Policy Impact

At FSI, we aspire not only to study global problems, but also to solve them. Our work reaches those who have the ability to make change in several ways: we provide policy advice through Congressional testimony; we engage policymakers in person and in small groups; we form research-policy partnerships with governments; we host public events to share research with policy actors in Washington, D.C., Silicon Valley, and around the world; and we engage with news and social media in order to inform the public debate.

We also know that impact requires policymakers capable of affecting change. That's why we train policymakers in the U.S. and worldwide, and prepare the next generation of policymakers through undergraduate programs as well as our Master's in International Policy.

Finally, many FSI scholars have been policymakers themselves, making an impact in the field and then bringing real-world experience with them to strengthen FSI's work.

There is a benefit to researching and studying policy here at Stanford – it affords us a unique perspective because of the distance from D.C., and allows us to take a longer view on current world affairs. Below are a few examples of how we are building the bridges to ensure our research flows to policy professionals all around the world.

I appreciate your interest in our work. Please reach out to us if you'd like to learn more or connect with an FSI scholar.

Sincerely, 

Michael McFaul
Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House, 2009-2012
U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014