James Baker Institute

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The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, often shortened to "Baker Institute," is a think tank on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1993, it has become a notable center of public policy research. It is named for James Baker, former Secretary of State and Treasury. The institute's founding director, Edward P. Djerejian, is the former American Ambassador to Israel and Syria and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. The institute's board of advisors include William Barnett (Chair), Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Rice President David Leebron. The institute employs scholars and researchers from a variety of backgrounds.

The institute concentrates on the public policy questions of the day. It is an integral part of Rice University, and the university's faculty and students are involved in its research programs and public events. The institute is located on the Rice campus in James A. Baker III Hall, which also houses the School of Social Sciences (including the departments of Economics and Political Science).

The institute is non-partisan and tries to bridge the gap between theory and practice in public policy. Its current research includes: Arab media and politics, conflict resolution, drug policy, energy, health economics, homeland security and terrorism, international economics, religion and culture, science and technology policy, space policy, tax and expenditure policy, the Americas Project (Latin American policy), the Transnational China Project (Chinese culture and policy), urban studies, and the U.S.-Mexico Project (issues about the U.S. border with Mexico).

The institute hosts events with national figures, which are available on their website via streaming technology. It is supported mainly by donor contributions.

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