Center for Strategic and International Studies facts for kids
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Headquarters in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
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| Abbreviation | CSIS |
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| Formation | 1962 |
| Type | Foreign policy think tank |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | 1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW |
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President
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John J. Hamre |
| Thomas J. Pritzker | |
| Affiliations | Georgetown University (1962–1987) |
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Revenue (2014)
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$43,431,720 |
| Expenses (2014) | $38,935,803 |
| Endowment | $12,522,632 |
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Employees (2014)
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354 |
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Volunteers (2014)
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274 |
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is an American think tank located in Washington, D.C. A think tank is a group of experts who study important global issues and give advice to leaders. CSIS was started in 1962 and was connected to Georgetown University until 1987.
The center studies topics like how countries get along, trade, technology, money, energy, and safety. Its main goal is to find ways to help America be a strong and positive force in the world.
CSIS is known for being bipartisan, which means its experts come from different political parties, including the Democratic and Republican parties. It is often called a "centrist" think tank, meaning its views are generally in the middle of the political spectrum.
The center also hosts important events where world leaders can share their ideas. For example, the Statesmen's Forum has had speakers like former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Contents
The Story of CSIS
How It All Began
CSIS was founded in 1962 by Arleigh Burke and David Manker Abshire. It was first located in a small townhouse near Georgetown University. The center was created to study big-picture security issues, especially during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
In 1963, CSIS held a conference that helped shape its goals. The experts at the conference wrote a very long book about national security. This book helped define how people in Washington, D.C. talked about keeping the country safe.
Famous Experts Join CSIS
In the 1970s, many experts from CSIS went on to work in high-level government jobs. When famous officials like Henry Kissinger and James Schlesinger left the government, they joined CSIS.
Kissinger's choice to join CSIS in 1977 brought a lot of attention to the center. Soon, other important figures like Zbigniew Brzezinski also joined. This became a common practice for CSIS: to bring in experienced leaders after they finished their time in government.
Becoming Independent
By the 1980s, some people at Georgetown University felt that CSIS was focusing more on media appearances than on deep research. In 1986, the university decided to separate from CSIS. The formal split happened on July 1, 1987.
After becoming its own nonprofit organization, CSIS grew. It started to study new parts of the world and new problems.
A New Focus After the Cold War
When the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, the world changed. CSIS also changed its focus. It began to look at how America could stay strong in the global economy.
A special group at CSIS, led by Senators Sam Nunn and Pete Domenici, suggested that the U.S. government needed a National Economic Council to advise the president on money matters. This idea showed that CSIS was now looking at more than just military issues.
The center started to research topics like international trade, global health, and the environment. This work was added to its traditional focus on world security.
CSIS in the 21st Century
In 2013, CSIS moved into a new $100 million building in Washington, D.C. The building has a studio for media interviews and space for conferences.
The organization's goal is to have a real impact on government policy. John Hamre, the CEO of CSIS, said the group works to find solutions to the country's most difficult problems by bringing people together to share and discuss ideas.
How CSIS Is Funded
CSIS gets its money from several sources. In 2013, about one-third of its funding came from corporations. Other major sources included foundations, the government, and individual donors.
Some of its funding comes from foreign governments, such as Japan, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. CSIS also receives money from major defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon Company. This mix of funding helps the center do its research and run its programs.
What CSIS Does
CSIS has many different programs that focus on specific topics.
- The Global Health Policy Center studies how the U.S. can help fight diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria around the world.
- The Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group researches the defense industry for the government and companies.
CSIS is also a place where important people make big announcements. For example, former National Security Advisor John Bolton gave his first speech at CSIS after leaving his government job. In 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a major speech there about U.S. relations with North Africa.
The center also has educational programs. It works with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University to offer a master's degree program in international relations.
Project on Nuclear Issues
A special program at CSIS is the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI). It was started in 2003 to help train a new generation of experts on nuclear technology.
When PONI was created, many of the original nuclear scientists from the Cold War era were retiring. The project was started to make sure there would be enough young experts to understand nuclear issues in the future. PONI brings together young people from the military, science labs, and universities to learn and share ideas about the role of nuclear technology in the world.
Leadership and Staff
The president and CEO of CSIS is John J. Hamre, who was once the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense. The chairman of the board of trustees is Thomas Pritzker, a major business leader.
The board includes many well-known people, such as former government officials Henry Kissinger and William Cohen. It also has leaders from major companies and universities.
CSIS has over 200 full-time staff members and a large network of scholars who work on its projects. Their research and ideas are often used by government leaders. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon once said that reports from CSIS were part of his required weekend reading.
Assessments
Some critics have pointed out that CSIS receives a lot of funding from the U.S. government, weapons manufacturers, and oil companies. For example, John Kempthorne wrote in Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting that CSIS is a "consistently pro-war think tank" because of its funding sources.
See also
In Spanish: Center for Strategic and International Studies para niños
