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“The contemporary world is characterized by global upheaval resulting from differences in culture, values, history, and evolution. International studies need to focus on the confluence of these trends, permitting the development of a grand strategy. The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS will develop a multi-disciplinary approach to world order with special emphasis on historical and cultural evolution.” - Henry A. Kissinger

Our Purpose

The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs generates and applies rigorous historical thinking to the most vexing global challenges and acts as a bridge between the world of ideas and the world of action, bringing together leading thinkers and policymakers.

Generate new ideas

Generate new ideas

Through the research and writing of our distinguished faculty, fellows, and scholars

Train tomorrow’s leaders

Train tomorrow’s leaders

Through innovative classes and curricula, the center seeks to revitalize the practice of diplomatic and military history and to examine the global order

Convene academics and practitioners

Convene academics and practitioners

Through public and private programming which engages current leaders and new voices in their fields

Our People

We bring together distinguished scholars and practitioners in foreign policy and international security

Francis Gavin

Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor, Director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs

Mary Sarotte

Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Distinguished Professor of Historical Studies, Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs

Hal Brands

Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor

Featured News

The Kissinger Center Papers

May 19, 2023

The Kissinger Center Papers

The Kissinger Center Papers is a project of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs and the America in the World Consortium, with the support of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). Edited by Professors Hal Brands and Frank Gavin, these papers explore the future of war and conflict - its causes and consequences - and how it will be similar to or vary from the past.

Read the Papers

Upcoming Event: The Failure of the Post Cold War Global Order?


The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February represented more than just a political and military shock: it represented a seismic shift in international affairs. When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeled this event as a "Zeitenwende", or a turning point in time, he signified the end of an era—the third post-war international order of the 20th century on the northern hemisphere. From May 31st to June 2nd, 2023, The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and the Gutenberg International Conference Center of the University of Mainz will unite to explore the lessons from a critical juncture in global history: the failure of the Post-Cold War order. This conference examines the lifespan of the Post-Cold War order, stretching from the Paris order of 1919/20 to the Cold War and examines whether this outcome could have been avoided and what lessons we can glean from this history to navigate present and future international politics.

The event's organizers are Dr. Andreas Rödder, from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Helmut Schmidt Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Johns Hopkins SAIS, alongside Dr. Francis J. Gavin, the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the inaugural director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

The conference is not open to the public. 


Event Recap

New Makers Contributors Launch Event

The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs and Dr. Hal Brands celebrated the momentous launch of the New Makers of Modern Strategy; this impactful event, held at The Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, D.C., gathered renowned experts from the world of international strategy for a day filled with stimulating discussions and fresh insights. From panels like "Foundations and Founders," that explored the historical journey of strategy and its origins, "Strategy in a Multipolar World," that dove into the complexities and challenges of strategy in our increasingly diverse global political landscape, and "Strategy in an Age of Global War," that offered a deep dive into strategy formulation during global conflicts, the day was packed with insights and rich conversation. This event marks the beginning of an exciting journey into the strategic world of the "New Makers of Modern Strategy."

Our Publications

Explore our latest scholarship

Coming Soon: May 2, 2023

Coming Soon: The New Makers of Modern Strategy

Professor Hal Brands edited The New Makers of Modern Strategy, is the next generation of the definitive work on strategy and the key figures who have shaped the theory and practice of war and statecraft throughout the centuries. Featuring new entries by world-class scholars, this new edition provides global, comparative perspectives on strategic thought from antiquity to today, surveying both classical and current themes of strategy while devoting greater attention to the Cold War and post-9/11 eras.

BrandsDangerZone

October 20, 2022

Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

Professor Brands is joined by Professor Beckley of Tufts University in a "provocative and urgent" analysis of the U.S - China relationship and rivalry.

Sarotte Not One Inch

November 1, 2021

Featured Title: Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate

In her newest book, Professor Mary Elise Sarotte explores the profound impact of NATO expansion on US-Russia relations since the Cold War, revealing missed opportunities and drawing on newly declassified documents and over 100 interviews.

President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin shaking hands

January 7, 2022

The Betrayal Myth Behind Putin's Brinkmanship

In this Wall Street Journal article, Professor M.E. Sarotte examines current relations between NATO and Russia--and possible paths forward--based on an understanding of their relationship since the Cold War.

Brands_Gaddis_Nov-Dec_Foreign_Affairs

October 20, 2021

The New Cold War: America, China, and the Echoes of History

In this Foreign Affairs article, Professor Hal Brands and Professor John Lewis Gaddis argue that we can learn from history to navigate the new Sino-American cold war.

Our Programs

Our programs and projects examine crucial topics in history, strategy, and statecraft

Founding Donors

The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs was made possible by the extraordinary leadership of Johns Hopkins University alumnus and former board chair Michael R. Bloomberg and by generous gifts from individual donors, corporations, and private foundations.

Founding Donors