Council History

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is a nonpartisan membership organization, research center, and publisher. It is dedicated to increasing America's understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy. The Council accomplishes this mainly by promoting constructive discussions both in private and in public, and by publishing Foreign Affairs, the leading journal on global issues. The Council is host to the widest possible range of views, but an advocate of none, though its research fellows and independent task forces do take policy stands.

Like the great universities, foundations, and other think tanks in America, the Council on Foreign Relations aims to enhance the quality of study and debate on world issues,develop new generations of thinkers and leaders, and help meet international challenges by generating concrete and workable ideas.