Program Descriptions

The Center on Law and Security is a research and policy institute dedicated to examining the legal and policy dimensions of national and global security.

The Center's programs have three focal points:

Global National Security Law

In the decade after the 9/11 attacks Western democracies have had to face a new type of terrorism.  CLS will explore the varied approaches to countering this threat undertaken by the United States and key allies such as Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and others.  Our focus will be on the lessons that a comparative approach to counterterrorism policy can provide for how to create effective, accountable, and legitimate national security policies and institutions.  Learn More

Law, Strategy, and Leadership

      Domestic and international law plays an important role in shaping—sometimes enabling and sometimes constraining—the strategic choices available to governments.  Through this program, CLS will explore the complex interaction between law and strategy in the formulation of national security policy.  We will also evaluate the ways that the relationship between law and strategy has evolved in the post-9/11 era, and the effects of the interaction between law and strategy on the global leadership role of the United States.  Learn More

Public-Private Partnerships in National Security

The private sector has long worked with government to accomplish national security objectives. Recently, however, the private sector’s role has been redefined, with companies in a range of industries partnering with the government to accomplish national security objectives in areas such as telecommunications, data collection and analysis, cybersecurity, and community engagement.  CLS will explore the nature of these relationships in order to better understand the “partnership agreement” between the government and the private sector, and how the rules governing these interactions should evolve over time.  Learn More


The Center has received the support of The Luce Foundation, The Markle Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation, The John Merck Fund, The William C. Bullitt Foundation, The JEHT Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and private individuals, for its various projects.