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Lester Crown Center on US Foreign Policy

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

More About the Center

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.

All Research

Events

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

Events

From the Lester Crown Center

Americans Say North Korea Is an Adversary, Still Prefer Diplomacy

Blog Running Numbers by Karl Friedhoff

Over the weekend, North Korea launched a new cruise missile. It's unlikely to shift American public opinion.

For First Time, Half of Americans Favor Defending Taiwan If China Invades

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey

Evacuees from Afghanistan Arrive at Naval Station Rota

Republicans and Democrats Support Evacuating, Relocating Afghans to the United States

Blog Running Numbers by Craig Kafura

Task Force Report

Then US Vice President Joe Biden visits Observation Post Ouellette inside the DMZ, the military border separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom in 2013.

REUTERS

Defense and Security

Preventing Nuclear Proliferation and Reassuring America's Allies

RESEARCH Report

A task force, cochaired by Chuck Hagel, Malcolm Rifkind, and Kevin Rudd with Ivo Daalder, argues that fraying American alliances and a rapidly changing security environment have shaken America’s nuclear security guarantees and threaten the 50-year-old nuclear nonproliferation regime.

Center at a Glance

Shadows of people standing in front of an American flag

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.

Four US soldiers stand in front of a setting sun

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.

Explore Findings of the 2020 Chicago Council Survey

Democrats and Republicans are divided in their views on top threats to United States and how the country should address global challenges and engage internationally. 

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, former career US diplomat, joined the Council in January 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

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.

A list of numbers in a collection of data on a computer screen

Running Numbers Blog

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

Donald Trump answering questions at a press briefing at the White House

In the News

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

Newsletter sign-up

Sign up to receive a monthly email with all the latest survey findings, research, analysis, and commentary from Crown Center experts and featured speakers.

Crown Center Events

A demonstrator holds US and Taiwan flags

Taiwan and the Biden Administration

Virtual

As China and the United States enter an era of competition, an expert panel assesses the future of US policy toward Taiwan and its subsequent effect on US-China relations.