Code of Ethics

The creation of IRIS was driven by the desire to achieve three main objectives:

  • Producing

    ideas and contributing to research and debate on international and strategic issues.

  • Creating

    a space for dialogue and reflection that brings together a diverse strategic community, including policymakers, senior officials, industry leaders, experts, and academics.

  • Facilitating access

    to geopolitical issues for the widest possible audience through a clear and educational approach.

Values and Principles

IRIS’s decisions, behaviours, and actions are guided by the following values and principles:

IRIS operates with complete independence and does not accept instructions or recommendations from any public or private institutions. This independence is the foundation of its legitimacy. Since its creation, IRIS has demonstrated its adherence to this principle and fully assumes the consequences of this commitment. This recognised independence and freedom enhance the credibility of the Institute.

IRIS does not adopt an official position. Each member of the research team is free to express their views as they see fit, provided they respect French law, scientific principles, and the intellectual rigour inherent to their role. Freedom of opinion must be grounded in well-reasoned arguments; it must not distort facts and should be guided by critical thinking, fairness, accuracy, and integrity.

IRIS adheres to the principle of transparency. The Institute publishes its annual activity reports, which are available on its website, along with a financial appendix (operating revenue and the association’s balance sheet). Additionally, IRIS submits its complete financial accounts each year to the Official Journal, where they are accessible online. The Institute is also registered in the European Union’s Transparency Register. IRIS may enter into partnerships to organise events but must ensure a diversity of opinions is represented.

IRIS believes that geopolitics concerns everyone and strives to demonstrate pedagogy and a spirit of dialogue through its publications, which are freely available on its website and social media platforms. This commitment is also evident in the public events it organises, where time is always allocated for debate. The training programmes offered by IRIS and its school, IRIS Sup’, adhere to these same principles.

IRIS is committed to promoting equality, gender parity, and diversity. The Institute strives to ensure systematic inclusivity and parity in all its internal and public activities, including the governance of the organisation, its events, publications, and teaching programmes. IRIS also works to raise awareness among its teams and temporary collaborators about gender equality and inclusivity, as well as to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

Governance

IRIS is governed by a Council comprising political and economic leaders, senior officials, and intellectuals from diverse backgrounds and a variety of perspectives.

Through their professional experience in international fields, their interest in foresight, and their support for IRIS’s activities since its inception, the Council members provide an invaluable resource for reflecting on the medium- and long-term strategic directions the Institute should pursue. The Council also plays a pivotal role in the Institute’s legal operations, as defined by its statutes.

As a non-profit organisation under the French 1901 law, any individual or legal entity wishing to participate in the life of IRIS can become a member. Members approve the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors during the general assembly.