The Henry Dearborn Liberty Network (HDLN), formally the Henry Dearborn Institute for Human Rights, is a nonpartisan research project and network of pro-liberty figures in media, politics, think tanks, and academia. The Dearborn Liberty Network focuses on local, state, national, and international policy issues and the defense and advancement of important values related to human rights and freedom. Justin Haskins, a New York Times bestselling author and a research fellow at The Heartland Institute, founded HDLN in 2018 with Donald Kendal, a fellow at The Heartland Institute and co-director of Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
HDLN’s mission is to develop and promote policies and defend the ideals of personal responsibility, individual liberty, religious freedom, education reform, market freedom, responsible but fair immigration, international peace, fiscal restraint, and virtue (as it has been traditionally understood in the Western tradition). HDI is also dedicated to limiting the power of large corporations, financial institutions, and central banks seeking to undermine individual rights, as well as advocating for policies that ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that all people treated equally under the law, regardless of race, gender, cultural background, religious views, or other characteristics. We aim to promote these policies and ideas in the public arena by publishing articles, conducting research, and producing various forms of media, including podcasts and videos. HDLN and its associated scholars also regularly provide important research materials that are used by other organizations to educate policymakers across the ideological spectrum.
Although we are proud of the work we do publicly, many of our most impactful efforts have been conducted behind the scenes, alongside some of the nation’s most influential thought leaders. Our mission is first and foremost to change the world for the better, even if we do not get the glory. Ronald Reagan famously kept a little sign on his desk in the Oval Office that said, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” It might sound ridiculous to some of you who read this, but we take that approach very seriously, and as a result, HDLN has been far more effective than huge organizations with massive staffs and bloated budgets.
One of HDLN’s greatest achievements is the creation of its prestigious association of researchers and scholars. The Liberty Network promotes the cause of liberty without pay. Members join the society to have their work amplified by other society members and Henry Dearborn’s vast network of highly influential media contacts. The Henry Dearborn Liberty Network is a passion project for those involved, not a money-making endeavor. HDLN does not accept donations at this time, and thus is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, although many of those involved with HDLN work for other nonprofits. All costs for HDLN are currently covered by Justin Haskins, president of our association.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Henry Dearborn Liberty Network, you can contact Justin at [email protected].
