Projects
Foreign policy appears complicated and distant from our everyday lives. The barriers for citizens to make their voices heard on big global issues seem insurmountable at times. In our world of digital echo chambers and political polarization, it can be a challenge to find trustworthy information to approach challenges with the same facts. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Institute for Global Affairs brings seemingly complex international issues to life through jargon-free, approachable content and accessible education materials for learners, particularly young people and groups left out of today’s foreign policy discussions. We produce evidence-driven research and analysis that challenges assumptions, and we work tirelessly to narrow the divide between decision-makers and the citizens they serve. We provide a roadmap for people of all backgrounds to navigate today’s rapidly changing world.
Our activities center on three main areas: Research, Outreach, and Education.
Research
IGA conducts high-quality, objective research which increases the public’s understanding of international politics and global affairs. IGA examines new solutions to today’s biggest global challenges and publishes its research to provide citizens and policymakers with the tools they need to build a more secure, prosperous, and sustainable global future.
Independent America
Independent America is a multi-year research project that seeks to explore how US foreign policy could be tailored better to new global realities and to the preferences of American voters. Our unbiased and independent research shows substantially more public support for an “Independent America” worldview, a more restrained and less interventionist foreign policy.
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The US-Russia Relationship: Inevitable Adversaries?
What effects do US-Russia tensions have on key global issues such as nuclear proliferation, counterterrorism, European stability, and the geopolitics of the Middle East and Asia? Explore the historical factors shaping the relationship between the two as we ask, where do we go from here?
America’s Role in the World: A Campaign to Raise Awareness of National Choices
Designed to raise awareness among young voters about the pressing foreign policy issues leading up to the 2016 US Presidential election, efforts focused on millennial voters, sharing information, videos, and infographics via a large-scale social media campaign. Even today, the information remains relevant to understanding complex issues.
Outreach
IGA works to increase public interest in and awareness of global affairs. We amplify diverse perspectives and the voices of thinkers traditionally underrepresented in international affairs to nurture a more inclusive and open community of foreign policy experts in the United States and around the globe. Our podcast, None Of The Above, elevates new ideas and makes important foreign policy issues accessible and understandable. IGA also provides opportunities for people to build the skills they need to make a positive impact in their communities and on the world stage.
IGA’s Podcast: None Of The Above
As the United States confronts an ever-changing set of international challenges, our foreign policy leaders continue to offer the same old answers. What are the alternatives? In None Of The Above, IGA senior fellow Mark Hannah asks leading global thinkers for new answers and new ideas to guide an America increasingly adrift in the world.
Education
IGA creates opportunities for people, particularly underserved youth, to access quality, easy-to-use learning materials and curricula on global affairs for use in the classroom and on the go. Through the development of content that engages and informs, IGA helps students make meaning of seemingly complex world events and the global issues which impact their lives.
Vision
We are now seeking partners to support a significant expansion of our education efforts. Over the next year, IGA plans to develop three new curricula on topics that will greatly impact the world of future generations.
View Education Projects
High School Curriculum: Intro to Globalization
IGA and Marginal Revolution University return to make globalization even more accessible. Easy to teach and completely free to use, this three-day unit helps students navigate our world of economic interdependence and automation.
IGA x Rumie: Take a “Byte” out of Geopolitical Uncertainty
Explore these free micro-lessons (“Bytes”) to quickly get up to speed on the foreign policy and national security issues that have defined, and will continue to define, the United States and the world for years to come.
High-School Curriculum: Globalization, Robots & You
This interactive five-day curriculum engages students in topics related to globalization that will help them make informed decisions about their education and future careers. Materials are free to any school, teacher, or homeschooling parent
The curriculum has been adapted for virtual learning.
Digital Revolution: Technology, Power, & You
The digital revolution has already changed how people live, work, and communicate. And it’s only getting started. But the same technologies that have the potential to help billions of people live happier, healthier, and more productive lives also create new challenges for citizens and governments around the world.
