Hudson Institute
Hudson Institute is an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C.[8][9][10] It was founded in 1961 in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by futurist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation.
For the fictional university, see Hudson University.Founded
20 July 1961[1]
- Herman Kahn
- Max Singer
- Oscar M. Ruebhausen
13-1945157[2]
Promoting American leadership for a secure, free, and prosperous future[2]
- Ste 400
- 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW
- Washington, DC 20004-2453
- United States
Hudson Analytical Services Inc[2]
$37,400,000[6]
$19,400,000[6]
$81,100,000[6]
60[7]
237[7]
Kahn was a physicist and military consultant known for envisioning nuclear war scenarios. The institute's research branched out from the military into various areas including economics, health, education, and gambling.[8] Kahn died in 1983 and the institute moved to Indianapolis the year after.[8][11] The institute helped design Wisconsin's influential workfare program in the mid-1990s.[8][12][13] Hudson relocated to Washington, D.C., in 2004.[14] It has been noted for work with governments and industries including defense and agribusiness.[15][16][17][18]
Sponsored awards[edit]
Hudson offers two annual awards, the Herman Kahn Award[9] and the Global Leadership Awards.[95][96] Past Hudson Institute honorees include Nikki Haley,[97] Paul Ryan,[98] Mike Pence,[99] Mike Pompeo,[100] Ronald Reagan, Henry Kissinger, Rupert Murdoch,[101] Dick Cheney,[9] Joseph Lieberman,[102] Benjamin Netanyahu,[103] David Petraeus, and Shinzo Abe.[104]
Funding[edit]
Hudson Institute is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.[105] Notable funders of the Institute include the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[105]
As of 2021, the organization reported revenue of over $37m with under $20m in expenses and an endowment of $81m.[13]
Hudson Institute has accepted $7.9m from Donors Trust.[18] It has received $25,000 from Exxon Mobil since 1998 and less than $100,000 from Koch family foundations, both of which actively minimize climate change.[106]
The New York Times commented on Dennis Avery's attacks on organic farming: "The attack on organic food by a well-financed research organization suggests that, though organic food accounts for only 1 percent of food sales in the United States, the conventional food industry is worried".[107]
Another employee of the institute, Michael Fumento, was revealed to have received funding from Monsanto for his 1999 book Bio-Evolution. Monsanto's spokesman said: "It's our practice, that if we're dealing with an organization like this, that any funds we're giving should be unrestricted." Hudson's CEO and President Kenneth R. Weinstein told BusinessWeek that he was uncertain if the payment should have been disclosed. "That's a good question, period," he said.[17]
The New York Times suggested Huntington Ingalls Industries had used the Hudson Institute to enhance the company's argument for more nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, at a cost of US$11 billion each. The Times alleged that a former naval officer was paid by Hudson to publish an analysis endorsing more funding. The report was delivered to the House Armed Services subcommittee without disclosing that Huntington Ingalls had paid for part of the report. Hudson acknowledged the misconduct, describing it as a "mistake".[15]
The institute, which publishes frequent reports concerning China, has received funding from the Taiwanese government as have other prominent think tanks.[108]
Policy Centers[edit]
Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East[edit]
Led by Michael Doran, the center studies challenges for America and its allies in the middle east in responding to the threats posed by inimical forces such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia, and China to promote peace.[112][113]
China Center[edit]
The China Center at the Hudson Institute studies China with the "central goal of engendering America’s value-based, non-partisan, sound and effective responses to the China challenge."[114] The center was launched in May 2022.[115] It is directed by Miles Yu while Michael Pompeo serves as chair of the advisory board, which consists of Scott Morrison, Paula J. Dobriansky, Morgan Ortagus, and Kyle Bass as of August 2023.[116][117]
Center on Europe and Eurasia[edit]
The Center on Europe and Eurasia, led by Peter Rough, is focused on "checking Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, countering China’s subversion of the continent, extricating Europe from strategic vulnerabilities, forging key links in Central Asia, and modernizing our transatlantic military posture and economic ties".[118][119] The center was launched in 2022.[120]
Japan Chair[edit]
The Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute is led by Kenneth R. Weinstein, a fellow at the Institute and its former CEO.[121] It is focused on strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. The Chair was founded in Spring 2009 under the leadership of General H.R. McMaster who now serves as chair of its advisory board.[122][123]
Hamilton Commission on Securing America’s National Security Innovation Base[edit]
The Hudson Institute houses this bipartisan commission which explores economic sectors critical to national security with the purpose of proposing policy recommendations to reduce dependence and advance U.S. leadership in these industries.
The commission is chaired by Nadia Schadlow and Arthur L. Herman.[124] The other members are:
