Council on Foreign Relations

Nongovernmental, nonprofit, and nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to adding value to the public debate on international affairs, energizing foreign policy discussions nationwide, identifying and nurturing new foreign policy leaders, and providing clear, reliable information on key international issues facing the United States and its citizens.

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) began as a small group of lawyers, bankers, and businesspeople intent on keeping the United States fully engaged in world affairs at a time when new calls for isolationism were becoming more prevalent throughout the nation. Since that time, membership in the CFR has grown to more than 4,000 members, and the organization holds regular meetings in New York, Washington, DC, and other American cities. Senior government officials, global leaders, and prominent thinkers come together frequently with CFR members to debate and discuss contemporary foreign policy issues.

The CFR is also a highly respected think tank, and CFR fellows produce articles and books analyzing foreign policy issues and making strategic policy recommendations. In addition, the CFR publishes Foreign Affairs, a leading U.S. academic journal that covers international affairs and American foreign policy. Nearly every U.S. president since the Great Depression has been a member of the CFR.

Despite its considerable reputation and esteem, the CFR has endured a good deal of controversy. The council's harshest critics maintain that the CFR represents the interests of American elites, conducts its deliberations in great secrecy, and functions as a tremendously influential power broker within policy-making circles. In contrast, proponents maintain that the crafting of foreign policy is a highly specialized enterprise that is enhanced by CFR's ability to foster an ongoing, spirited dialogue among civic, corporate, and academic leaders.