Overview

The MacArthur Foundation seeks to promote international peace and security by reducing global risks from nuclear weapons, fostering cooperation to address security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthening independent scientific advice and commentary on international security matters.

The spread of nuclear weapons to new possessors and the breakdown of global responses require concerted action to bolster nuclear restraint and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime. In addition, globalization and technological innovation are breeding new security challenges, such as nuclear trafficking networks. In the Asia-Pacific region, security relationships among states are changing in fundamental ways, offering opportunities for regional cooperation to prevent conflict. Equally significant are the growing interactions among domestic challenges and regional or global ones, and the recognition that problems such as natural resource scarcity, rising energy consumption, and natural disasters are shared challenges that call for common approaches.

The Foundation is currently reviewing its international peace and security strategy. As part of the review, the Foundation is considering whether to also initiate new work on one or more global issues with a security dimension, such as the convergence of development and security challenges in states at risk or the implications of climate change for international security.

To pursue international peace and security goals, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, including policy research institutes and universities. Grants are awarded in the strategy areas outlined below for policy research linked to prescriptions for action, outreach to the public and policymakers, and fellowship programs.

In 2010, the grant budget for this program area is $17 million.

What MacArthur Funds

The Foundation has identified three strategies for promoting international peace and security:

• Asia Security Initiative: Fostering cooperative responses to security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region
• Reducing Nuclear Risks: Reducing the global risks from nuclear weapons
• Science, Technology and Security Policy: Strengthening independent scientific advice and commentary on international security matters

Asia Security Initiative

1. Grantmaking Guidelines for the Asia Security Initiative Policy Research Grants

   In January 2009, the MacArthur Foundation launched its Asia Security Initiative (ASI) network with its support of 27 institutions from around the world. With the Foundation’s support, over the next three years these institutions will build their capacity for security policy research and develop policy recommendations on the most important security challenges facing Asia-Pacific nations. These institutions will do so in three clusters:

   • Regional Security Cooperation: The ASI network will advise policymakers on how to better use multilateral institutions, bilateral relationships and alliances to prevent conflict, manage differences, and foster peace and security.
   • Northeast Asia: The ASI network will develop actionable plans for international cooperation to decrease tensions over North Korea, Taiwan and between Northeast Asian nations.
   • Internal Challenges: The ASI network will recommend regional cooperation to help Asia-Pacific nations manage internal challenges, from increasing domestic demand for scarce resources to violent internal conflict.

   Additional institutions may express their interest in participating in the Asia Security Initiative by submitting a one-to-three-page concept paper describing:

   • the project or projects the applicant proposes to undertake, including envisioned policy outcomes;
   • the proposed project’s fit with one or more of the Asia Security Initiative research clusters;
   • the means the applicant will use to disseminate the project or projects’ findings;
   • the project schedule, including a list of intermediate objectives or benchmarks that will be required for the project’s successful completion; and
   • the proposed budget.

   Concept papers will be collected and reviewed twice a year. Any concept paper received by June 1 will be reviewed for possible grant consideration by the Foundation Board in September, and any concept paper received by December 15 will be reviewed for possible grant consideration by the Foundation’s Board in March.

   The Foundation is particularly interested in considering proposals for projects that are short-term, either one year or 18 months, and that complement the substance of existing grants or focus on an unaddressed topic in one of the three clusters.

   In making its final grant decisions, the Foundation will seek input from the institutions responsible for developing and coordinating each ASI cluster (the “Core Institutions”). Therefore, in submitting a concept paper, applicants give their permission for the review of their submissions by both the Foundation and the following Core Institutions:

   • Regional Security Cooperation: Peking University Center for International and Strategic Studies
   • Northeast Asia: The East Asia Institute (Seoul)
   • Internal Challenges: Nanyang Technological University S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

   Submissions and questions can be sent to:

   Matthew Shannon Stumpf
   Program Officer, International Peace and Security
   The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
   140 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 1200
   Chicago, IL 60603-5285

   E-mail: mstumpf@macfound.org
   Phone: +1 (312) 516-1556
   E-mail contact is preferred.

2. Mid-Career Emerging Leaders Program

   Beginning in 2010, the Foundation will also support a mid-career emerging leaders program. Additional information about this program will be posted in this space in mid-2009.

Reducing Nuclear Risks

Science, Technology and Security Policy

Through its seven-year Initiative on Science, Technology and Security Policy, launched in 2003, the Foundation aims to increase the pool of academic scientists, engineers and other independent (non-government) experts advising policymakers and the public on international security issues. The number of such independent specialists in the U.S., Russia and China is relatively small.  By increasing their number both here and abroad, and by strengthening the centers at which they conduct research, the Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of policy analysis and research and to inform national and international security policy. The Initiative incorporates support for a limited number of fellowships and faculty positions at selected university-based programs worldwide.  By supporting policy research centers and dissemination efforts, MacArthur helps make policy advice more accessible to policymakers and to interested citizens.

Updated March 17, 2010