Foreign Policy Initiative

Foreign Policy Initiative

Foreign Policy Initiative
Established	2009
Executive Director	Jamie Fly
Location	Washington, D.C.
Website	www.foreignpolicyi.org

The Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) is a neo-conservative, non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to robust support for democratic allies, human rights, a strong American military equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness. The organization was founded in 2009 and is led by Executive Director Jamie Fly. FPI’s Board of Directors consists of Eric Edelman, Robert Kagan, William Kristol, and Dan Senor.

Background and history

FPI was founded in response to foreign policy challenges facing the U.S., such as "rising and resurgent powers, including China and Russia", "other autocracies that violate the rights of their citizens", "rogue states that work with each other in ways inimical to our interests and principles, and that sponsor terrorism and pursue weapons of mass destruction", "Al Qaeda and its affiliates who continue to plot attacks against the United States and our allies", and "failed states that serve as havens for terrorists and criminals and spread instability to their neighbors."

Objectives

FPI "promotes: continued U.S. engagement— diplomatic, economic, and military— in the world and rejection of policies that would lead us down the path to isolationism; robust support for America’s democratic allies and opposition to rogue regimes that threaten American interests; the human rights of those oppressed by their governments, and U.S. leadership in working to spread political and economic freedom; a strong military with the defense budget needed to ensure that America is ready to confront the threats of the 21st century; international economic engagement as a key element of U.S. foreign policy in this time of great economic dislocation."

Personnel

Board of Directors

• William Kristol
• Robert Kagan
• Dan Senor
• Eric Edelman

Staff

• Jamie Fly, Executive Director
• Ellen Bork, Director of Democracy and Human Rights
• Patrick Christy, Policy Analyst
• Elizabeth Garner, Executive Assistant
• Rachel Hoff, Director of External Affairs
• Rachael Johnson, External Affairs Associate
• Evan Moore, Policy Analyst
• Sarah Morgan, Director of Operations
• Elise Stefanik, Director of Communications and External Affairs
• Robert Zarate, Policy Director

Products and Programs

The Overnight Brief

The Overnight Brief is a daily product of the Foreign Policy Initiative, which seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to robust support for democratic allies, human rights, a strong American military equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America’s global economic competitiveness. The subscription is free. More information on how to join can be found on the website at www.foreignpolicyi.org.

Publications

The Foreign Policy Initiative publishes numerous bulletins, fact sheets, and analysis on a variety of foreign policy related issues.

Candidate Briefings and the Briefing Book

FPI briefings bring the experience and expertise of Washington‘s leading foreign policy thinkers to policymakers, opinion leaders, members of Congress, candidates, and their staffs. The sessions, which can range from an hour to a half-day, are personally tailored to the interests of those being briefed. FPI will make available experts on the major foreign policy challenges facing the United States including topics such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, and Russia, among other issues. FPI is prepared to brief candidates and members of Congress on critical issues ranging from the War on Terror to transatlantic relations and from the defense budget to democracy and human rights.

In conjunction with candidate briefings, FPI has developed Foreign Policy 2011, a briefing book available on the FPI website at www.foreignpolicyi.org. This document includes key points, notable facts, and additional resources from leading thinkers in each of the key foreign policy issue areas. FPI updates the briefing book on a regular basis.

Defending Defense

The Defending Defense project is a joint effort of the American Enterprise Institute, the Foreign Policy Initiative, and The Heritage Foundation to promote a sound understanding of the U.S. defense budget and the resource requirements to sustain America’s preeminent military position in a dangerous world. This coalition has helped lead the conversation about defense spending in the broader debate over federal deficit reductions. The most recent publication from the Defending Defense Coalition is a response to the Obama administration's preview of the FY2013 defense budget request. Late last year, Defending Defense also issued a brief on the prospects for—and consequences of—a hollow force in light of military spending cuts, a primer on China’s military build-up and its implications for U.S. defense spending, and a report on the first joint brief separating myth from fact in the current defense spending debate.

The most recent Defending Defense event was on Thursday, February 16, 2012, where the Defending Defense coalition hosted "Choosing Decline: The Meaning of Obama's Defense Guidance and Budget." The event took place on Capitol Hill with Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Representatives Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), J. Randy Forbes (R-VA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Each member discussed the implications of President Obama’s new strategic defense guidance and fiscal year 2013 budget proposal for the Pentagon.

Past Defending Defense events include "Defense Spending and the Super Committee." on September 8, 2011 and "Setting the Record Straight on U.S. Military-Spending Requirements." on October 14, 2011.

Events

Visit here for a list of past and current events.

Past Forums

• "2011 FPI Forum: Maintaining America's Global Responsibilities in an Age of Austerity”
• "2010 FPI Forum: Restoring America's Leadership of a Democratic World”
• "2009 FPI Forum: Advancing and Defending Democracy"
• "Afghanistan: Planning for Success" (2009)

Future Leaders Program

The FPI Future Leaders Program was developed to create an opportunity for young professionals in Washington to engage in thoughtful and educational conversations on foreign policy and connect with notable thinkers and practitioners in international affairs. Now in its second year, the program provides an atmosphere for these emerging leaders to share their own insights as well as career and travel experiences. These young people participate in dinner discussions on topics such as the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. defense budget, and recent events in the Middle East and North Africa. Leading policy experts drive the monthly discussions and provide career guidance and advice to the Future Leaders. To receive e-mails alerts for the Future Leaders Program and other opportunities to engage with FPI, sign up to receive the Overnight Brief at www.foreignpolicyi.org.

New York Leaders Program

The FPI New York Leaders Program was developed to create an opportunity for young professionals living in the North East to cultivate their foreign policy interests, connect with their peers, and engage with foreign policy experts from New York and Washington. The application process begins every fall and the membership year begins in January. To receive e-mails alerts for the New York Leaders Program and other opportunities to engage with FPI, sign up to receive the Overnight Brief at www.foreignpolicyi.org.

Young Professionals Program

The Foreign Policy Initiative understands the importance of cultivating the next generation of foreign policy leaders. Every month, FPI hosts a young professional’s event targeted at educating rising leaders on international affairs and connecting them with their peers, as well as with leading foreign policy experts. Ranging in subjects from democracy and human rights to the critical threats our nation faces, these events provide valuable networking and educational experiences for young professionals in Washington, DC and New York City.

Recent young professionals events in Washington D.C. and New York include “Young Professionals Event: Fallout from the European Financial Crisis," “Young Professionals Event: Foreign Policy and the 2012 Elections," “Young Professionals Event: Ten Years Later: How 9/11 Influenced a Generation and U.S. Foreign Policy," "A Film Screening of "RESTREPO" and the Way Forward in Afghanistan,” and “The Arab Spring and the Future of Democracy in the Middle East.”.

External links

• Foreign Policy Initiative Website
• Foreign Policy Initiative profile and background on the Institute for Policy Studies website Right Web