The last decades have seen rapid internationalization in all kinds of fields—from small business to terrorism to religion, entertainment and social activism. Oddly, think tanks—even those whose interests are international—remained largely national enterprises, rooted in the views of one country. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was the first to break the pattern.
In 1994, the Endowment launched the Carnegie Moscow Center, pioneering the idea that in today's world a think tank whose mission is to contribute to global security, stability, and prosperity requires a permanent international presence and a multinational outlook at the core of its operations.
Building on the strength of this success and following its century-long practice of changing as global circumstances change, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace undertook a fundamental redefinition of its role and mission.
As it celebrates its Centennial, the Carnegie Endowment is pioneering the first global think tank, with flourishing offices now in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Beirut, and Brussels. These five locations include the centers of world governance and the places whose political evolution and international policies will most determine the near-term possibilities for international peace and economic advance.