Council on Foreign Relations and US Foreign Policy A Cold War Case Study

Understanding the policymaking processes of the United States, as a global superpower, is of critical importance. Think tanks are among the most influential behind-the-scenes actors in this arena, having increasingly attracted the attention of researchers and U.S. foreign policy experts. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an old, powerful, and impactful think tank that has been active for over a century. This paper addresses the following question: What role has the Council on Foreign Relations played in shaping the foreign policy doctrines of the United States? To answer this question, the study analyses and evaluates two major U.S. Cold War strategies concerning their interactions with the two major powers, the Soviet Union and China. The research employs a library-based methodology for data collection. The findings indicate that the Council on Foreign Relations has played a prominent role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly during the Cold War. Its influence was exercised through several key mechanisms: forming study groups, publishing the journal Foreign Affairs, generating policy-influencing ideas, mobilising public opinion, educating future government officials, recruiting retired personnel, organising deliberative meetings, and mediating between different political factions, government officials, and the public.