Royal United Services Institute

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), sometimes still referred to by its pre-2004 name, the Royal United Service Institution, is a British defence and security think tank. It was founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley.[2]

Royal United Services Institute
AbbreviationRUSI
Formation1831 (1831)
Founder
Type
Legal statusnonprofit organization[1]
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
President
The Duke of Kent
Director-General
Karin von Hippel
Websitewww.rusi.org

The current President of RUSI is the Duke of Kent and its Director is Karin von Hippel.

History

RUSI was founded in 1831 – making it the oldest defence and security think tank in the world – at the initiative of the Duke of Wellington. Its original mission was to study naval and military science.

The Duke of Wellington spearheaded the establishment of RUSI in a letter to Colbourn's United Service Journal arguing that "a United Service Museum" should be formed, managed entirely by naval and military officers, and under patronage of the monarch, then King George IV, and the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces. Such an institution would prove that the two professions have entered the lists of science, and are ready to contend for honours tam Artibus quam Armis – 'as much through the arts as through weapons'.[2]

Subsequently, Commander Henry Downes, Royal Navy, assembled a group with a view to forming a committee for action, to which King George's First ADC was commanded to convey "His Majesty's gracious and high approbation of the undertaking and of the principles on which it is proposed to conduct it", which were stated to be suitable for "a strictly scientific and professional society, and not a club". The death of the King delayed matters, but the Duke of Clarence expressed his readiness to become a patron so, encouraged by the powerful support of the Duke of Wellington, the First Aide-de-camp, Sir Herbert Taylor, re-submitted the project to William IV (the former Duke of Clarence), and was able to assure the committee that "it could proceed under his Majesty's gracious auspices".

On 25 June 1831 the committee met. The chair was taken by Major General Sir Howard Douglas, in his person a symbol of the "United Service": a soldier who was the leading expert on naval gunnery. The resolution that the institution be established was put by the future Field Marshal Viscount Hardinge and seconded by the future Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, the famous hydrographer. The first name adopted was the Naval and Military Museum: this was altered in 1839 to the United Service Institution, and in 1860 to the Royal United Service Institution by a royal charter of incorporation. In 2004 the name was changed to the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. Fellows of RUSI may use the five-letter post-nominal abbreviation, FRUSI.

Premises

Prior to moving into its current purpose-built headquarters in 1895, RUSI began its existence in Whitehall Court, then moved to a house in what was then known as Middle Scotland Yard in 1832. Queen Victoria granted RUSI the use of the Banqueting House. It finally moved to its current location next door to the Banqueting House in 1895.[2]

Activities

RUSI is a British institution; however, it operates with an international perspective. It promotes the study and discussion of developments in military doctrine, defence management and defence procurement. In recent years RUSI has broadened its remit to include all issues of defence and security, including financial and organised crime, terrorism and the ideologies which foster it and the challenges from other man-made or man-assisted threats and from natural disasters. The 2016-2017 Review and Annual Report are available [3] It won Prospect magazine's Think Tank of the Year Award in 2008.[4] In 2009, the same magazine named RUSI "Foreign Policy Think Tank of the Year".[5] In 2018, the awards shortlisted [6] RUSI in the Economic and Financial as well as the International Affairs categories.

RUSI has a membership consisting of military officers, diplomats and the wider policy community, numbering 1,668 individuals and 129 corporate members (see the last page of the latest Review).[3]

RUSI currently also has fifty Associate Fellows and twelve Fellows FRUSI.

RUSI members and the wider defence and security community have access to the following activities:

Research

According to its website,[7] RUSI "maintains a wide range of multidisciplinary research specialisms. It focuses on the areas of Military Sciences, International Security Studies, National Security and Resilience Studies, Nuclear Proliferation, Financial Crime and Defence, Industries and Society". In April 2020, RUSI released a report urging the UK's intelligence agencies to step up their use of artificial intelligence in order to “keep pace” with adversaries who seek to exploit new technologies to attack Britain.[8]

Analysis

RUSI experts are often called upon to provide analysis and commentary on the leading defence and security issues of the day.[9] In addition, RUSI.org hosts timely analysis[10] on the defence and security issues of the day. Content is drawn from its publications and briefings from its researchers.

Events

RUSI organises a number of lectures, seminars and conferences for its membership and the wider defence and international security community. Its location in Whitehall means that is able to attract leading statesmen and policymakers.

Publications

RUSI publishes a number of periodicals and books. Its flagship publication is the RUSI Journal. It also publishes the RUSI Newsbrief and RUSI Defence Systems.

Governance

RUSI gets its funding from individual members as well as corporate members, which includes major corporations from numerous countries.[11][12] RUSI is governed by a council comprising vice-presidents, trustees and an advisory Council. Members serve for a three-year term.[13]

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See also
  • List of UK think tanks

References
  1. Charity Commission
  2. "Royal United Services Institute (Biographical details)". The British Museum, UK. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  3. https://rusi.org/rusi-reports/annual-report-2016-17
  4. "Prospect Magazine's Think Tank of 2008". Prospectmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  5. "Prospect Think Tank of the Year: The Winners". Prospect Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  6. 2018 shortlisted
  7. expertise
  8. Warrell, Helen (2020). "UK intelligence urged to step up AI use to counter cyber threats". Financial Times.
  9. "Royal United Services Institute". News.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  10. "Timely analysis". Rusi.org. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  11. https://rusi.org/inside-rusi/rusi-funding
  12. https://rusi.org/membership/corporate/members
  13. "List of members of RUSI Council". Rusi.org. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2014-07-18.

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