RSIS

RSIS The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies is an autonomous graduate school housed within Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Founded in 1996, it is named after S. Rajaratnam, Singapore's former Foreign Minister and a founding member of People's Action Party. The school focuses on strategic and security studies, regional cooperation and policy-relevant research related to the Asia-Pacific region, engaging policymakers, military leaders and academics from institutions such as ASEAN, United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and national ministries.

History

The institution traces its origins to a research unit established amid post-Cold War shifts in Southeast Asian diplomacy, taking shape alongside regional developments like the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the evolution of ASEAN Regional Forum, and the broadening role of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Early leadership included scholars connected with Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies and links to Singaporean policy circles such as Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong. Over time the school expanded academic offerings in response to events like the 2001 September 11 attacks, the 2008 Beijing Olympics geopolitical aftermath, and maritime security concerns exemplified by incidents in the South China Sea arbitration case and tensions involving United States naval deployments. Its development paralleled the rise of think tanks across East Asia such as China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Japan Institute of International Affairs, and Korea Institute for National Unification.

Research and Programs

RSIS organizes research around thematic files that respond to strategic challenges familiar from crises like the Iraq War (2003–2011), the Afghanistan conflict (2001–2021), and humanitarian responses to disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Core programs examine maritime security issues tied to the Strait of Malacca, land-based tensions between India and China (PRC), and the proliferation concerns linked to treaties including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The curriculum and short courses draw on case studies involving United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and regional players like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. RSIS research groups cover areas intersecting with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, multilateral mechanisms like the East Asia Summit, and security dialogues exemplified by the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Organization and Leadership

The school's governance mirrors structures found at institutions such as the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and other academic centers at Nanyang Technological University. Directors have included scholars with backgrounds in diplomatic service, military analysis, and area studies, collaborating with visiting fellows from think tanks like Chatham House, Council on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and RAND Corporation. Faculty appointments have featured experts in international law with ties to the International Criminal Court, strategists formerly associated with the Singapore Armed Forces, and economists who have worked at the International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. The organizational model supports PhD supervision, executive education for officials from ministries such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and military exchange programs involving institutions like the United States Naval War College and the People's Liberation Army academies.

Publications and Outreach

RSIS produces peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, monographs and commentaries disseminated to audiences that include delegations to forums like the United Nations General Assembly and participants at conferences such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. Its flagship serials and working papers engage with topics related to international law cases like the South China Sea arbitration (Philippines v. China), cyber incidents involving entities comparable to Anonymous (group), and analyses of sanction regimes modeled after actions by the United Nations Security Council. Outreach includes public lectures and media commentary addressing developments such as the Belt and Road Initiative, trade disputes under the World Trade Organization, and regional pandemic responses similar to measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school also curates digital resources and briefing series read by scholars at Oxford University, Harvard University, Australian National University, and policy teams in capitals including Washington, D.C., Beijing, Tokyo, and Canberra.

Partnerships and Impact

RSIS maintains collaborative ties with universities and research centers like King's College London, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, National University of Singapore, and regional bodies including ASEAN Secretariat and the Jakarta Centre for Law and International Affairs. It convenes dialogues that bring together delegates from armed forces similar to the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Thai Armed Forces as well as diplomats from missions to multilateral institutions such as the European Union. Impact is measurable through contributions to policy debates on issues ranging from counterterrorism responses inspired by discussions after attacks like the 2002 Bali bombings to confidence-building measures in maritime domains analogous to accords negotiated in the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea process. Alumni serve in senior posts across ministries, legislatures and international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme and national diplomatic services in capitals like Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Washington, D.C..

Category:Think tanks in Singapore