The philosophical foundation of the Institution also includes reverence for private enterprise and representative government. The strength of Hoover's research program lies in the recruitment of scholars of exceptional ability, typically within the traditional disciplines of economics, history, law, and political science. Their distinction is exemplified by election to academic honor societies such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Education, the American Philosophical Society, and the National Academy of Sciences, and as recipients of the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and other prestigious awards.
Resident fellows are the foundation of the research program.
They are among the very best scholars and policy analysts in their fields, and many hold appointments on the Stanford faculty as well. Visiting fellows include a wide variety of U.S. and foreign scholars, diplomats, government officials, and other distinguished visitors who bring with them a continual influx of expertise and ideas. Within the three programs, a number of programmatic themes have evolved. In addition to the study of politics, economics, and political economy within a country, studies of foreign policy address international rivalries and global cooperation with respect to security, trade and commerce, and the rule of law. The Institution's financial and intellectual resources are directed to new activities consistent with its overarching programs and specific themes and complementing Hoover fellows' individual research agendas.