Royal United Services Institute

History

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 objective 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 ('as much through the arts as through weapons'). The first curator of the museum was Captain Boughey Burgess who also served as secretary following the death of L. H. J. Tonna in 1857.

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".

On 25 June 1831 the committee met. The chair was taken by Major General Sir Howard Douglas, in his person a symbol of the "United Service": a soldier who was the leading expert on naval gunnery. The resolution that the institution be established was put by the future Field Marshal Viscount Hardinge and seconded by the future Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, the famous hydrographer. The first name adopted was the Naval and Military Museum: this was altered in 1839 to the United Service Institution, and in 1860 to the Royal United Service Institution by a royal charter of incorporation. In 2004 the name was changed to the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. Fellows of RUSI may use the five-letter post-nominal abbreviation, FRUSI.

Premises

Prior to moving into its current purpose-built headquarters in 1895, the RUSI began its existence in Whitehall Court, then moved to a house in what was then known as Middle Scotland Yard in 1832. Queen Victoria granted the RUSI the use of the Banqueting House, in Whitehall, Westminster. It finally moved to its current location next door to the Banqueting House in 1895. In March 2022, the RUSI announced that it had successfully secured "£10 million for the redevelopment of our 61 Whitehall home, to which we will return in 2023".

As of the end of March 2022, the RUSI has 111 employees in the UK, up from 78 the year prior.

In 2025, the institute was declared an undesirable organization in Russia.

Activities

RUSI is a British institution; however, it operates with an international perspective. It promotes the study and discussion of developments in military doctrine, defence management and defence procurement. In the 21st century RUSI has broadened its remit to include all issues of defence and security, including financial and organised crime, terrorism and the ideologies which foster it and the challenges from other man-made or man-assisted threats and from natural disasters.

RUSI has a membership consisting of military officers, diplomats and the wider policy community, numbering 1,668 individuals and 129 corporate members (see the last page of the latest Review).

According to Declassified UK, RUSI tends to 'adopt pro-UK government perspectives' in commentaries. OpenDemocracy criticized RUSI being presented as apolitical by news outlets such as the BBC, considering the organization has "close links with the British state and its military establishment," but also recognized its analysts to be "highly informed and often insightful."

RUSI members and the wider defence and security community have access to the following activities:

Research

According to its website, RUSI "maintains a wide range of multidisciplinary research specialisms. It focuses on the areas of Military Sciences, International Security Studies, Terrorism and Conflict, Cyber, Nuclear Proliferation, Financial Crime and Organised Crime". In April 2020, RUSI released a report urging the UK's intelligence agencies to step up their use of artificial intelligence in order to "keep pace" with adversaries who seek to exploit new technologies to attack Britain.

Analysis

RUSI experts are often called upon to provide analysis and commentary on the leading defence and security issues of the day. In addition, RUSI.org hosts timely analysis on the defence and security issues of the day. Content is drawn from its publications and briefings from its researchers.

Publications

RUSI publishes a number of periodicals and books. RUSI claim that the RUSI Journal is leading journal on defence and security and that it was first published in 1857.

Recognition

RUSI has received wide recognition for its contributions to defence and security research. Over the years, it has been awarded and shortlisted for numerous honours by respected publications and institutions.

In 2008 and 2020, RUSI was named Think Tank of the Year by Prospect magazine.

In 2008 and 2011 the magazine named RUSI "Foreign Policy Think Tank of the Year", and in 2018, RUSI was short-listed in the Economic and Financial as well as the International Affairs categories.

In 2022, RUSI received the Foreign Affairs Award in Prospect's Think Tank Awards.

As of 2025, it belongs to the top 10 of the most cited think tanks across the world.

Governance

RUSI gets its funding from individual members as well as corporate members and revenue from publications and research contracts. Major contributors include the U.S. Department of State, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the European Commission and BAE Systems.

RUSI is governed by a council comprising vice-presidents, trustees and an advisory Council. Members serve for a three-year term.

Senior Board Positions

• Chairman: The Duke of Wellington
• Vice Chairman: Lord Ricketts
• Senior Vice Presidents: Lord Hague of Richmond, General David Patraeus (Rtd.),

Directors-General

• 1831–1857: Lewis Hippolytus Joseph
• 1857–?: Boughey Burgess
• 1968–1980: S. W. B. Menaul
• 1980–1981: H. J. Gueritz
• 1981–1994: Shelford R. G. S. Bidwell
• 1994–2007: Richard F. Cobbold
• 2007–2015: Michael Clarke
• 2015–2025: Karin von Hippel
• 2025–present: Rachel Ellehuus

References

References

1. [http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=210639&subid=0 Charity Commission]
2. "Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies". Guardian News and Media.
3. "Royal United Services Institute (Biographical details)". The British Museum, UK.
4. Harding, Luke. (4 March 2022). "Demoralised Russian soldiers tell of anger at being 'duped' into war".
5. (2022). "RUSI Governing Bodies".
6. (2022). "Staff and Fellows".
7. Neilson, Keith. (2016-03-16). "The British Way in Warfare: Power and the International System, 1856–1956". Routledge.
8. (1897). "Obituary: Captain Boughey Burgess". Records of Buckinghamshire.
9. Hartwell, N. M.. (2019). "A repository of virtue? The United Service Museum, collecting, and the professionalization of the British Armed Forces, 1829–1864". Journal of the History of Collections.
10. (March 31, 2022). "Financial Statements".
11. "В России объявили «нежелательным» Королевский институт объединенных служб (RUSI) — британский аналитический центр, освещающий войну". [[Meduza]].
12. "2016/2017 Annual Report".
13. Curtis, Mark. (2023-06-15). "How UK media mislead us about Britain's leading military 'think tank'".
14. Wearing, David. (11 June 2015). "Why is the BBC presenting RUSI as objective analysts of the Middle East?".
15. [https://rusi.org/expertise expertise]
16. (2020). "UK intelligence urged to step up AI use to counter cyber threats". Financial Times.
17. "Royal United Services Institute".
18. "Timely analysis". Rusi.org.
19. "RUSI Journal". Rusi.org.
20. "Prospect Magazine's Think Tank of 2008". Prospectmagazine.co.uk.
21. Prospect, magazine. (3 November 2020). "The 2020 Think Tank Awards Ceremony".
22. "Prospect Think Tank of the Year: The Winners". Prospect Magazine.
23. "2018 shortlisted". Prospect Magazine.
24. "RUSI wins Award for Best Think Tank for Foreign Affairs". Royal United Services Institute.
25. "Think Tank Alert Rankings".
26. "XFunding".
27. "Corporate Members".
28. "Funding".
29. "List of members of RUSI Council". Rusi.org.
30. "S W B Menaul".
31. "In Memorial - Former RUSI Director Rear Admiral Teddy Gueritz".
32. "A History of the Royal United Services Institute".
33. (30 November 2015). "Dr Karin von Hippel becomes new RUSI Director-General". RUSI.
34. (21 October 2024). "Rachel Ellehuus Appointed as the New RUSI Director-General". RUSI.