Gathering Scholars to Defend the Country: The Institute of International Relations before 1975

Throughout much of history, the Institute of International Relations (llR) has been perceived as a Kuomintang think tank. Based on the perspective generated by personal contributions before its formal establishment in 1975 as part of National Chengchi University, the author traces the llR's foundation and key staff as far back as 1937 to argue that it was constructed during a national crisis because the state leader needed professional opinions that could be used strategically. Thus, rather than considering the llR as an organization subject to a political party, it should be regarded as an institution charged with gathering scholars to defend the country.