Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies
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| Abbreviation | RUSI |
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| Formation | 1831 |
| Founder | |
| Type | |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
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President
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HRH the Duke of Kent |
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Director-General
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Michael Clarke |
| Website | www.rusi.org |
The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), sometimes still referred to by its pre-2004 name, the Royal United Services Institution, is a British defence and security think tank. It was founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley. It won Prospect magazine's Think Tank of the Year Award in 2008. In 2009, the same magazine named RUSI "Foreign Policy Think Tank of the Year". In 2011 RUSI celebrated its 180th Anniversary.
RUSI's President is HRH the Duke of Kent and its Director is Karin von Hippel.
RUSI was founded in 1831 – making it the oldest defence and security think tank in the world – at the initiative of the Duke of Wellington. Its original mission was to study naval and military science.
The Duke of Wellington spearheaded the establishment of RUSI in a letter to Colbourn's United Service Journal arguing that "a United Service Museum" should be formed, managed entirely by naval and military officers, and under patronage of the monarch, then King George IV, and the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces. Such an institution would prove that the two professions have entered the lists of science, and are ready to contend for honours tam Artibus quam Armis.
Subsequently, Commander Henry Downes, Royal Navy, assembled a group with a view to forming a committee for action, to which King George's First ADC was commanded to convey "His Majesty's gracious and high approbation of the undertaking and of the principles on which it is proposed to conduct it", which were stated to be suitable for "a strictly scientific and professional society, and not a club". The death of the King delayed matters, but the Duke of Clarence expressed his readiness to become a patron so, encouraged by the powerful support of the Duke of Wellington, the First Aide-de-camp, Sir Herbert Taylor, re-submitted the project to William IV (the former Duke of Clarence), and was able to assure the committee that "it could proceed under his Majesty's gracious auspices".
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