Robert Strausz-Hupé
Encyclopedia
Robert Strausz-Hupé was a U.S.
(Austria
n-born) diplomat and geopolitician
.
In 1923 he immigrated to the United States
. Serving as an advisor on foreign investment to American financial institutions, he watched the Depression spread political misery across America
and Europe
. After the Anschluss
of Austria in 1938, Strausz-Hupé began writing and lecturing to American audiences on “the coming war.” After one such lecture in Philadelphia, he was invited to give a talk at the University of Pennsylvania
, an event which led to his taking a position on the faculty in 1940.
Strausz-Hupé founded the Foreign Policy Research Institute
in 1955 and two years later published the first issue of Orbis
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbis_(foreign_policy), the quarterly journal that remains to this day the Institute’s flagship publication.
Strausz-Hupé authored or co-authored several important books on international affairs. His first major work, Geopolitics: The Struggle for Space and Power, published just as the United States
entered World War II
, became a bestseller in its genre. His later works included Protracted Conflict and The Balance of Tomorrow.
In 1969, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador
to Sri Lanka
. He subsequently served as ambassador to Belgium
(1972–74), Sweden
(1974–76), NATO (1976–77), and Turkey
(1981–89). In 1989, upon retirement after eight years as Ambassador to Turkey
, Strausz-Hupé rejoined the Foreign Policy Research Institute as Distinguished Diplomat-in-Residence and President Emeritus.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n-born) diplomat and geopolitician
Geopolitics
Geopolitics, from Greek Γη and Πολιτική in broad terms, is a theory that describes the relation between politics and territory whether on local or international scale....
.
In 1923 he immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Serving as an advisor on foreign investment to American financial institutions, he watched the Depression spread political misery across America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. After the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
of Austria in 1938, Strausz-Hupé began writing and lecturing to American audiences on “the coming war.” After one such lecture in Philadelphia, he was invited to give a talk at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, an event which led to his taking a position on the faculty in 1940.
Strausz-Hupé founded the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Foreign Policy Research Institute
The Foreign Policy Research Institute is an American neoconservative think tank based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is "devoted to bringing the insights of scholarship to bear on the development of policies that advance U.S...
in 1955 and two years later published the first issue of Orbis
Orbis
Orbis may refer to:* Orbis , a Doctor Who audio play, starring Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith* Orbis , a quarterly journal of international affairs published by the Foreign Policy Research Institute...
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbis_(foreign_policy), the quarterly journal that remains to this day the Institute’s flagship publication.
Strausz-Hupé authored or co-authored several important books on international affairs. His first major work, Geopolitics: The Struggle for Space and Power, published just as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, became a bestseller in its genre. His later works included Protracted Conflict and The Balance of Tomorrow.
In 1969, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. He subsequently served as ambassador to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1972–74), Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(1974–76), NATO (1976–77), and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(1981–89). In 1989, upon retirement after eight years as Ambassador to Turkey
United States Ambassador to Turkey
The United States of America has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the nineteenth century.-Chargé d'Affaires:*George W. Erving *David Porter -Minister Resident:*David Porter *Dabney Smith Carr...
, Strausz-Hupé rejoined the Foreign Policy Research Institute as Distinguished Diplomat-in-Residence and President Emeritus.
Quotations
- "As policy evolves towards several continental systems, and technology accentuates the strategic importance of large, contiguous areas. Thus the era of overseas empires and free world trade closes. If this reasoning is pushed to its absolute conclusion, the national state is also a thing of the past, and the future belongs to the giant state. Many nations will be locked in a few vast compartments. But in each of these one people, controlling a strategic area, will be master of the others."—Geopolitics: The Struggle for Space and Power, 1942