Council on Foreign Relations

While a nonpartisan and independent membership organization, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is one of the United States' most influential policy groups. CFR leaders have strong ties to government, business, media, military, think tanks, foundations, academia, and other key entities. Membership is invited (more than 3,000), and those active in the Council are also commonly found in other such organizations (Bildeberg Group, Bohemian Club, Trilateral Commission, Project for the New American Century, etc.).

Such interlocking membership invariably has created a powerful and intricate web of influence, cutting across both liberal and neoconservative ideologies. Generally speaking, the Council has supported international initiatives and favored globalist collaboration, as compared with noninterventionist policies and independent national sovereignty. Both supporters and critics agree that since its founding in 1921 ...