Council on Foreign Relations

Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations · Public domain · source
Name	Council on Foreign Relations
Founded	0 1921
Headquarters	New York City, New York, U.S.
Leader title	Chairman
Leader name	David M. Rubenstein
Leader title2	President
Leader name2	Michael Froman

Council on Foreign Relations. The Council on Foreign Relations is a prominent American think tank specializing in United States foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is headquartered in New York City with an additional office in Washington, D.C.. Its membership includes senior politicians, diplomats, business executives, and academics, who contribute to its mission of informing public debate. The organization is widely regarded as a central institution in the United States foreign policy establishment.

History

The organization was established in 1921 by a group including Edward M. House, a key advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, and prominent figures like Elihu Root and Paul Warburg. Its creation was influenced by the aftermath of World War I and the debate over American entry into the League of Nations. In 1922, it began publishing the journal Foreign Affairs, which quickly became a leading forum for discussion on global issues. During World War II, it conducted the War and Peace Studies project for the United States Department of State, significantly shaping post-war planning for institutions like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. Throughout the Cold War, its experts and publications were influential in developing strategies of containment and analyzing conflicts from the Korean War to the Vietnam War.

Organization and governance

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes distinguished individuals from various sectors. The current chairman is David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group, and the president is Michael Froman, a former United States Trade Representative. Membership is by invitation only, with several thousand members across the United States. Key operational divisions include the David Rockefeller Studies Program, which houses the resident experts, and the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies. It also maintains the independent International Institutions and Global Governance program. Major funding comes from foundation grants, corporate contributions, and individual members, with notable support historically from the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Rockefeller family.

Activities and publications

Its flagship publication is the quarterly journal Foreign Affairs, one of the most cited publications in its field. The organization also produces numerous books, policy reports, and interactive resources like the Center for Preventive Action’s Conflict Tracker. It hosts hundreds of meetings annually, featuring addresses by world leaders such as UN Secretaries-General, U.S. Presidents, and British Prime Ministers. The Independent Task Force program assembles panels of experts to produce comprehensive reports on critical issues, from cybersecurity to climate change. Educational outreach includes the CFR Campus initiative and fellowships for journalists and scholars.

Influence and criticism

The organization is considered a primary incubator for high-level U.S. government officials, with numerous members having served as Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Advisor. Its reports and task forces often directly inform Congressional testimony and White House policy deliberations. Critics, from both the political left and political right, have accused it of promoting an interventionist foreign policy and representing an insular East Coast elite. Some conspiracy theories falsely allege it controls global events, often conflating it with other groups like the Bilderberg Meeting or the Trilateral Commission.

Notable members

Throughout its history, its membership has included a vast array of influential figures. Key historical members include John J. McCloy, Allen Welsh Dulles, and Henry Kissinger. Prominent corporate leaders such as Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase and Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, have been members. Distinguished journalists like Fareed Zakaria and Thomas L. Friedman are also affiliated. Numerous Supreme Court Justices, including Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer, have been members, as have military leaders like General David Petraeus. Many U.S. Ambassadors and senior diplomats, including former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, hold membership.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States Category:Foreign policy organizations Category:Organizations based in Manhattan Category:1921 establishments in New York (state)