The RIAS is a living lab for research on US history, culture, politics and society. The aim is to explore the foundations, understand the development, and assess the legacies of the “Rooseveltian Century,” a concept that places the emphasis on the non-linear trajectory taken by the American democracy at home and by its projection of power abroad.

The institute fulfill its mission to “pursue the Rooseveltian Century” by housing a range of research projects, sponsoring grants and fellowships, and facilitating research exchanges at any level and across national boundaries.