International Institute for Strategic Studies
Encyclopedia
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a British
research institute (or think tank
) in the area of international affairs
. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict". Since 1997 its headquarters have been Arundel House
, in London
.
." The current Director-General and Chief Executive is Dr John Chipman CMG. The Chairman of the Council is Francois Heisbourg, a former Director. Sir Michael Howard
, the British military historian, is President Emeritus
. Sir Michael founded the institute together with the British Labour M.P. Denis Healey
and journalist Alastair Buchan.
The IISS describes itself as a
The Institute claims 2,500 Individual Members and 450 Corporate and Institutional Members from more than 100 countries.
The IISS publishes The Military Balance, an annual assessment of nations' military capabilities; the Armed Conflict Database; Survival
, a journal on global politics and strategy; Strategic Survey, the annual review of world affairs; the Adelphi Papers series of monographs; and Strategic Comments, online analysis of topical issues in international affairs.
The Institute hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue
, an annual meeting of Asia-Pacific region Defense Ministers in Singapore
, and the Manama Dialogue, an annual meeting of Persian Gulf
-region security ministers and officials in Bahrain
.
Based in London, the IISS is both a private company limited by guarantee in UK law and a registered charity. It has branches in the U.S.
and in Singapore
, with charitable status in each jurisdiction.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
research institute (or think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
) in the area of international affairs
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict". Since 1997 its headquarters have been Arundel House
Arundel House
Arundel House was a town-house or palace located between the Strand and the Thames, near St Clement Danes.It was originally the town house of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, during the Middle Ages. In 1539 it was given to William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton...
, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Overview
Founded in 1958, with its original focus nuclear deterrence and arms control, the IISS has strong establishment links with former US and British government officials among its members. The institute claims that it "was hugely influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
." The current Director-General and Chief Executive is Dr John Chipman CMG. The Chairman of the Council is Francois Heisbourg, a former Director. Sir Michael Howard
Michael Howard (historian)
Sir Michael Eliot Howard, OM, CH, CBE, MC, FBA is a British military historian, formerly Chichele Professor of the History of War and Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford University, and Robert A...
, the British military historian, is President Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. Sir Michael founded the institute together with the British Labour M.P. Denis Healey
Denis Healey
Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey CH, MBE, PC is a British Labour politician, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979.-Early life:...
and journalist Alastair Buchan.
The IISS describes itself as a
The Institute claims 2,500 Individual Members and 450 Corporate and Institutional Members from more than 100 countries.
The IISS publishes The Military Balance, an annual assessment of nations' military capabilities; the Armed Conflict Database; Survival
Survival (journal)
Survival is a scholarly international studies journal of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the British international affairs research institute. It is published by Routledge and has six issues a year.-External links:**...
, a journal on global politics and strategy; Strategic Survey, the annual review of world affairs; the Adelphi Papers series of monographs; and Strategic Comments, online analysis of topical issues in international affairs.
The Institute hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue
Shangri-La Dialogue
The IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue is a "Track One" inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies which is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28...
, an annual meeting of Asia-Pacific region Defense Ministers in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and the Manama Dialogue, an annual meeting of Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
-region security ministers and officials in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
.
Based in London, the IISS is both a private company limited by guarantee in UK law and a registered charity. It has branches in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, with charitable status in each jurisdiction.
Directors
- Alastair BuchanAlastair Francis BuchanThe Hon. Alastair Francis Buchan CBE was a leading writer on defence studies in the 1970s.-Career:Born the son of John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir and educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford, Buchan joined the Canadian Army and saw active service in World War II...
(1958 - 1969) - François Duchêne (1969 - 1974)
- Christoph Bertram (1974 -1982)
- Robert J. O'NeillRobert J. O'NeillRobert John O'Neill AO is Chair of the International Academic Advisory Committee at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, was director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London, 1982-1987, and Chichele Professor of the History of War at Oxford...
(1982 - 1987) - François Heisbourg (1987 - 1992)
- Kristofer Huldt (1992 - 1993)
- John Chipman (1993 - )
Council
Current council members as of 2009 are:- Professor François Heisbourg, Chairman
- Mr Hironori Aihara
- Professor Dr Dewi Fortuna Anwar
- Robert D. Blackwill, former U.S. Ambassador to IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from 2001-2003 and diplomatic representative for several U.S. RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidents - Mr Olivier Debouzy
- Ms Fleur de Villiers
- Mr Daniel R Fung
- Mr Shekhar Gupta
- Dr. István Gyarmati
- Mr David IgnatiusDavid IgnatiusDavid R. Ignatius , is an American journalist and novelist. He is an associate editor and columnist for The Washington Post. He also co-hosts PostGlobal, an online discussion of international issues at Washingtonpost.com, with Newsweek 's Fareed Zakaria...
- Field Marshal The Rt Hon Lord Inge
- Ryozo KatoRyozo Katois a Japanese lawyer and career diplomat who served as the Japanese Ambassador to the United States from 2001 to 2008. He is now the Commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball....
, former Japanese Ambassador to the United States from 2001 to 2008, current Commissioner of Nippon Professional BaseballCommissioner of Baseball (NPB)The Commissioner of Baseball is the highest office in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball . NPB's current Commissioner is former Japanese ambassador to the United States, Ryozo Kato.- Commissioners :# Morita Fukui... - Mr Ivan Krastev
- Dr Ariel Levite
- Mr Kishore MahbubaniKishore MahbubaniKishore Mahbubani is a notable academic and is currently Professor in the Practice of Public Policy and the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. From 1971 to 2004 he served in the Singaporean Foreign Services, ending up as Singapore's Permanent...
- Sir David ManningDavid ManningSir David Geoffrey Manning, GCMG, CVO is a former British diplomat, who was the British Ambassador to the United States from 2003 to 2007. He authored the so-called "Manning Memo" summarising the details of a January 2003 meeting between American president George W. Bush and British prime minister...
, a career diplomat who served as British Ambassador to IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
from 1993-1995 and the United States from 2003-2007. - Mr Moeletsi Mbeki
- Dr Günther Nonnenmacher
- Lord Powell of Bayswater
- HRH Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudFaisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudPrince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is a member of the Saudi Arabia royal family and a media executive.He is the son of the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz...
- Mr Thomas Seaman
- Hugh Segal
- Alison SmaleAlison SmaleAlison Smale is a British journalist. In December 2008, Smale became the Executive Editor of the International Herald Tribune, after being promoted from Managing Editor, making her the first woman to be in charge of the paper...
, the Executive Editor of the International Herald TribuneInternational Herald TribuneThe International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories... - Ambassador Dr Theodor Winkler
External links
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (official website)