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![[Henry Kissinger with Egyptian President Sadat]. 1975.](images/kissinger-chair-banner.jpg)
Henry Kissinger with Egyptian President Sadat. 1975.
Current Chair
Barry Posen - Sixteenth Kissinger Chair (2016-2017)
The author of three books, including “Restraint: A New Foundation for U.S. Grand Strategy” (2014), “Inadvertent Escalation: Conventional War and Nuclear Risks” (1991), and the award-winning “The Sources of Military Doctrine” (1984), Posen is currently the Ford International Professor of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and director of the MIT Security Studies Program. At the Library of Congress he will study the implications for the United States of a multipolar international order. Read announcement
Past Chairs
Bruce Jentleson - Fifteenth Kissinger Chair (2015-2016)
An accomplished American foreign policy scholar and former senior advisor at the U.S. State Department, Jentleson is a professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and a professor of political science. At the Library of Congress researched and wrote his forthcoming book, "Transformational Statesmanship: Difficult, Possible, Necessary," which examined 20th century world leaders who made major breakthroughs for global peace and security. Read announcement
Bradford Lee - Fourteenth Kissinger Chair (2014-2015)
An accomplished scholar of foreign policy, military strategy and international relations, Lee is Emeritus Philip A. Crowl Professor of Comparative Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. At the Library of Congress he spent six months researching an ambitious book project examining the results and costs of American military intervention in the 20th century. Read announcement
John Bew - Thirteenth Kissinger Chair (2013-2014)
A Reader in History and Foreign Policy at the War Studies Department at King’s College London and Director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence. At the Library of Congress he researched and wrote the first-ever English-language book on the concept of realpolitik in the English-speaking world. Read announcement
William I. Hitchcock - Twelfth Kissinger Chair (2012-2013)
A professor of history at the University of Virginia and a senior scholar at the Miller Center for Public Policy, Hitchcock has written widely on Cold War trans-Atlantic relations and European international affairs in the post-World War II era. At the Library of Congress he researched his book, “The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950s.” Read announcement
Alexander Evans - Eleventh Kissinger Chair (2011-2012)
A counselor in the British diplomatic service, former senior adviser to the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and then to Ambassador Marc Grossman, and the U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Evans has published widely on South Asia, international security and the nature of policy advice. At the Library of Congress he researched Pakistan’s strategic culture and its influence on U.S. foreign policy goals. Read announcement
Benjamin Fordham - Tenth Kissinger Chair (2010-2011)
Professor and chair of Binghamton University’s Political Science Department, Fordham has published numerous articles on the role of domestic economic performance in decisions to use military force abroad, the effect of party differences on policy choices about the use of force and the allocation of the military budget in the United States, and on the influence of economic interests on congressional voting on foreign economic and security policy matters. Read announcement
C. Raja Mohan - Ninth Kissinger Chair (2009-2010)
Professor of South Asian studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and leading Indian foreign-policy analyst. At the Library of Congress, Mohan researched the evolution of India’s grand foreign policy strategy and its growing security cooperation with the United States. Read announcement
Ambassador Teresita C. Schaffer - Eighth Kissinger Chair (2008)
Former Ambassador and expert on economic, political, security and risk management trends in India and Pakistan, as well as on the region that extends from Afghanistan through Bangladesh. At the Library Ambassador Schaffer researched the likely evolution of the relationship between India and the United States.
W. R. Smyser - Seventh Kissinger Chair (2008)
Adjunct professor in the BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University, and expert on the economy and politics of Europe and on global humanitarian matters. At the Library of Congress Smyser conducted studies on diplomacy. Read announcement
- Lecture: “Is Diplomacy the Answer?”
Charles A. Kupchan - Sixth Kissinger Chair (2007)
Professor in the School of Foreign Service and in the Government Department at Georgetown University, at the Library of Congress, Kupchan examined the impact of political partisanship on United States engagement in global affairs. Read announcement
- Lecture: “No One's World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn” (National Book Festival, 2012)
- Lecture: “Dead Center: The Collapse of Bipartisanship and Its Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy”
James M. Goldgeier - Fifth Kissinger Chair (2006)
Professor of political science and director of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University and an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. At the Library, Goldgeier examined the growing division between the European Union, NATO, and the former Soviet Union. Read announcement
Melvyn P. Leffler - Fourth Kissinger Chair (2005)
Dean of the faculty of arts and sciences and Edward Stettinius Professor of American History at the University of Virginia and a leading authority on modern U.S. foreign relations. At the Library, Leffler analyzed efforts by policymakers in Washington and Moscow to reduce the confrontational nature of the Cold War. Read announcement
Xiang Lanxin - Third Kissinger Chair (2003-2004)
Professor of international history and politics at the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Études Internationales in Geneva, Switzerland. At the Library, Xiang analyzed American assumptions about the need to democratize China. Read announcement
Klaus W. Larres - Second Kissinger Chair (2002-2003)
Author and editor of several books including "Churchill's Cold War: The Politics of Personal Diplomacy," "The Cold War: Essential Readings," and "Uneasy Allies: British-German Relations and European Integration since 1945." At the Library of Congress, Larres researched the United States and the 'Unity of Europe': a comparative analysis of American policy-making and European integration in the post-1945 and post-1990 eras. Read announcement
- Lecture: “Downward Course: European-American Relations from the 1970s to the Present”
- Event: “#ScholarFest: War/Peace: Perspectives on the Concept of World Order”
- More presentations by Klaus Larres
- Scholar Says Transatlantic Rift Can Be Repaired, Gazette, July 25, 2003
- Kissinger Scholar Klaus Larres Discusses His New Book on Winston Churchill, Library of Congress Information Bulletin, Vol. 62, No. 1, January 2003
Aaron L. Friedberg - First Kissinger Chair (2001-2002)
Princeton professor appointed on April 27, 2001 as the first Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar. His residence, which began in September 2001, inaugurated the Henry Alfred Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress. At the Library of Congress he researched the rise of Asia and its implications for America. Read announcement
Application Deadline: November 1
Research Areas: Any aspect of foreign policy or international relations involving the United States. The approach may draw upon biography, history, the social sciences, and the full linguistic, photographic, legal, film and other resources of the Library of Congress.
Eligibility: Open to distinguished scholars worldwide.
Stipend: $13,500 per month (up to ten months).
News
Barry Posen Named 2016-2017 Kissinger Chair
Blog posts
Profiles in Leadership: Statesmen Who Made Breakthroughs for Peace and Security
Tony Blair at the Library of Congress
The True Costs of 100 Years of War
Further information:
The John W. Kluge Center
phone: (202) 707-3302
fax: (202) 707-3595
email: [email protected]
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Kissinger Lecturers
The Kissinger Lecturer was created through the generosity of friends of the former Secretary of State to honor both the man and a field of inquiry so important for America's future.
The Kissinger Lecturer is appointed by the Librarian of Congress upon the recommendation of the Kissinger Chair Steering Committee. The Kissinger Lecturer, like the Kissinger Scholar, has achieved distinction in the field of foreign affairs and may be of any nationality.
Past Lectures
7th Kissinger Lecture (2015)
The Right Honourable Tony Blair
Video | Photos
6th Kissinger Lecture (2012)
President of Mexico Felipe Calderón
Video
5th Kissinger Lecture (2007)
James A. Baker III
Video | Press
Release
4th Kissinger Lecture (2005)
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Video | Press Release | Bio
3rd Kissinger Lecture (2004)
George Shultz
Video | Press
Release | Bio
2nd Kissinger Lecture (2003)
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Video | Press
Release | Bio
Inaugural Lecture (2001)
Henry Alfred Kissinger
Press Release
By Nomination Only
There will be no direct applications for the Kissinger Lecturer but nominations are welcome and may be submitted at any time to:
Kissinger Chair Steering Committee
c/o The John W. Kluge Center
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20540-4860
Or, nominations may be submitted by fax or email:
202-707-3595 (fax)
[email protected] (email)
Telephone nominations will not be accepted.
About the Program
The Kissinger Program establishes a non-partisan focus in the nation’s capital for the discussion of key issues in foreign affairs. The Program aims to serve as a catalyst for the fresh analysis of foreign affairs in the global era by sustaining in perpetuity two appointments and related programs that ensure that the subject of foreign affairs, taken broadly, receives reflective and considered treatment each year in Washington, D.C. by distinguished, experienced scholars and practitioners.
Kissinger Scholar
The Kissinger Scholar is the first of the two distinguished appointments. The Kissinger Scholar holds the Kissinger Chair and is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of representatives from the academic community and high-ranking foreign policy experts no longer in office. The Scholar is a distinguished senior research position in residence at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center that engages in research on foreign policy and international affairs that will lead to publication.
Kissinger Lecturer
The Kissinger Lecturer is the second of the appointments. The Lecturer is appointed by the Librarian of Congress to deliver the Kissinger Lecture, a high-profile address delivered on Capitol Hill to Congressional and Federal agency members and staff, diplomats, foreign policy experts, area universities and the foreign policy community at-large. The Lecturer will have achieved distinction in the field of foreign affairs and, like the Scholar, may be of any nationality.
The Setting
Uniquely situated for research, analysis and serious discussion of America’s relation to the world, the Library of Congress offers facilities for scholars, universal collections spanning more than 470 languages, broad language and subject expertise of the Library staff, the central and neutral position of the Library on Capitol Hill, and the inspiring atmosphere of the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building in which to annually examine the general subject of the United States and its relationship with the world.
Funding
The Kissinger Program is made possible by generous donations of the friends and admirers of Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, the 56th Secretary of State of the United States and a past recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the establishment of the Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress on June 26, 2000, during the Library’s Bicentennial year. The Library of Congress holds a collection of Henry A. Kissinger’s papers covering his years of government service and donated to the Library in 1977.
Application Deadline: November 1
Research Areas: Any aspect of foreign policy or international relations involving the United States. The approach may draw upon biography, history, the social sciences, and the full linguistic, photographic, legal, film and other resources of the Library of Congress.
Eligibility: Open to distinguished scholars worldwide.
Stipend: $13,500 per month (up to ten months).
Further information:
The John W. Kluge Center
phone: (202) 707-3302
fax: (202) 707-3595
email: [email protected]
Subscribe to our RSS Feed:
To learn about news, events, and
application and nomination periods.
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Applications
Applications are accepted annually from scholars worldwide for the Kissinger Chair. Scholars may also be nominated by colleagues for this senior chair position. There will be no direct applications for the Kissinger Lecturer, but nominations are welcome any time. See the Nominations tab for details.
Eligibility
Applicants for the Kissinger Scholar may be of any nationality and will have achieved distinction in the field of foreign affairs. Scholars may apply or be nominated by colleagues. Nominations may be submitted via email to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 707-3595.
Tenure & Stipend
The Kissinger Scholar may be in residence at The John W. Kluge Center for a period of up to 10 months, at a stipend of $13,500 per month. The Library of Congress will pay stipends monthly by means of electronic transfer to a U.S. bank account. Transportation arrangements, housing, and health care insurance and costs are the responsibility of the Scholar. The Library will provide Scholars with information on housing and can provide Scholars with contacts for commercial providers of health care insurance. The Library is required to ensure that nonresident alien visitors maintain minimum levels of medical insurance, and will provide information about insurers that offer qualifying policies to nonresident aliens.
Process
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application form, in English
- A curriculum vitae
- A single paragraph abstract
- A statement of proposed research (maximum 5 pages)
- An explanation of why the Library of Congress is the appropriate venue for your research
- 3 letters of reference (in English) from people who have read the research proposal
The Selection Committee will consider the application materials in relation to other proposals. Proposals may involve any aspect of foreign relations or foreign policy involving the United States.
Due Date
The annual application deadline is November 1, with the Chair commencing anytime after September 1 of the next year. Application materials must be submitted by the deadline date via the Kluge Center's online application system.
Expectations
The Kissinger Scholar is expected to engage in serious, sustained research leading to a publishable book on subjects involving foreign policy and international affairs. The approach may draw upon biography, history, the social sciences, and the full linguistic, photographic, legal, film and other resources of the Library of Congress.
Contact Information
Completed application packets should be submitted via the Kluge Center's online application system. Applications submitted via email, fax, or regular mail will not be considered. For questions about application procedures, eligibility, stipend or deadlines, please email [email protected] or write to us at:
The Kissinger Chair Program
The John W. Kluge Center
Library of Congress, LJ-120
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4860
Application Deadline: November 1
Research Areas: Any aspect of foreign policy or international relations involving the United States. The approach may draw upon biography, history, the social sciences, and the full linguistic, photographic, legal, film and other resources of the Library of Congress.
Eligibility: Open to distinguished scholars worldwide.
Stipend: $13,500 per month (up to ten months).
Further information:
The John W. Kluge Center
phone: (202) 707-3302
fax: (202) 707-3595
email: [email protected]
Subscribe to our RSS Feed:
To learn about news, events, and
application and nomination periods.
Subscribe now
More
Nominations
Nominations are welcome for both the Kissinger Program appointments: the annual Kissinger Scholar and the periodic Kissinger Lecturer.
Nominations should be submitted via email to [email protected] or by fax (202) 707-3595.
If necessary, nominations may be submitted in writing to the attention of:
Kissinger Chair Program
The John W. Kluge Center
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington DC 20540-4860
Telephone nominations will not be accepted.
Learn More
Have questions about chairs, fellowships & partnerships at The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress?
Email us at:
[email protected]
Write to us at:
The John W. Kluge Center
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SE
Washington DC 20540-4860
Subscribe to our RSS Feed:
To learn about news, events, and
application and nomination periods.
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More
