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Lester Crown Center on US Foreign Policy

Shaping debates and informing decisions on important US foreign policy issues.

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Public Opinion

Chicago Council Survey data tracks trends in American public opinion on US foreign policy since 1975.

Survey Reports

Research

Analysis and policy recommendations on US foreign policy and national security.

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Events

Policymakers and influencers share their experience and insight to keep the public informed.

Events

From the Lester Crown Center

The Ukraine Example: Circumstances Matter for Effective Security Assistance

RESEARCH Policy Brief by Ethan Kessler

US aid would not have been nearly as effective without Ukraine’s efforts to improve its military prior to the 2022 Russian invasion.

Hands hold yellow signs saying "bans off our bodies" in front of a blue sky

America Is Leading the World Backward

In the News Chicago Tribune

Globally, Negative Views of Russia Predominate

Blog Running Numbers by Craig Kafura

iStock

Public Opinion

2021 Chicago Council Survey

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey

While the Biden administration seems to understand where Americans stand on China and domestic renewal to support global competitiveness, the data disproves their assumptions that Americans are skeptical about trade and weary of US global engagement and leadership.

Commentary and Analysis

VP of Studies Brian Hanson recording an episode of Deep Dish

Deep Dish Podcast

Council Vice President of Studies Brian T. Hanson sits down with guests to go beyond the headlines on critical global issues in this weekly podcast series.

World Review

Former NATO Ambassador and Council President Ivo Daalder talks with leading media commentators about emerging global news during this live streaming show every Friday at 10 a.m. CT.

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Running Numbers Blog

A public opinion, probabilities, and everything data-related blog featuring commentary and analysis from polling and foreign policy experts.

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In the News

Commentary and analysis from Lester Crown Center experts featured in digital, print, and TV news.

Meet the Experts

All Lester Crown Center experts

Dina Smeltz

Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.

More about Dina

Elizabeth Shackelford

Senior Fellow, US Foreign Policy

Elizabeth Shackelford, a former career US diplomat who served at the US Mission to Somalia and the US Embassy in South Sudan, joined the Council in 2021. Her work focuses on building awareness and understanding of a "restraint" approach to foreign policy, which seeks to limit the use of military force to the defense of core US national security interests and favors robust diplomatic engagement.

More about Elizabeth

Karl Friedhoff

Marshall M. Bouton Fellow for Asia Studies

Karl Friedhoff was a Korea Foundation-Mansfield Foundation US-Korea Nexus Scholar and a member of the Mansfield Foundation’s Trilateral Working Group prior to joining the Council. Previously, he was a program officer in the Public Opinion Studies Program at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies based in Seoul, South Korea.

More about Karl

All Lester Crown Center experts

Center at a Glance

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Public Opinion Surveys on US Foreign Policy

First conducted in 1974, the now annual Chicago Council Survey highlights critical trends and shifts in American views on US foreign policy over time.

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Task Forces on National Security

Thought leaders convened for task forces analyze and make recommendations on a range of timely national security and foreign policy issues.

General Jim Mattis speaking at the Council

Lester Crown Lecture on US Foreign Policy

Each year, audiences hear from and question a national security leader, fostering dialogue and building deeper understanding of critical issues.

VP of Studies Brian Hanson recording our podcast, Deep Dish

Commentary and Analysis

Fellows and other experts offer the context needed to understand current national security or foreign policy events and trends through op-eds, blogs, podcasts, and videos.

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