Founded in 1918, the mission of the Foreign Policy Association today, as it has been throughout its 108-year history, is to serve as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues. Through its balanced, nonpartisan publications and programs, FPA encourages citizens to participate in the foreign policy process.
Years serving as the nation's oldest organization devoted to citizen education in international affairs.
Great Decisions on Campus has introduced FPA’s pedagogical materials on over 1,100 university and college campuses.
For over 70 years, Great Decisions has served the public as the nation's largest discussion program on U.S. foreign policy.
Over 60 heads of government have participated in the World Leadership Forum since 2000.
The FPA is the principal public forum in New York City for foreign policy addresses, attracting broad national and international attention. Over the years, U.S. presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton have delivered major addresses before FPA audiences. Through its annual meetings program and World Leadership Forum, the FPA gives members access to discussion and debate on the most critical issues facing America today. More than 60 heads of government have participated in the World Leadership Forum since 2000.
FPA’s Great Decisions program has flourished over the past 60 years into a multidimensional global studies program, adapted to multiple formats, including informal discussion groups, public lectures and formal secondary and university courses. Published annually by FPA, the Great Decisions briefing book highlights eight of the most thought-provoking foreign policy challenges facing Americans today. The Great Decisions briefing book serves as the focal text for discussion groups by providing background information, expert analysis, and suggested discussion questions for each foreign policy issue. The Great Decisions video series is available to stream or order on DVD.
Saturday luncheon discussions on foreign policy were initiated by FPA at the Astor Hotel in New York City.
Discussions among citizens spread, and FPA branches in the 1930s and 1940s were forerunners of the independent World Affairs Councils of the 1950s.
FPA's publications, Foreign Policy Reports (1925 - 51), Foreign Policy Bulletin (1920 - 61) and Headline Series (1935 - present), became known for their clear and impartial analysis of foreign policy issues.
FPA's "Off-the-Record" lecture series was formed in 1938 by 19 women wishing to be better informed about international affairs.
With a membership of close to 600, it continues to involve discerning participants from the Greater New York area who meet throughout the year to hear and to question leading authorities on foreign affairs.
FPA pioneered international affairs radio discussions by broadcasting New York meetings and weekly talks on "The World Today" over the NBC network.
Today, FPA's national television and radio programs, and educational outreach across the country, bring FPA programs to millions of Americans.
In 1954, the Great Decisions program was launched in Oregon. Based on the annual briefing book prepared by FPA's editors, Great Decisions has become the largest nonpartisan public education program on international affairs in the world.
FPA undertook a new educational challenge — to improve the teaching of world affairs in the nation's schools.
Today the preparation of innovative study materials and teachers' guides, as well as workshops for teachers, are FPA priorities.
The forerunner of FPA's Citizen's Guide to U.S. Foreign Policy, prepared every presidential election year, was published in 1968.
Great Decisions opinion ballots were tabulated nationally for the first time.
Every year results of ballot tabulations are presented to the White House, the departments of State and Defense, Members of Congress and the nation's media.
FPA emerges as the leading public foreign policy forum for national and international leaders.
Among those who have addressed FPA audiences are Great Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, China's Premier Zhao Ziyang, India's Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Australia's Prime Minister Robert Hawke, the Soviet Union's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard A. Shevardnadze, His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho, Nicaragua's President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari of Mexico, President Carlos Saúl Menem of Argentina, as well as then-Governor Bill Clinton, Secretaries of State and Secretaries of Defense.
FPA founded the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C.
The first "Think International" Essay Contest for high school students was held.
FPA held its first Student Town Meeting in 1985. Students and their teachers have participated in town meetings where the following leaders have responded to their questions: General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., President Jimmy Carter, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, Congressman Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Donald F. McHenry, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, among others.
In 1986, FPA initiated its "model sites" project designed to foster collaboration among local school districts, community organizations and colleges and universities.
FPA founded the Young Professionals Group (YPG). Members meet regularly to discuss world issues with experts.
FPA and the Ford Foundation co-published five books in the South Africa UPDATE Series, a detailed account of South Africa in the 1980s.
The third edition of Guide to Careers in World Affairs, by FPA's editors, was published in 1993. FPA held its sixth annual Careers in World Affairs Seminar in 1994.
FPA creates the World Leadership Forum, a premier global affairs event in New York City that gives members access to discussion and debate on the most critical issues facing America today. More than 60 heads of government have participated in the World Leadership Forum since 2000.
FPA.org emerges as a pioneering international affairs website, providing support for the Great Decisions program, offering career development services like its Global Job Board and analysis of U.S. foreign policy.
FPA launches www.ForeignPolicyBlogs.com, the largest network of global affairs blogs online.
FPA creates Global Affairs Boot Camps that aim to train the next generation of foreign policy professionals.
The Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute brings high school teachers from across the U.S. to New York City for intensive training on educating students on international issues.
The Great Decisions Television Series goes HD, reaching 1.2 million viewers across the United States. Its transformation from a talk show to documentary increases its appeal on digital services like iTunes.
