Open Debate

Founded in 1920, Chatham House engages governments, the private sector, civil society and its members in open debate and confidential discussion on the most significant developments in international affairs. Each year, the institute runs more than 300 private and public events – conferences, workshops and roundtables – in London and internationally with partners. Our convening power attracts world leaders and the best analysts in their respective fields from across the globe.

Independent and Trusted Analysis

Chatham House carries out independent and rigorous analysis of critical global, regional and country-specific challenges and opportunities. In 2016, Chatham House was named Think Tank of the Year at Prospect magazine’s annual think-tank awards, where it also won in the UK categories for International Affairs and Energy and Environment. The judges commented that the institute’s work is ‘reliably excellent’ and a ‘gold standard of knowledge and professionalism’.

Chatham House consistently ranks highly in the University of Pennsylvania’s annual Global Go To Think Tank Index, where it has been assessed by its peers as the No. 1 think-tank outside the US for nine consecutive years, No. 2 worldwide for the past six years and was ranked Think Tank of the Year in the survey published in January 2017.

The institute’s reports, papers, books and other research outputs are a vital resource for leaders and policy-makers in government, the private sector and civil society. International Affairs, Britain’s leading journal of international relations, was founded by and is edited at the institute.

The institute’s magazine, The World Today, provides authoritative analysis and up-to-date commentary on current topics. The Chatham House library has one of the longest-standing specialist collections of material on international affairs in the United Kingdom. The collections are digitally archived and searchable.

Chatham House is independent and owes no allegiance to any government or to any political body. It does not take institutional positions on policy issues.

All research programmes and staff adhere to the Chatham House Principles for Independent Research and Convening(opens in new window)

New ideas

Chatham House experts develop new ideas on how best to confront critical international challenges and take advantage of opportunities from the near- to the long-term. Policy recommendations are developed in collaboration with policymakers, experts and stakeholders in each area. Chatham House staff regularly brief government officials, legislators and other decision-makers on their conclusions.

Chatham House has created the Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs to develop a new generation of leaders capable of crafting innovative responses to the most pressing challenges facing their countries and regions.

Annual Review

Our Annual Review outlines the institute’s output, activities and achievements from the past year.

Charter and Bye-laws

Our Royal Charter and Bye-laws(opens in new window) lay out the aims and objectives of the institute.