Future Security Initiative
Welcome
The Future Security Initiative (FSI) is a collaborative hub that reconceptualizes U.S. security policy towards a holistic engagement with current and future challenges by generating innovative ideas, a new security language, and transformative solutions grounded in concrete, transdisciplinary efforts to improve human flourishing and well-being.
The FSI is a partnership between Arizona State University, a top-ranked public research university defined not by who we exclude but who we include, and New America, a nimble nonpartisan DC-based think tank with a history of launching big ideas that impact policy. Together, we have assembled a growing team of academics, journalists, former military, and civil society experts as ASU faculty and New America fellows. We conduct ground-breaking research linking open-source investigations, field-based research, policy analysis and case studies to develop new approaches to pressing security issues. We also create unique educational programming, from an online professional MA in Global Security to certificates in competitive statecraft, irregular warfare, cybersecurity, and customizable programs linking cutting edge academic research with practical applications. We also present multiple public forums, live-streamed talks, podcasts, and high-impact publications that reach multiple audiences, including government officials, national thought leaders, students, and members of our local communities.
Interdisciplinary policy-oriented research
The Center has created and managed research projects on moral injury, U.S. drone policy, open-source data analysis of security threats, weaponized narrative, oral histories on post-9/11 surveillance and detention, ISIS recruitment in Syria, and other issues.
Future of Proxy Warfare
Our Future of Proxy Warfare project produced a dozen reports that have been viewed over 90,000 times as well as a forthcoming book.
Drones
Our work on U.S. drone policy has led to a major academic book and has been referenced in Congressional hearings and in major media.
Coronavirus Daily Brief
Our Coronavirus Daily Brief has created over one million words of analysis and is read by thought leaders in the academy, media, and government.
International partners
Many projects are managed in coordination with international partners, including Drexel University, Oxford University, George Mason University, Kings College London, University of New South Wales, and others.
Creating a new model for security education
The Future Security Initiative runs the MA in Global Security, an interdisciplinary professional graduate program in the School of Politics and Global Studies. We are also currently developing new security certificates and other programs on cybersecurity, human rights, irregular warfare, and other themes through partnerships with, Kings College London, the University of New South Wales, Joint Special Operations University, U.S. Army NETCOM and others.
150current students |
300+graduates |
Organizing the Future Security Forum; one of the nation's major annual security meetings
The Future Security Initiative organizes a joint ASU/New America annual meeting on pressing security challenges with thought leaders from government, the media, the military, the academy, industry, and civil society, reaching thousands of attendees and viewers, and showcasing ASU’s growing profile as a university leader in interdisciplinary security policy.
Engaging students and the ASU and AZ communities
The Center has taught hundreds of students, mentored undergraduate and graduate students including over four dozen Student Research Fellows (including winners of Marshall and Fulbright awards), organized over 90 public lectures reaching more than 5,000 students, faculty, and members of the community, while also presenting over 30 lectures to area groups reaching more than 2,000 attendees.
Impactful output, significant awards and recognition
Center faculty and fellows have published articles in The New York Times Magazine, CNN, The Atlantic, Slate, Lawfare, Just Security, Foreign Policy, and major academic journals. The ASU/New America partnership has supported over 18 books published or in the pipeline, including several New York Times bestsellers. Center team members have been named Carnegie Fellows, and Social Science Research Council Fellows, and have been nominated and/or awarded: an Emmy, a Carnegie Fellowship, the Lionel Gelber Prize for best book by the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Magazine Award for Reporting, the Overseas Press Club Ed Cunningham Award, the Roy Rowan Award, Deadline Club Award for Magazine Investigative Reporting, and other prizes.