Institute of Pacific Relations

Abstract

The Institute of Pacific Relations (IPR) was founded in 1925 as one of the earliest transnational NGOs in the Asia‐Pacific region. The IPR provided an international forum for discussing various regional issues, and soon developed into the largest multilateral organization in the region, and drew together leading intellectuals from both within and outside the region. Given the emergence of a peaceful Asia‐Pacific, IPR members believed that their mission should be to build a “Pacific Community,” where more equal partnership between Western powers and non‐Western powers would be achieved.Deepening international crises in the 1930s, however, changed the atmosphere of the IPR: IPR members came under heavy influence of governments and the two conferences held during World War II were attended by a large number of government officials. The heightened political tensions of the Cold War caused the IPR to close its doors in 1961.