CSIS in Washington: What the center does and why it matters to DC

The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a DC-based think tank providing research and policy analysis on international security and economics.

Sophie McAlister ·

CSIS in Washington: What the center does and why it matters to DC

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a Washington, D.C.-based policy research center that produces analysis, convenes experts, and hosts public events on international security, economic policy and geopolitical trends.

CSIS operates research programs across regions and policy areas and publishes policy briefs and reports used by federal officials, diplomats, and the media. The center regularly invites scholars, former officials and practitioners to speak at panels and briefings on its campus and through digital programming.

CSIS’s presence in the capital places it at CSIS’s presence in the capital places it at the center of policy conversations that reach Capitol Hill, federal agencies and advocacy groups. Local universities, embassies and nonprofit organizations frequently collaborate with CSIS on events and research projects, reinforcing its role in Washington’s policy ecosystem.

The center also serves as a training ground for analysts and a hub for private-sector and public-sector engagement, where ideas developed in its studies can influence legislative priorities and agency planning.

CSIS shapes conversations that directly affect Washington’s policy

CSIS shapes conversations that directly affect Washington’s policy community — its research and events feed lawmakers, agencies and local institutions with analysis that can influence decisions made in the city.

  • CSIS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and focuses on international affairs, security and economic policy.
  • The center runs research programs and publishes analysis used by policymakers and media.
  • CSIS hosts public events, panels and briefings featuring experts, former officials and diplomats.
  • Local universities, embassies and nonprofits frequently partner with CSIS on events and research.
  • CSIS activities connect to Capitol Hill briefings and federal agency discussions.

Watch CSIS’s event calendar and report releases for analysis that could shape congressional hearings and agency planning in Washington.

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