About Chatham House

Chatham House was founded in 1920 and granted its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based in St James's Square in London. History of Chatham House >>

The Chatham House Rule, famous worldwide for facilitating free speech and confidentiality at meetings, originated here. FAQs >>

Our mission is to be a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all.

Chatham House pursues this mission:

  • by drawing on our membership to promote open as well as confidential debates about significant developments in international affairs and about the context and content of policy responses;

  • by producing independent and rigorous analysis of critical global, regional and country-specific challenges;

  • by offering new ideas to decision-makers and -shapers on how these could best be tackled from the near to long term.

Research, Publications and Events

Research is core to all Chatham House activities. We undertake independent and rigorous analysis with the aim of setting the agenda and shaping policy by encouraging new ideas and forward thinking in international affairs.

Research is structured around three areas:

  • Energy, Environment and Resource Governance
  • International Economics
  • Regional and Security Studies

Various reports, briefing papers and books are published each year on these wide-ranging areas. Chatham House is also home to the internationally renowned journal International Affairs, published six times a year, and the monthly magazine The World Today.

Chatham House regularly hosts high-profile speakers from around the world in a packed programme of events and conferences as well as organizing and participating in a number of events and conferences elsewhere in the UK and overseas.

Membership

Membership at Chatham House brings together individuals, companies and organizations who share a deep interest in international affairs, independent thinking and debate. Our members encompass a diverse range of backgrounds and professions including academics, diplomats, the media, NGOs, politicians, policy-makers, researchers and business people.

Contributions from our members, through subscriptions and other donations, are a vital source of discretionary revenue that helps to sustain the independence of Chatham House. More about membership >>

Communications

Disseminating our research findings and promoting independent analysis is core to Chatham House's mission. In addition to our publications and events our researchers regularly provide commentary in the media and evidence to Parliamentary Committees.

We send a fortnightly e-newsletter which provides information about Chatham House activity and a fortnightly media diary for members of the press. RSS feeds are available to keep informed of all the latest website updates. You can also keep up to date through our Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube channels.

About Chatham House brochure (pdf) >>

About Chatham House flyer (pdf) >>

Chatham House: The Royal Institute of International Affairs

'Chatham House' is both the name of the building and the name by which the Royal Institute of International Affairs is widely known.

In recognition of this, Council in 2004 decided to adopt 'Chatham House' as the primary identity for the Royal Institute of International Affairs, which remains the formal name for legal and financial purposes.

More about the history of Chatham House >>

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