Streit Council
Encyclopedia
The Streit Council for a Union of Democracies is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit foreign-policy organization working toward closer cooperation and deeper integration among the US and Europe, as well as OECD democracies. It researches transatlantic and other inter-democratic institutions, as well as global problems and issues that might benefit from integration among democracies.Combining academic research with policy work, the Streit Council provides a non-partisan forum where policymakers and scholars explore new approaches to inter-democracy relations and their impact on global stability.
with the 1939 publication of Union Now: A Proposal for a Federal Union of the Leading Democracies. Alarmed by the rise of the Hitler-Mussolini-Hirohito totalitarian forces and the failure of Western democracies to agree on measures to halt their aggression, Streit proposed a federal union of democratic nations with a common foreign policy and defense force. He hoped that this federal union would prevent a second world war and expand the area of democratic government. His proposal generated a great deal of discussion: he was featured on the cover of Times
magazine and became a frequent guest on top radio programs. He also met with presidents and prime ministers, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Prime Minister Winston Churchill
.
Federal Union members and supporters were among the leaders of organizations that, in close cooperation with the Roosevelt Administration, helped bring the United States from neutrality to intervention in World War II. After Pearl Harbor
, the Streit proposal became one aimed at winning the war and the peace. It also helped pave the way for the formation of the United Nations.
In 1949, Federal Union members founded a sister organization, the Atlantic Union Committee (AUC), a political action group that played a significant role in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Members included US Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts, Secretary of War Robert Patterson
, Under Secretary of State Will Clayton, Elmo Roper
, and many European leaders. The Federal Union was renamed the Association to Unite the Democracies
(AUD) in 1985 and became the first Western organization to foresee expansion of the EU and NATO in the event of an end of Communism.
The Streit Council, an organization working toward freedom and union, democracy, and effective government, became a successor organization of the AUD in 2004.
, serves as the current President of the Streit Council Board of Directors. Solomon Passy
, member of the Bulgaria
n Parliament (1990–1991, 2001, 2005–2009) and former Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001–2005), serves as Honorary President. Don Dennis, former Vice President of the Foreign Policy Association, is the Vice President. Tiziana Stella, a specialist in transatlantic relations, NATO, European integration, US foreign policy and federalism, acts as the Executive Director, responsible for all major projects, including overall program and research planning and management, as well as staff management. A full list of board members and biographical information is available at the Streit Council Website.
In 2008, the Streit Council provided the English translation of former French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur
's book For a Union of the West, published by the Hoover Institution
. Board members have also published their own research, including The First Resort of Kings: American Cultural Diplomacy in the Twentieth Century by Richard T. Arndt and Foreign Policy in a Democracy: The Role of the Foreign Policy Association by Donald Philips Dennis.
Since 1946, the Streit Council has published a quarterly journal, Freedom & Union, which features articles by academics and policymakers.
History
Formed in 2004, the Streit Council is a successor to Federal Union Inc., founded by Clarence StreitClarence Streit
Clarence Kirschmann Streit was a journalist and Atlanticist who played a prominent role in the Atlantic Movement....
with the 1939 publication of Union Now: A Proposal for a Federal Union of the Leading Democracies. Alarmed by the rise of the Hitler-Mussolini-Hirohito totalitarian forces and the failure of Western democracies to agree on measures to halt their aggression, Streit proposed a federal union of democratic nations with a common foreign policy and defense force. He hoped that this federal union would prevent a second world war and expand the area of democratic government. His proposal generated a great deal of discussion: he was featured on the cover of Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
magazine and became a frequent guest on top radio programs. He also met with presidents and prime ministers, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
Federal Union members and supporters were among the leaders of organizations that, in close cooperation with the Roosevelt Administration, helped bring the United States from neutrality to intervention in World War II. After Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, the Streit proposal became one aimed at winning the war and the peace. It also helped pave the way for the formation of the United Nations.
In 1949, Federal Union members founded a sister organization, the Atlantic Union Committee (AUC), a political action group that played a significant role in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Members included US Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts, Secretary of War Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson was a United States major general during the Mexican-American War and at the beginning of the American Civil War...
, Under Secretary of State Will Clayton, Elmo Roper
Elmo Roper
Elmo Burns Roper, Jr. was a pollster known for his pioneering work in market research and opinion polling. In 1934, he cofounded Cherington, Wood, and Roper, a marketing research firm. When that partnership fell apart, he founded his own research company, Elmo Roper, Inc...
, and many European leaders. The Federal Union was renamed the Association to Unite the Democracies
Association to Unite the Democracies
The Association to Unite the Democracies, or AUD, is an organization devoted to transforming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from a military alliance into a full political union open to other established democracies as well. AUD was founded by Clarence Streit, New York Times correspondent at...
(AUD) in 1985 and became the first Western organization to foresee expansion of the EU and NATO in the event of an end of Communism.
The Streit Council, an organization working toward freedom and union, democracy, and effective government, became a successor organization of the AUD in 2004.
Leadership
Richard Conn Henry, professor at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, serves as the current President of the Streit Council Board of Directors. Solomon Passy
Solomon Passy
Solomon Isaac Passy is a Bulgarian politician, foreign minister of Bulgaria from July 2001 until August 2005, and the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE in 2004. Dr. Passy is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.- Summary :Solomon Passy was born in Plovdiv. He...
, member of the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Parliament (1990–1991, 2001, 2005–2009) and former Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001–2005), serves as Honorary President. Don Dennis, former Vice President of the Foreign Policy Association, is the Vice President. Tiziana Stella, a specialist in transatlantic relations, NATO, European integration, US foreign policy and federalism, acts as the Executive Director, responsible for all major projects, including overall program and research planning and management, as well as staff management. A full list of board members and biographical information is available at the Streit Council Website.
Publications
In addition to Union Now, Clarence Streit published several other books and documents, including Freedom's Frontier: Atlantic Union Now in 1939, "King Nation or King Citizen" in 1960, and "The Sovereignty You Gain by Atlantic Union" in 1961.In 2008, the Streit Council provided the English translation of former French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 29 March 1993 to 10 May 1995.-Biography:Balladur was born in İzmir, Turkey, to an Armenian Catholic family with five children and long-standing ties to France...
's book For a Union of the West, published by the Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
. Board members have also published their own research, including The First Resort of Kings: American Cultural Diplomacy in the Twentieth Century by Richard T. Arndt and Foreign Policy in a Democracy: The Role of the Foreign Policy Association by Donald Philips Dennis.
Since 1946, the Streit Council has published a quarterly journal, Freedom & Union, which features articles by academics and policymakers.
See also
- European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- NATO
- OECD
- World BankWorld BankThe World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
- Atlantic Club of BulgariaAtlantic Club of BulgariaThe Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is a non-governmental, non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering the common values of the Euro-Atlantic community.- Mission :...
- Atlantic Council of the United States
- Transatlantic relationsTransatlantic relationsTransatlantic relations refers to the historic, cultural, political, economic and social relations between countries on both side of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes specifically those between the United States, Canada and the countries in Europe, although other meanings are possible.There are a...