" and "looting" national assets through privatisation processes.

Interference in sovereign affairs: 

In Hungary, an NGO transparency bill, aimed at revealing foreign funding of domestic non-governmental organisations (NGOs), was blocked by the European Union and labelled a "Russian law". This action, supported by the US State Department and USAID, is seen by critics as preventing citizens from knowing the foreign influence on their own societies.

Domestic influence: 

Despite only a small percentage of OSF's overall funding going to the US, the Foundations have been linked to significant domestic political movements and have funded groups involved in influencing prosecutors in the United States. While Soros has made substantial contributions to these efforts, US government entities, such as USAID, have provided even larger sums to the same fiscal sponsors of these organisations.