Inclusive dialogue
and diverse perspectives

create better solutions.

For more than 65 years, the Stanley Center for Peace and Security has brought together members of the global community to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and take collective action.

We work across countries, cultures, and policy sectors.

Alongside our global partners, the Stanley Center drives policy in three issue areas: mitigating climate change, avoiding the use of nuclear weapons, and preventing mass violence and atrocities.

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Issue Areas

Our work focuses on three issue areas critical to shared and lasting peace. Within each, we search for new answers to the most timely policy questions.

  • from an Advisor

    The center goes deep on policy issues and finds ways to move those issues forward. They are known for being open to a range of perspectives, yet true to values that underlie their choices of issues and approach to solutions. This combination is needed.

    Jane Wales

    Aspen Institute

  • from a Partner

    The center stands out because of their ability to identify forward-looking issues and set the agenda to achieve outcomes. Their unique approach to collaboration and partnerships makes them a credible, independent voice facilitating high-trust conversations.

    Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros

    Growald Family Fund

  • from a Partner

    Stanley's work is pushing conversations on important topics that otherwise would not get as much attention. They drive important policy changes that make us all safer.

    Carl Robichaud

    Carnegie Corporation of New York

  • from a Partner

    The center has done an excellent job of deepening and widening engagement of different sectors, bringing in new people through their convening and research. Working with them provides pathways to true policy change.

    Alex Bellamy

    Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

  • from a Partner

    The Stanley Center believes in the power of independent journalism and its transformative ability to address incredible social challenges. They are results-driven and have an eye for the process and individual needs of the participant.

    Boris van Westering

    Free Press Unlimited

  • from an Advisor

    The major value for me, in working with the Stanley Center, has been building contacts and developing relationships with people I would not have run across otherwise.

    Ambassador Thomas Pickering

  • from a Partner

    The Stanley Center is not interest-driven, but purpose-driven, and one of the only organizations in this space using silent diplomacy. They excel at getting people together for discussion and reflection without a prescriptive approach.

    Martin Frick

    UNFCCC

  • from a Partner

    By participating directly with stakeholders, the Stanley Center actively partners to convene diverse and engaged voices. This provides a hands-on experience in dialogue that creates an international network of views and greatly informs research.

    Cindy Vestergaard

    Stimson Center

  • from a Partner

    The Stanley Center tackles key issues of relevance to humankind. They offer real, equal partnership, leading to better communication and enhanced long-term planning, reflected in the perceptions of participants as well as in outputs and outcomes.

    Andrei Serbin Pont

    Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (CRIES)

  • from a Partner

    The center understands the need for media development and how to carry it out. It is a pleasure to work with an organization that understands the challenges and requirements of journalists trying to address large and intricate issues like climate change.

    James Fahn

    Earth Journalism Network

  • from an Advisor

    The Stanley Center is a leader in taking specific issues and developing expertise and advice helpful for policymakers at all levels. They put important substance and important partnerships first. They are good at what they do, and do it in a way that makes everyone truly a partner in the enterprise.

    Robert Orr

    University of Maryland

  • from a Partner

    The very subtle diplomacy the center uses to get the right people together, helping generate new narratives about what needs to be done, who needs to do it, and where we go from here is a really interesting methodology for mobilizing collective action.

    Yiting Wang

    World Wildlife Fund

  • from a Partner

    The center does a very good job of figuring out what are the interesting policy questions and who are the right people who need to be in the room to answer those questions.

    Conor Seyle

    One Earth Future

  • from a Partner

    The unique identity and history of the center make them more personal and accessible than similar organizations. They engage and explore thematic project development in an iterative and open-ended way, significantly contributing to the successful outcomes of the projects we have embarked on together.

    Peter Rickwood

    Atomic Reporters

  • from an Advisor

    The center's location allows them to concentrate more on their program areas than on fleeting elements of the debate of the day. They are focused on outcomes and policy impacts and make a difference in the way policy moves.

    Tod Lindberg

    Hudson Institute

  • from a Partner

    Their scope and open-minded approach make them a valuable partner, and a great ally for people and organizations across the globe.

    Fermin Koop

    Freelance Journalist

  • from a Partner

    The center is nimble and dynamic, able to quickly change course to meet what the policy community is asking for in terms of solutions. They can address issues in real time.

    Alex Toma

    Peace and Security Funders Group

  • from a Partner

    I’m so glad that I’ve been able to work with the Stanley Center. From salons to think labs to large symposiums, they always bring fascinating people and interesting viewpoints together on issues that directly pertain to my work.

    Cassandra Vinograd

    60 Minutes

Recent / Upcoming Events

See new and ongoing collaborations

February 8, 2024 | Mass Violence and Atrocities

Lessons for and from Effective Offices of Violence Prevention

October 30, 2023 - November 2, 2023 | Nuclear Weapons

Adventures in Nuclear Risk Reduction
All Events

Commitment to Anti-Racism

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security believes that inclusive dialogue and diverse perspectives create better solutions for global policy—and that we cannot be effective in achieving our vision until the voices of Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color are preserved with dignity, heard with empathy, and respected with equity.

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Are you a journalist or in media?

In addition to our efforts to drive policy progress, the Stanley Center creates media trainings and forums, facilitates reporting fellowships, and regularly invites journalists to share their unique perspectives in policy conversations. Learn more about how to get involved.

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Building+Community

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security is investing in our local community through the acquisition and renovation of the former Musser Public Library, which will become the center’s permanent new home. The project will last through 2022, supporting construction and engineering jobs and culminating in one of the most environmentally-friendly and ecologically-sustainable buildings in the world. It will be integrated into the community and include space dedicated to the center’s programming in Muscatine. Follow our progress here.