The Project 2049 Institute is an American think tank focused on security issues and public policy in Central-Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
The Institute was founded in January 2008. Its stated goal is to "guide decision makers toward a more secure Asia by the century's mid-point" by "filling a gap in the public policy realm through forward-looking, region-specific research on alternative security and policy solutions...[with an] interdisciplinary approach draw[ing] on rigorous analysis of socioeconomic, governmental, military, environmental, technological, and political trends, and input from key players in the region, with an eye toward educating the public and informing policy debate." The Institute's work is done through "studies for sponsors with an interest in long-range strategic forecasting."
The Institute identifies its four "research focus" areas as "democracy and governance" (democratization, civil society, elections and political processes, rule of law, political corruption), "alliance, coalitions and partnerships" (regional alliances and balance of power); "non-traditional security" (non-conventional threats such as terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, and environmental and energy security issues) and "China studies."
The Project 2049 Institute experts have published op-eds on a variety of topics from Burma to China’s military rise in major newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, the Far Eastern Economic Review and the Wall Street Journal Asia. Project 2049 Institute reports have also been cited in publications including Washington Times, the Sydney Morning Herald, Taipei Times, the L.A. Times, Bloomberg, and Defense News. In addition, their experts have appeared on CNN, Fox News, and PBS as well as foreign news programs such as BBC’s “World News Today.”
The Institute is based in Arlington, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Research, Publications, and Events
The Project 2049 Institute stimulates policy discussion through in-depth analysis of key strategic trends in the Asia – Pacific and bringing together regional experts in public forums.
Recent Publications:
The Police Challenge: Advancing Afghan National Police Training
Taiwan, the People's Liberation Army, and the Struggle with Nature
China and Pakistan: Emerging Strains in the Entente Cordiale
China's Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Satellite Developments: Implications for U.S. Air and Naval Operations
Strengthening Fragile Partnerships: An Agenda for the Future of U.S.-Central Asia Relations
Mirage or Reality? Asia's Emerging Human Rights and Democracy Architecture
The Next Steps in Japan-NATO Cooperation Evolving Aerospace Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region: Implications for Stability in the Taiwan Strait and Beyond
Strengthening ASEAN-India Relations in the 21st Century
Nuclear Warhead Storage and Handling System
Revolutionizing Taiwan's Security: Leveraging C4ISR for traditional and non-traditional challenges
Recent Events:
Why Taiwan Matters: Project 2049 Institute President and CEO Randall Schriver testifies before the full House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the state of United States-Taiwan relations, future arm sales, and the implications for Sino-American relations going forward.
The Police Challenge: Advancing Afghan National Police Training: After nearly a decade of U.S. involvement, with countless lives lost and immense treasure spent, Afghanistan continues to be roiled by conflict. Failing to see enduring stability and approaching a transition point, the importance of a functional police force for long-term security and promoting rule of law is more critical than ever. Yet, training efforts for the Afghan National Police forces continue to meet challenges stemming from shortfalls in institutional and individual capacity. 'The Police Challenge: Advancing Afghan National Police Training' examines the breadth of challenges for the Afghan National Civil Order Police and Afghan Uniformed Police, including the human capital deficit, the inadequacy of police partnership programs, the ever-shifting 'roles and missions' changes affecting the force, and the institution failures of the Afghan government to set the conditions for police success. In response to these challenges, the Project 2049 Institute and the Afghan National Police Working Group offer new recommendations for strengthening the training efforts to build a more effective and cohesive police force in Afghanistan.
The Future of Japan: Project 2049 Institute President and CEO Randall Schriver testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on Japan's long-term disaster recovery and the U.S.-Japan alliance in the context of the changing regional security environment.
The Implications of China’s Military and Civil Space Programs: Project 2049 Institute Executive Director Mark Stokes testifies before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the drivers of China's space modernization, military space organizations, and emerging aerospace capabilities.
The president and chief executive officer of the Project 2049 Institute is Randall G. Schriver, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for issues relating to Republic of China (Taiwan), People's Republic of China, and Hong Kong. He also served as chief of staff to then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
The executive director of the Project 2049 Institute is Mark Stokes, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and former Senior Country Director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense responsible for U.S. defense policy toward the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.[1]
The board of directors and board of advisors includes a number of former officials from both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, various individuals from the corporate world, lobbyists, and other think tank figures.
Board of DirectorsIan Brzezinski, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Lisa Curtis, Heritage Foundation
Rodney Faraon, Crumpton Group
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, US-Taiwan Business Council
Ted Hobart, Chart Venture Partners
Randall Schriver, CEO, Project 2049 Institute
Board of AdvisorsDavid Asher, Center for a New American Security, Anchin Capital Advisors
Dan Blumenthal, American Enterprise Institute
Larry Estrada, Goldman Sachs
James Mulvenon, Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis
Stewart Verdery, Monument Policy Group
Phoebe Yang, Russell Reynolds Associates
International Advisory CouncilAndrew Yang, Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies (CAPS)
Tetsuo Kotani, The Okazaki Institute
Ho Szu-yin, Political Science Department, National Chengchi University
Hsiao Bi-khim, Democratic Progressive Party member of the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan
Andrew Shearer, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Yeling Tan, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Centre on Asia and Globalisation
