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      • American Samoa
      • Armenia
      • Australia
      • Azerbaijan
      • Bahrain
      • Bangladesh
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • Central Asia
      • China
      • Cook Islands

      • Cyprus
      • East Asia
      • East Timor
      • Fiji
      • French Polynesia
      • Georgia
      • Guam
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      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
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      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kiribati
      • Kuwait
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Laos
      • Lebanon
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Marshall Islands
      • Micronesia
      • Mongolia
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      • Nauru
      • Nepal
      • New Caledonia
      • New Zealand
      • Niue
      • North Korea
      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman
      • Pakistan
      • Palau
      • Palestine
      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar
      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • Solomon Islands
    • Column Four
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey
      • Turkmenistan
      • Tuvalu
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vanuatu
      • Vietnam
      • Wallis and Futuna
      • West Asia
      • Yemen
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How Asia Society's Establishment Was a 'Bet on the Future'

October 26th, 2016

As Asia Society celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the mission central to its existence — promoting greater understanding between the United States and Asia — has never seemed more relevant. But when John D. Rockefeller 3rd established the organization in 1956, the continent's centrality to global affairs was far from assured.

"He was certainly aware of the odds against Asia Society," said Robert Oxnam, the organization's president from 1981 to 1992, referring to Rockefeller. "It was not just a question of the House of Un-American Activities Committee. It was also immediately after the Korean War. And there were fresh memories of World War II. When so many Americans looked at Asia, they saw a place with poverty and war and not much else."

Related

In a series of video interviews, past and present leaders of Asia Society discuss the organization on its 60th anniversaryLearn more

"Given all that, it was clear that Rockefeller was making a bet on the future."

Oxnam appeared on stage Wednesday at Asia Society in New York alongside several other past and present Asia Society leaders, including former president Nicholas Platt, current president and CEO Josette Sheeran, and global co-chairs Ronnie C. Chan and Henrietta H. Fore. In a lively conversation moderated by Asia Society Policy Institute President Kevin Rudd, the five discussed how Rockefeller's "bet" grew into an organization that now boasts 12 global centers and a wide range of programs and initiatives.

But even with this evolution, Sheeran believes that the founding principles of the organization remain fully relevant.

"I feel the Rockefeller vision was so bold and so ahead of its time," she said, "That we can't even improve on it. We looked at it — do we need to tweak it? No. It's fine. We just need to make sure that the vision passes on."

Watch the complete video below:

Related Links

  • Asia Society Leaders
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nicholas platt
ronnie chan
kevin rudd
robert oxnam
john d rockefeller 3rd
asia blog
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current affairs
henrietta fore
jrd 3rd

About the Author

Profile picture for user Matt Schiavenza

Matt Schiavenza is the Assistant Director of Content at Asia Society and Senior Editor of Asia Society Magazine. His work has appeared at The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, The New Republic, The Wire China, and strategy + business among other publications.

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