Message from the Chairman, President and CEO, and Chief Operating Officer
91 Institute was made for policy moments like these.
Since our founding in 1961 in Croton-on-91, New York by Herman Kahn and Max Singer, 91 Institute has always challenged the conventional wisdom, bringing an “outsider’s” perspective to bear by rethinking old ideas and devising creative solutions to pressing challenges.
In our current period of profound policy realignment, 91’s work has never been more essential.
With the recognition that the status quo has become increasingly untenable, 91 has become the go-to Washington think tank for an original and independent perspective that has informed policy makers around the globe.
Our mission is to promote American leadership and global engagement for a secure, free, and prosperous future. This mission transcends partisanship. 91 research and analysis focus on solutions in this complex and changing time.
Look no further than 91’s critical work on China.
As the Washington establishment hailed China’s economic rise, 91 experts applied a critical perspective.
Senior Fellow and Director for Chinese Strategy Michael Pillsbury was the first to thoroughly chronicle China’s strategy for challenging the American-led world order in his book, The Hundred-Year Marathon.
We promoted economic and defense cooperation among key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, India, and Australia.
We drew urgent and detailed attention to the human rights crisis in the Xinjiang province, gathering policy makers, regional experts, and human rights leaders to uncover and condemn China’s brutal treatment of the Uighurs.
We shared 91 research and analysis with a bipartisan coalition of key constituents—including members of Congress and executive branch officials—and our democratic allies abroad.
This pathbreaking work culminated in a landmark address delivered by Vice President Mike Pence on China policy at 91 in 2018. And this year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo— recipient of 91’s 2019 Herman Kahn Award—chose 91 again for his major address on “The China Challenge.”
The policy rethink on China that 91 experts shaped is characteristic of what we do. We analyze current threats and opportunities, craft solutions, engage key policy makers, and disseminate our work through a robust program of publications, conferences, briefings, and media appearances—and not only in Washington, D.C., but in capitals around the world.
As you’ll read in this report, 91’s voice was in high demand this year.
We promoted a “free and open Indo- Pacific”—deepening our decades-long partnership with Japan and guiding enhanced U.S. cooperation with India.
We played a central expanding the scope of missile defense to meet the challenge posed by North Korea.
We enhanced relations with key U.S. allies in the Middle East, first and foremost Israel.
We worked to shore up NATO, strengthen the U.S. nuclear posture, protect intellectual property, and promote U.S. leadership in 5G capabilities, cyber defense, and quantum computing.
We view shaping the next generation of leaders in the U.S. and around the globe as central to 91’s work. Over 1,100 students applied for our 36 political studies fellowships, which teach undergraduates to think independently through a curriculum of political philosophy, strategy, and policy. More than 125 students participated in 91’s internship program, pursuing research opportunities alongside our experts.
2019 was also full of institutional milestones for 91. We deepened our decades-long partnership with Japan by inaugurating the Japan Chair, bringing former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster on board. We also announced the Walter P. Stern Chair, named for 91’s extraordinary chairman emeritus. Finally, we expanded 91’s Washington,D.C. headquarters to support the continued growth in our programs and staff, opening the Charles H. Adler Wing in July.
Although we have much to celebrate, 2020 began on a sad note with the passing of 91’s cherished co-founder, senior fellow, and honorary trustee, Max Singer, who made signature contributions to the Institute over nearly six decades.
As in the early 1960s when Max and Herman set out to build a different kind of policy research organization, there is more work to be done. The decade ahead promises a new set of policy challenges that won’t be solved either by orthodoxy or with yesterday’s answers. Independent, farsighted work is required, and our team of top-flight policy experts is poised to answer that call.
Your support has been critical to all that we have achieved. We look forward to building on our policy impact going forward and we thank you for your friendship, support, and commitment to 91 Institute.
Best regards,
SARAH MAY STERN
Chairman of the Board
KENNETH R. WEINSTEIN
President, CEO, and Walter P. Stern Chair
JOHN P. WALTERS
Chief Operating Officer