CSIS Named No. 1 Think Tank in the United States

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Maxwell School’s strategic partner in Washington, D.C., and home to its Maxwell-in-Washington program, has been named the number one think tank in the United States in the Global Go To Think Tank Index.

This annual report from the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute examines the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies. More than 8,000 think tanks around the world were evaluated across a range of categories.

“Congratulations to our colleagues at CSIS on this well-deserved recognition, for outstanding scholarship that deepens our understanding of the world, and impactful outreach that helps shape more effective policies,” says David M. Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School. “We are proud partners in our shared mission to educate, inform and cultivate leaders.”

CSIS also was named the defense and national security center of excellence for 2016-18, topped the rankings for best use of social media and networks for the third year in a row, and was ranked number two for regional studies, global health policy and best external relations/public engagement program.

“We are honored to once again be considered one of the premier think tanks in the world,” said CSIS President and CEO John J. Hamre. “It is a recognition of the valuable and innovative work our scholars produce.”

Since 2013, the non-partisan think tank has welcomed Maxwell’s undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff to its headquarters in the nation’s capital, where students can work toward earning their degrees while immersing in the world of international affairs and policymaking. In addition to its state-of-the art classrooms and multimedia facilities, CSIS hosts more than 500 public events annually featuring world leaders and top minds in international affairs, including foreign cabinet ministers, heads of state, civil society representatives, journalists and business executives.

In 2018, the partners launched the executive master of international relations in D.C., offered entirely onsite at CSIS. The highly flexible, part-time program offers an unparalleled opportunity for mid-career professionals to leverage the combined expertise and networks of the No. 1-ranked school for public affairs (US News & World Report) and the No. 1-ranked think tank in the country.

For more information about Maxwell’s partnership with CSIS and its degree offerings for international relations professionals, browse their video viewbook.