France
Reporting directly to the Minister, the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) manages international action of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) with the involvement of État-major des armées (EMA), the joint staff command; Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), the Directorate General for Armament; and Secrétariat général pour l’administration (SGA), the General Secretariat for Administration. The DGRIS also manages the strategic foresight activities and coordinates, for the MoD, those for the preparation of the White Paper on defense and national security and its regular updates. The DGRIS serves as the interface (with the exception of operational activities, the conduct of armaments cooperation and support to export transactions) with the other ministries on issues related to international action, and particularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. It is also responsible for the strategy of international influence of the Ministry of Defense and the steering of the network of defense missions abroad.
The FRS (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique), located in Paris, is the leading French think tank on defense and security issues. FRS conducts studies for French government departments and agencies, European institutions, international organizations and private companies. It contributes to the strategic debate in France, in Europe and abroad. The FRS has an interdisciplinary team of thirty researchers including experts in international and strategic matters, political scientists, engineers, scientists and former military officers. Its expertise covers the full spectrum of security and defense issues, from the analysis of technical-operational aspects to indepth knowledge of strategic areas, including terrorism, homeland security, conflict analysis, space and technology, WMD proliferation, nuclear deterrence and regional security issues.
Germany
The German Federal Ministry of Defence supports the Federal Minister of Defence in performing his functions as a member of the Federal Government, as the head of the Ministry and as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Around 2,000 personnel are working in nine directorates at the Ministry’s two official seats in Bonn and Berlin.
BAKS (Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik) is the security policy training institution of the federal government. It projects the concept of comprehensive security to selected leaders. It is mandated by the Federal Security and consolidates the security policy expertise in Germany.
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) is a political foundation. In Germany, 16 regional offices offer a wide variety of civic education conferences and events. The offices of the Foundation abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The foundation’s headquarters are situated in Sankt Augustin near Bonn, and also in Berlin.
The Hanns Seidel Foundation, named after the former Bavarian prime minister and CSU chairman, is a political foundation, established in 1967. It is politically aligned with the Christian Social Union and engages in political education with the aim of promoting the democratic and civic education of the German people.
UK
Chatham House, also known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, was founded in 1920 and received its Royal Charter in 1926. Its mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. Research is core to all Chatham House activities. The institute undertakes independent and rigorous analysis with the aim of setting the agenda and shaping policy by encouraging new ideas and forward thinking in international affairs. Chatham House research is structured around four departments: Area Studies and International Law; Energy, Environment and Resource Governance; International Economics; and International Security. The institute holds over 300 events per year, including major one- to two-day conferences workshops, seminars and briefings. Many of these events take place under the Chatham House Rule, to allow expert discussion among policy stakeholders. Chatham House experts also offer special briefings in the UK Parliament, and give evidence to government officials and legislators in capitals around the world including Beijing, Brussels, Delhi, Istanbul, London, and Washington DC. Many Chatham House projects culminate in publications, including Chatham House Reports, Briefing Papers, Research Papers and journal articles. The Chatham House website offers access to all the institute’s reports, papers and event transcripts and receives over 1 million individual visitors each year.
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. Its mission is to inform, influence and enhance public debate on a safer and more stable world. RUSI produces evidence-based research and convenes events on defence, security, and international affairs to help build a safer UK and a more secure, equitable and stable world.
Spain
The Elcano Royal Institute is a think-tank for international and strategic studies that analyses world events and trends from a Spanish, European and global perspective. The Institute was established in 2001 as a private foundation under the honorary presidency of H.M the King. Its Board of Trustees comprises prominent figures linked to Spanish foreign policy and representatives of both the companies that fund the Institute and of the Spanish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Defence, Education, Culture and Sport, and Economy and Trade.
Francisco de Vitoria University is part of an international network of schools which include 22 institutions of higher education in America and Europe. Our philosophy, based on comprehensive education is also being implemented in over 150 schools, in centers selected by over 100,000 students worldwide. Francisco de Vitoria University is a European university with strong roots in America. In over 15 years we have grown to more than 3,500 students and 2,000 postgraduate students. We have signed cooperation agreements with more than 400 institutions and companies. We also have agreements with over 100 higher education institutions and universities in Europe and America. Over 15% of our students are international.
The Centro Sefarad-Israel is a meeting place for the Jewish communities and organizations from Spain and worldwide that wishes to promote the rich Sephardic historical legacy and the political, economic, social and cultural situation of the Jewish people in the world, Israel and Spain. Their installations hold numerous cultural events like exhibitions, lectures and theatre performances.
Poland
The National Security Bureau (BBN) is a body providing aid and support to the President of the Republic of Poland in executing security and defence tasks. It fulfils the tasks entrusted by the President related to the security and defence matters. They result from the role of the President as the supreme representative of the Republic of Poland and the guarantor of the continuity of the State authority, responsible for ensuring observance of the Constitution, safeguarding sovereignty and security of the State as well as inviolability and integrity of its territory. The Bureau’s tasks result also from the constitutional function of the President who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The competences of the President of the Republic of Poland related to the command over the Armed Forces are described in detail in the Act of 21 November 1967 on the Universal Duty to Defend the Republic of Poland.
EU
The EPC is an independent, not-for-profit think tank dedicated to fostering European integration through analysis and debate, supporting and challenging European decision-makers at all levels to make informed decisions based on evidence and analysis, and providing a platform for engaging partners, stakeholders and citizens in EU policy-making and in the debate about the future of Europe.
NATO
The Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (PASP) of NATO acts in many respects as a Foreign Ministry for NATO. In close coordination with other divisions, PASP provides political advice and policy guidance for the Secretary General regarding internal, regional, economic and security affairs. Furthermore, the Division handles the Alliance’s numerous relations with partner countries and with other international organizations. PASP itself is organized into several sections dealing with: Arms Control and Coordination, NATO and Multilateral Affairs, Russia and Ukraine Relations, Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership, Mediterranean Dialogue & Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Cooperation Policy & Programs, and Defense and Security Economics.
US
Founded in 1961 by strategist Herman Kahn, Hudson Institute challenges conventional thinking and helps manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary studies in defense, international relations, economics, health care, technology, culture, and law. Hudson seeks to guide public policy makers and global leaders in government and business through a vigorous program of publications, conferences, policy briefings, and recommendations.
Israel
The INSS is an independent academic institute that studies key issues relating to Israel’s national security and Middle East affairs. It is considered and internationally ranked as the leading think tank in Israel on matters related to the broader strategic defense, security and foreign relation issues. Through its blend of researchers with backgrounds in academia, the military, government and public policy, INSS is able to contribute to the public debate and governmental deliberation of leading strategic issues and offer policy analysis and recommendations to decision-makers and public leaders, policy analysts and theoreticians, both in Israel and abroad. As an external institute of Tel Aviv University, it maintains a strong association with the academic environment.
As a leading think tank on Middle East risk assessment, the primary mission of the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) at IDC Herzliya is to contribute to Israel’s national policy and to the upgrading of its strategic decision-making process. Established in 2000, the range of IPS projects encompasses a variety of issues crucial to Israel. IPS conducts policy research on a broad analytical scope to identify evolving issues and trends and to assess emerging risks and opportunities. Concentrating on Middle East politics and Israel’s foreign affairs, IPS also invests in innovative methodologies and policy analysis focusing on political/strategic risk assessment and management. The Annual Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security is the flagship of IPS activities.
The Herzliya Conference is Israel’s foremost global policy annual gathering, drawing together the most senior Israeli and international participants from government, business, and academia to address pressing national, regional, and global issues.
SIGNAL is an Israeli policy organization that specializes on China-Israel relations. SIGNAL empowers Israeli policy practitioners by cultivating in-depth knowledge of China and presents an informed understanding of Israel and the Middle East to China’s current and future leaders.