The Stimson Center today launched Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy, a new policy program led by Christopher Preble, Program Director and Senior Fellow. The program aims to strengthen U.S. foreign policy by testing assumptions, reassessing conventional wisdom, and exploring innovative methods of non-military engagement.
Launching with two projects, the program will continue to expand over the coming months:
- The Red Cell Project will take a “devil’s advocate” approach to U.S. foreign policy, offering policymakers unorthodox thinking, questioning commonly held beliefs, and proposing alternatives that recast America’s approach to the world.
- The Reimagining US Diplomacy Project aims to restore diplomacy to a central role in U.S. statecraft, identifying opportunities for diplomatic leadership and considering bureaucratic and policy reforms that would strengthen diplomatic efforts.
- Future projects. In the coming months, the program will kick off additional projects focused on security and development assistance and the future of armed conflict.
The program’s seven-person team will be based out of Stimson’s Washington, DC headquarters. In addition to Preble, the team will include: Distinguished Senior Fellows Mathew Burrows and Robert Manning, Senior Fellows Emma Ashford and Kelly Greico, Research Associate Evan Cooper, and Nonresident Fellow Aude Darnal.
Stimson Center President and CEO Brian Finlay said: “Any policy community dedicated to rigor and innovation should welcome scholars willing to stress-test conventional wisdom because that process creates stronger policy and better-equipped policymakers. In this moment of global upheaval, there is little doubt that Washington could use more devil’s advocates. For more than 30 years, Stimson has been a place for independent thinkers, and so we are excited to welcome this remarkable team of accomplished policy entrepreneurs.”
The Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy Program is Stimson’s 21st policy program and the latest in a series of new initiatives and hires that have seen Stimson nearly quadruple in size and budget since 2016.
Christopher Preble, Program Director and Senior Fellow, said: “The entire team is excited to kick off this new effort and deeply appreciative of the warm welcome we have received. When this new program was just in the planning stages, we were drawn to Stimson’s reputation for independence and integrity, long experience with international dialogues, and commitment to transparency. We’re looking forward to close collaboration with our new colleagues and learning from their deep expertise.”
About the Stimson Center
The Stimson Center promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation.
For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.
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