International Institute for Strategic Studies

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a leading international research organisation specialising in defence, security, and global strategic affairs. Since 1997 it has been headquartered at Arundel House in London, with offices across four continents. The institute produces research, data, and policy analysis on global security issues and hosts major international security summits. It is frequently cited as one of the world’s most influential security think tanks. The Director-General and Chief Executive is Bastian Giegerich, and Sir John Chipman serves as Executive Chairman. The organisation has featured prominently in global think tank rankings, although some assessments have raised concerns about funding transparency.

Historical Development

The IISS originated in 1958 as the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS), following a 1957 conference that brought together leading scholars and practitioners concerned with nuclear strategy in the early Cold War. Chaired by the military historian Michael Howard, the founding committee recommended the creation of an organisation dedicated to collecting and disseminating information about nuclear weapons and their implications for international relations.
Alastair Buchan, a defence journalist, became the first director, while former British prime minister Clement Attlee served as the first president. During its early years, membership was predominantly British; however, from 1968 onwards Australian and Japanese representatives joined the council. Reflecting this broader composition, the organisation adopted the name International Institute for Strategic Studies in 1971.
Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the IISS has hosted high-level discussions and influential public lectures. A notable early example was the 1977 Alastair Buchan Memorial Lecture delivered by West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, which became known for advocating the deployment of Euromissiles in response to new Soviet intermediate-range missiles.
By the turn of the twenty-first century, the institute had expanded significantly, relocating to its current headquarters in Arundel House in 2000. In 2023 the IISS employed around 160 staff members and reported an annual turnover exceeding £25 million.

Research Activities and Global Role

The IISS conducts extensive research on defence policy, security trends, geopolitical risk, and international military capabilities. Its analysts work closely with governments, defence ministries, multinational institutions, and organisations such as NATO. The institute provides strategic advice, political risk assessments, and tailored consultancy services for both governmental and private-sector clients.
In 2011 the IISS published the FARC Files, a series of documents captured from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, offering rare insights into the organisation’s internal operations. The institute’s annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a major Asia-Pacific security summit, has been recognised as one of the world’s foremost security conferences.
Regular publications include authoritative assessments of military spending, armed forces, and global conflict dynamics. These outputs contribute to policy debates and are frequently cited by governments, academics, and media outlets.

Transparency and Funding Debates

Despite its reputation, the IISS has faced scrutiny over aspects of its funding. In 2016 The Guardian reported that the institute had received substantial financial support—reportedly around £25 million—from the Bahraini royal family and that both parties had agreed to keep this funding confidential in relation to the Manama Dialogue, a regional security summit organised by the IISS.
The institute did not deny the authenticity of the leaked documents but responded by emphasising that all its contracts include clauses safeguarding intellectual and operational independence. Subsequent reporting in Middle East Eye suggested that Bahraini sources may have accounted for nearly half of the organisation’s income during parts of the 2010s. These controversies contributed to the institute receiving the lowest possible transparency rating from the organisation Transparify, despite being among the largest UK think tanks in terms of expenditure.

Governance Structure

The IISS operates as a registered charity governed by a board of trustees. The trustees appoint members of the IISS Council, which serves as the institute’s intellectual advisory body. Both the trustees and council members are drawn from an international pool of prominent figures in politics, academia, and industry. The Director-General and Chief Executive, alongside the Executive Chairman, report to the chair of the trustees.
As of February 2024, the trustees included senior figures such as Bill Emmott, Caroline Atkinson, John O. Brennan, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Florence Parly, Kasper Rørsted, and Lord Sedwill. Their responsibilities include oversight of financial management, strategic direction, and fundraising.
The Advisory Council brings together senior academics, business leaders, policymakers and former officials from around the world. Members have included figures such as Chung Min Lee (chairman of the Advisory Council), Thomas Enders, Michael Fullilove, Peter Maurer, Lord Powell of Bayswater, Heizo Takenaka, and Marcus Wallenberg. The council provides strategic guidance and contributes to programme development and global outreach.

Activities, Events, and Influence

The institute remains highly active in international security dialogue. It convenes private expert groups and hosts influential public events, including:

• the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a premier forum for Asia-Pacific defence diplomacy;
• the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, focusing on Middle Eastern security issues;
• specialist conferences on cybersecurity, military modernisation, and geopolitical risk.