Criticism of Confucius Institutes has grown over the past decade and a policy intervention in the UK now seems inevitable. But what are Confucius Institutes, what do they do, and why does it matter? A new investigative report written for the Henry Jackson Society by Sam Dunning and Anson Kwong provides answers. The report is based on a campaign … Continued

Learning from the failure of sanctions to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine will be vital in efforts to deter future conflicts. While it is impossible to correct mistakes that have already been made, Russia is far from the only power willing to exert force in pursuit of its territorial claims.  Beijing continues to conduct exercises testing the … Continued

As Europe scrambles to get out from under Russian gas hegemony, gas exporting countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region are poised to assume a larger role in the energy landscape. In June, the European Union, Egypt, and Israel signed a landmark agreement for the export of natural gas to Europe. While a promising start, significant … Continued

The British armed forces, tested by centuries of conflict, are facing a foe more dangerous that any enemy. Budget cuts and lack of forward-looking strategic planning have reduced the army to the size of a crowd and left if short of munitions. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the detrimental negligence of the British … Continued

As Europe scrambles to get out from under Russian gas hegemony, gas exporting countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region are poised to assume a larger role in the energy landscape. In June, the European Union, Egypt, and Israel signed a landmark agreement for the export of natural gas to Europe. While a promising start, significant geopolitical … Continued

There have long been questions raised about the checks and balances in operation for the vast flow of Palestinian humanitarian aid from the international community. Now, a new body of research conducted by NGO Monitor in Israel shows how such funds have been regularly re-routed to serve less than legitimate activities, thus betraying not only … Continued

The UK Border Force has come under fire in light of the increasing number of Channel crossings made by migrants and the measures around the detention of those seeking asylum. The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has faced criticism on what some see as her indecisiveness in acting on information that would ease the pressure on the … Continued

Despite many calls for reforms in Iran, the Opposition – both in and out of the country – has failed as a collective force to garner enough traction to manifest any tangible progress. Not only that but none of the internal proponents for change have been able thus far to mobilise international support for their … Continued

As the winter approaches Europe worries if its homes will be warm. In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries have adopted an unprecedented set of sanctions against Russia – including restrictions on importing Russia’s oil. Moscow has also cut gas supplies to several states. An implication of these sanctions is that countries are seeking alternatives … Continued

As the war in Ukraine rages on amidst human rights violations, threats of nuclear war, and an emerging potential food and energy crisis, tensions surrounding China and its sabre-rattling towards of Taiwan are also at their apex. With US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan having just taken place, Beijing has been … Continued

Russia’s attack on Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022 has led to the displacement of people within Europe at a scale unseen for over 77 years. With circa 5 1/2 million people now taking up temporary residence outside of their home country, the war is affecting the entirety of Europe and the world. Britain has been … Continued

“In 2006, in the midst of a fierce war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice famously stated that the world was witnessing the “birth pangs of a new Middle East.” She was right—but not in the sense she had hoped. Instead of disempowering Hezbollah and its … Continued

It is often said that the first victim of war is the truth. But there are those who put their lives at risk to tell us the truth during war. In this event we explore what it means to be a war correspondent. What are the risks journalists face and how do their day-to-day lives look … Continued

The issue of political self-determination: a cardinal principal of international law states that peoples – based on respect for the principle of equal rights and fair equality of opportunity – have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no interference. In recent years, we have moved away from the use … Continued

The world seems to have gone directly from a hegemonic US-led international system to an interregnum in global order. The traditional phase of multipolarity—or a restoration of the balance of power, or even a struggle among rival systems of order, has been skipped. Jason Pack's newest book, Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder, presents the Libya and … Continued

President Zelensky has said that Britain is Ukraine’s “most sincere friend”. With the Russian war of aggression continuing beyond the prognoses made in the first few months of the conflict, it is now time to prove this friendship through further support? Forthcoming changes at the helm of the British government and the threat of colder winter … Continued

Andrew Hastie, the Australian Shadow Minister for Defence is a man who knows the all too human price of freedom. Serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, he saw action in special operations in Afghanistan. Since his election to the Australian Parliament, he has devoted himself to issues of national security, foreign policy, defence, security, … Continued

The British Government has prioritised support for human rights and the rules-based international system. This recognition of the importance of values at the centre of foreign policy is being stress-tested by the actions of unscrupulous and autocratic governments overseas, who are increasingly resorting to mass repression and the flouting of international law to secure their … Continued

Since the beginning of the millennium, when Vladimir Putin took power in Russia, authoritarian leaders have come to dominate global politics. Self-styled strongmen have risen to power in Moscow, Beijing, Delhi, Brasilia, Budapest, Ankara, Riyadh and Washington. How and why did this new style of strongman leadership arrive? How likely is it to lead to … Continued

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was Britain's twentieth-century nadir, the moment when the once superpower was bullied into retreat. In the immortal words of former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson, 'Britain has lost an empire and not yet found a role.' But the funny thing was, Britain had already found a role. It even … Continued

25 years ago, Hong Kong was transferred from UK control to that of Beijing. The Sino-British Joint Declaration that governed that transition was supposed to see the freedoms that Hong Kongers enjoyed upheld and protected. Instead, at first gradually and latterly dramatically, the Chinese Communist Party ended these freedoms and reneged upon the treaty it signed.  … Continued

Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Black Lives Matter have tested the limits of protest, free expression, and civic norms to their limits. Self-proclaimed 'protesters' have deliberately sought to not only maximise the loudness of their voices but also the inconvenience and disruption that their actions caused. Activists have shut roads, public transport, destroyed property, and threatened to bring whole industries … Continued

In Venezuela, human rights violations and crimes against humanity occur on a daily basis. A government defeated in an election has overseen extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, inhumane degrading treatment and sexual violence. Systematic persecution against opposition politicians and civil society organizations, and torture against dissidents and opponents, continue to be regular occurrences. The Commission for Crimes … Continued

In the last 10-15 years we have seen an increasingly brazen and widespread Russian campaign of hybrid warfare against the West. The UK has shown extraordinary restraint in the face of incidents such as the Skripal attack, and others have faced online barrages. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is now the time to ensure that … Continued

In April, after what was seen as the closest race thus far, Emmanuel Macron secured a historic victory and will remain the President of France for another five years. While Macron has managed to do something no other president has achieved – to win re-election while still being in charge of his own government – many … Continued

More than half a million people have been killed in the course of the Syrian conflict, and more than 13 million displaced across the world. At least 100,000 Syrians still languish in the country’s prisons, and the families of hundreds of thousands wait for confirmation of the fate of their loved ones – many of … Continued

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shocked and appalled in equal measure. Such naked aggression and scenes of brutality were not expected to the European backdrop of the 21st Century, yet Vladimir Putin’s regime flouts international norms and humanitarian codes of conduct with abandon. But as the war heads towards the three month mark, and despite … Continued

What would the UK's foreign policy look like under Sir Keir Starmer? According to Professor Azeem Ibrahim, whose paper warning of the impact of Jeremy Corbyn’s foreign policy made front-page news in 2019, Starmer's approach to foreign policy is “more assertive and more serious than that of any Labour leader since the general election of 2010 but still … Continued

Russia transformed from an authoritarian system into a dictatorship following constitutional changes in 2020 that allowed Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036, but de facto made Putin president for life. Since then, collective leadership has been replaced with rule by a dictator of a kind last seen in Joseph Stalin’s USSR. The emergence of a dictatorship … Continued

With the aggression in Ukraine of Iran’s Russian benefactor plain for all to see, it’s surely time to talk about the future for Iran’s morally bankrupt clerical regime, and what might come next should Iran’s population be allowed the liberty to decide their own future free from the repression exercised by the “guardians” of the … Continued

World War II memory is a staple of Russian identity in the contemporary era. It occupies a cult-like status, legitimising the Kremlin's rule at home and its actions abroad. This has been abundantly clear since the invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022, with Russian elites and media frequently invoking memory of the war. Much of this … Continued

Following the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, the information about what is happening on the ground has been limited. It appears however, that the Taliban's commitment to human rights has been minimal, with women having remained particularly at risk. At the same time, the West is struggling to offer realistic solutions to improve … Continued

As part of Russia’s geopolitical struggle and war with the West, the Kremlin seeks to destabilise the Balkans, particularly former Yugoslavia. Russia has applied a full spectrum of hybrid warfare activities to the Balkans supporting Serbian nationalism in Kosovo and Montenegro, seeking to undermine the Greek-Macedonian agreement on a name change for the latter,  fomented … Continued

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The investigation has been backed by an unprecedented number of countries. Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor for the ICC, has committed to staring the investigation as soon as possible. What can we expect to be the outcome of the investigation, and do … Continued

With the UK’s departure from the EU, the British government has regained significant policymaking powers over immigration and borders. Five years on from the referendum, and a year after the end of the transition period, we can now see the first signs of a post-Brexit border regime for Britain. Net migration from non-EU countries reached … Continued

The UK is lagging behind the world in recognising the Armenian Genocide. Democratic nations including the United States, France, and Germany have recognised it, as have the devolved parliaments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. And yet, we have failed to do so, citing reasons that include: the fact that the term “genocide” did not exist … Continued

The Sewell report on race and ethnic disparities, authored by the Commission on Race & Ethnic Disparities (CRED), caused quite a stir. While some considered it to be a much-needed intervention in Britain’s race-relations conversation, others accused the report of trivialising the impact of racism in modern-day Britain. The Sewell report, as well as describing … Continued

The UK and its Western allies have long been absent from the strategically important South Caucasus leaving only NATO member Turkey on the ground. Following Azerbaijan’s defeat of Armenia in the 2020 Second Karabakh War, the South Caucasus two geopolitical coalitions have emerged represented by Turkey-Azerbaijan (and to a lesser extent Pakistan) in competition with Russia-Armenia-Iran. Azerbaijan, … Continued

23 years ago, NATO began a bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia. The campaign was trigger by the outbreak of violence in Kosovo – with NATO aiming to force Serbian President Milošević to end his violent ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kosovo Liberation Army. On 10th June 1999, after 78 days of bombing, the Kumanovo … Continued

The Russian invasion of Ukraine – the most serious military conflict in Europe since the Second World War – this has thrust into the spotlight the degree to which liberal democratic countries such as the UK are internally resilient and self-sufficient. While the UK has played an integral part in facilitating meaningful international action against … Continued

Since the beginning of Putin’s war in Ukraine, the West has adopted the most comprehensive set of sanctions ever imposed against a country. The most recent development – halting American imports of Russian oil and gas – hits the Kremlin where it hurts the most. So far, however, sanctions do not seem to have deterred … Continued

Turmoil has recently engulfed Bosnia and Herzegovina once again. Fuelled by Serbian nationalist intentions, and supported by the Kremlin, concerns are growing over the future of the Balkans region and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty. We saw violence prevail in the region in the 1990s, and we cannot allow this to happen again. Whilst Europe and the … Continued

With Russia, a faded superpower, invading its neighbour, Ukraine, the world is confronting afresh the perils of global bullies.  In the Indo-Pacific China has exploited its economic might in order to coerce its near-neighbours (and those beyond) to acquiesce to its ever-expansionist endeavours. Few countries have faced more of China's coercion than Australia. Following Australia's … Continued

Women’s rights are seldom considered a priority in authoritarian regimes; from the domestic abuse laws in Russia which stipulate that the first time a husband beats his wife he merely receives a fine, to the forced sterilisation of Uyghur women in Xinjiang Province, China, women are second-class citizens in several countries of the world. The Henry … Continued

Religious extremism is one of the greatest threats to the world in the 21st century. There have been countless affronts to women’s rights under the guise of adhering to religious standards, both implicit and explicit. In several cases, increasingly rigid gender stereotypes have been enforced alongside restrictions on women’s daily activities, reproductive rights, and appearance. The Henry Jackson Society is … Continued

As the war continues to escalate in Ukraine, the Western powers are deploying a series of measures in their attempt to resist Putin and end the war. The West’s main tool are economic sanctions which aim to cut the Russian economy off from the rest of the world. Are these measures enough or can and … Continued

Since 1945, the West has undergone a cultural shift comparable to the rise of Christianity or the Protestant Reformation. To a casual observer, the British Conservative party holding office for 32 of the last 50 years does not look like an organisation in crisis. At the same time, author and journalist Ed West believes they’ve … Continued

School education is by far the most powerful tool to puncture extremist influences. Curricula are the key to achieving the tolerant and open-minded societies of the future. But they are also where negative influences: skewed historical narratives, hatreds of the other, gender inequalities and political violence take root. The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in … Continued

The defeat of Donald Trump in November 2020 followed by the attack on the US Congress on 6th January 2021 represented a tipping point moment in the history of the American republic. Divided at home and facing a world sceptical of American claims to be the ‘indispensable nation’ in world politics, it is clear that the … Continued

"Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War" explains why there is a crisis and the threat of a Russian invasion since late 2021 that could become the first major war in Europe since 1945. Dr Taras Kuzio’s book is the first study to provide an in-depth understanding of the nationalist roots of Vladimir Putin’s obsession with … Continued

Last month’s Texas synagogue siege was a watershed moment for the United Kingdom – it essentially exported an anti-Jewish Islamist terrorist to a fellow western country and close security ally in the shape of the United States. Holding people hostage at the Congregation Beth Israel, 44-year-old British-Pakistani Muslim Malik Faisal Akram was eventually shot dead by … Continued

In “Conspiracy U: A Case Study”, Scott A. Shay presents a case study of his alma mater, Northwestern University, in order to challenge the proliferation of anti-Zionist conspiracy theories championed on college campuses more generally by both the far right and far left. In the book, Shay tackles the thorny question of how otherwise brilliant minds … Continued

The Biden administration has faced a challenging first year in office. From the withdrawal from Afghanistan, raised tensions on the Ukraine-Russia border, and the Indo-Pacific tilt through to the diplomacy involved in coordinating the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign policy questions have thrown themselves at the President’s team in rapid succession, and have not … Continued

The Holocaust has come to be remembered as the greatest act of brutality and genocide in history. The UK has made considerable efforts in the commemoration of the lives lost in the Holocaust, and in the education of this tragic event. In 1983 the first Holocaust memorial was established in Hyde Park, and in 1988, … Continued

Over the last eight years, negotiations through the Trilateral Contact Group (OSCE, Ukraine, Russia) and Normandy Format (Germany, France, Ukraine, Russia) to end the war in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine have failed to achieve a peace agreement. The Russian-Ukrainian war has created two million internally displaced persons and refugees, killed over 15,000 combatants … Continued

What lessons can we glean from past atrocities such as the Holocaust, and apply to contemporary crises – whether they be other genocides, or the ongoing global refugee crisis? In the wake of anti-Semitic violence co-ordinated by the Nazi regime in Germany, the British government allowed unaccompanied minors under the age of 17 to enter Great Britain … Continued

    The 1942 Wannsee conference’s intent was to fix a bureaucratic process and parameters for the systematic murder of the totality of the Jewish people. Based upon over 12 years digestion of Nazi hate, it was a banal exercise of absolute evil. Bureaucracy as much as technology were essential for its practical implementation, from the logistics for building camps, transporting deportees, and processing the target … Continued

For the last three months, Russia has massed upwards of 175,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and issued an ultimatum to the West. Three sets of negotiations were held during the week beginning 10 January in Geneva (US-Russia), Brussels (NATO-Russia) and Vienna (OSCE). The timing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military threat and ultimatum … Continued

What do China’s mask diplomacy, America’s sanctions on Iran, Russia’s election interference, Belarus’s migration policy, struggles over Huawei, Covid-19 and Climate change have in common? Although seemingly separate events, they are all examples of globalisation being turned into a weapon. They are all connectivity conflicts with the potential to create economic hardship and pose costs … Continued

Since signing an Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014, Ukraine has introduced a wide range of policies aimed at integration into a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the achievement of a visa free regime with the Schengen Zone. Reform of the banking sector has been a central part of this process, … Continued

Two years in, there is no doubt the pandemic began in the city of Wuhan in China. But there is also little doubt that the bat that carried the progenitor of the virus lived somewhere else. The only known link between Wuhan and the natural range of such viruses in Yunnan and Laos is that scientists … Continued

With the UK out of the European Union, the government’s new ‘Global Britain’ agenda calls for the City of London to become the world’s most competitive financial services centre. Critical in determining the success or failure of these efforts will be deciding on how to move forward with retained EU law. Should Britain rely on … Continued

December 16th 2021 will mark 30 years since Kazakhstan achieved full independence from the Soviet Union. Over this time the country has navigated a delicate path towards a more market economy, and in recent years greater democratic participation in government following criticism of its human rights record, while developing strong ties with British businesses, and … Continued

In his new policy paper Poverty Trapped, John Penrose (Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare) provides a nuanced and detailed account of the myriad social and cultural factors which feed into forms of economic disadvantage in modern-day Britain. The paper represents a timely and important contribution to hotly debated matters of inequalities and discrimination. While recognising the progress Britain … Continued

Over the 8 years that have passed since the appointment of the new head of the Central Bank of Russia, the Russian banking system has undergone many changes, including the role of the Central Bank. Russian economists and activists from Aleksey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation Vladimir Ashurkov and Nikita Kulachenkov have conducted a study that combines … Continued

Xi Jinping has cleared away the constitutional obstacles to becoming China’s leader-for-life, but does he face strong internal opposition to his ambitions? Has he over-reached domestically and internationally? Is the regime he leads outwardly strong, but inwardly weak?  Are the negative consequences of economic reform without political liberalisation coming home to roost? Are America and its allies … Continued

Antisemitism is a blight across the European continent. For decades, anti-Semitic chants have been heard in many of Europe’s football grounds, usually met with little objection. Spanning the continent, from the designation of Ajax as a Jewish club to anti-Semitic slurs in Hungarian football stadiums, this scourge must be fought. This societal ill can also be found … Continued

Salafi Muslims are devoted to emulating the traditions of the salaf, the first three generations of Muslims that followed the prophet’s revelations in the 7th century. Instructed to fraternise only with other Salafis – and so reject their families and friends if they do not follow the doctrine - they reject Western media, literature, music, … Continued

Amidst an unprecedented global crisis, a British naval squadron sets out for the Indo-Pacific. Facing a rising Asian power, the force is designed to demonstrate Britain’s commitment to deter aggression and uphold regional order. But British policymakers are unsure whether they will receive support from the world’s most powerful nation, the United States, if the … Continued

A man-made famine that plagued the Soviet republic of Ukraine between 1932 and 1933, Holodomor remains one of the darkest moments in Ukrainian history. Millions died of starvation, yet controversy remains regarding this event. While some countries have recognised Holodomor as a genocide, including Ukraine, the United States and Canada, others refute claims that the … Continued

“Magnitsky Sanctions” have proven to be one of the most successful attempts to punish human rights malefactors in the history of global justice movements. Named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky – who uncovered a massive $230 million fraud committed by tax officials in the Russian Interior Ministry in 2007 and was jailed for his efforts … Continued

Antisemitism has been on the rise in recent years with a record number of hate crimes against Jews being registered during the most recent conflict in the Middle East. Students have felt the full force of this resurgence, perhaps more than most other demographics. The swift switch to the online world during Covid-19, as well … Continued

Only two years ago over one million Hongkongers took to the streets to demand the withdrawal of a bill which would have permitted extradition to mainland China. The protestors list of grievances grew. Protest and civil disobedience continued until early 2020 when Covid-19 brought mass gatherings to an end. It was under these circumstances, in June … Continued

Ukrainian politics, society and culture has had a whirlwind decade and Russian-American literary critic, editor, essayist, and journalist Vladislav Davidzon has been there to document it all. In his new book, ‘From Odessa with Love: Political and Literary Essays in Post-Soviet Ukraine’, Davidzon collates essays and articles that offer unique – and often humorous - insights … Continued

Following the Taliban’s unexpected takeover of Afghanistan, the UK Government’s has set up a bespoke resettlement route for Afghan citizens at risk of persecution – including those who co-operated with the British Armed Forces. Under the scheme, an initial 5,000 Afghans will be rehomed in the UK (rising to a total of 20,000 under a … Continued

Since the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan, much has been said about the grave threat the militants pose to ethnic and religious minorities. One group has, however, been largely overlooked – the Uyghurs. Since the Taliban regained power of the Central Asian country, Uyghurs in the country are anxious over heightened Chinese control and influence. … Continued

In recent weeks we have seen the Taliban regain control of Afghanistan and return to a rigid enforcement of sharia law - a system of Islamic jurisprudence which many believe structurally disadvantages women. Could it ever be accepted as a legally valid basis in a country like the UK, where our law embodies the equal … Continued

80 years after the extermination of almost 34,000 Jews at Babyn Yar, this tragic part of history is becoming increasingly politicised, part of a broader trend of instrumentalization of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. To commemorate this anniversary, this panel will address Antisemitism in the region, including its politicisation of the Holocaust and the region’s failures … Continued

75 years after The Nuremberg Trials, crimes against humanity and genocide continue to be a persistent stain on global society. We promised ‘Never Again’, and yet human rights abuses from Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory) and Rwanda to the former Yugoslavia and China indicate that the rule of law and justice remain elusive. Professor Philippe … Continued

On 19th September, Russia goes to the polls for parliamentary elections. A resounding win for the ruling United Russia party, with some seats allotted to the pre-approved systemic ‘opposition’, is a foregone conclusion. Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s stranglehold on Russian politics, and Russian political life, appears to be growing ever more constrictive. It is easy, and … Continued

He has been poisoned, harassed, and demonised, but even behind bars Aleksei Navalny remains Russia’s most prominent opposition figure. There is no doubting his bravery and, yet, both inside and outside Russia, he provokes a range of divergent reactions. To discuss Navalny’s political evolution, the Kremlin’s responses to him, and the future of his anti-corruption … Continued

The European continent is currently facing a distressing rise in Antisemitism. Often linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and entangled with Antizionist views, the European Jewish population is increasingly under attack. From vandalism of Jewish cemeteries in Ukraine to attacks on Jews on the streets of London, from Antisemitic caricatures at a parade in Belgium to … Continued

This discussion will aim to gauge the continuing appeal to young British Muslims of ‘caliphism’, a mindset where Islam is no longer a spiritual pathway to God but an expansionist imperial project that stands against the West, against the nation state and against secular Muslim and non-Muslim populations. The ‘caliphist’ narrative of groups like Hibz … Continued

Online platforms have been co-opted for nefarious purposes in recent years by malign actors. They are a breeding ground for spreading hateful and offensive views, including racism, xenophobia, misogyny, Anti-Muslim hatred, homophobia, and of course Antisemitism. Tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook have been publicly reprimanded for not doing enough to prevent the spread … Continued

As the broader crackdown on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong has gathered pace, the erosion of press freedom in the territory has been a particular focus of international and domestic concern. The 2021 World Press Freedom Index, released in May, offers a clear indication of the negative trajectory of Hong Kong’s once-vibrant news media. It … Continued

There has been growing concern about an increasingly assertive China’s ability to reshape the existing international order - which has been compounded by worries that a disunited liberal democratic world lacks the will to push back. The notion of ‘Westlessness’ was formally aired at the 2020 Munich Security Council, drawing to attention the idea that … Continued

In the aftermath of Iran’s recent “election”, ultraconservative President-elect Ebrahim Raisi is due to take over from President Rouhani in August. This comes at a crucial time for the Islamic Republic, as the country grapples with the ongoing pandemic, growing social discontent with the regime, and ongoing nuclear proliferation and violations of the Joint Comprehensive … Continued

Since August 2020, the ceaseless courage of the people of Belarus has gripped the world. Following rigged presidential elections, mass protests against Aleksyandr Lukashenka have grown into a wider democratic movement, despite the disproportionate and terrifying use of force against protesters. Tragically, the plight of those imprisoned in Belarus, sometimes for the flimsiest of connections … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to play host to a conversation between Ed Husain and Dr Alan Mendoza on “Among the Mosques: A journey across Muslim Britain” – Ed Husain’s latest book. Having travelled the length and breadth of the country and explored the full extent of the diversity of Britain’s Muslim population and … Continued

As the US-led full NATO withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan gets underway, severe security considerations remain largely unanswered. The Taliban are likely set to seize more control in the imminent and inevitable power vacuum. A growing Islamic State in Khorasan Province, in addition to a resurgent Al-Qaeda, are also taking root across the country. Weekly … Continued

The Islamic Republic of Iran has designs on Britain. Whilst Iranian actions in the Middle East have long been critically examined, too little attention has been given towards Iran’s influence in this country. This event introduces a detailed report by Dr Paul Stott which considers the following areas – politics, religion, the media, culture, diaspora … Continued

In May 2021, the Biden administration waived sanctions on the company building the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. US Congress concluded that the sanctions were not in their national interest and have adopted a different approach to what some have called a ‘geopolitical prize’ for the Kremlin. Critics have argued that the US is prioritising … Continued

In November, Glasgow will be hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). With the presidency in its hands, the United Kingdom is keen to make a success of it and see countries across the world adopt more ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions. The United States’ renewed commitment to tackling climate change under the … Continued

So far within UK public debate the one area of cyber which has received little attention is offensive cyber operations. This appears to be changing, with the public announcement of the National Cyber Force (NCF) being created in November 2020, and recently detailed further in the Integrated Review. Given the construct of the NCF as a predominantly military … Continued

For the past five and a half years the United Kingdom has wrestled with its diplomatic attempts to try and bring the Iranian regime to nuclear compliance, in accordance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Originally conceived by the Obama administration, the so-called nuclear deal sought to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which many in … Continued

89% of Russians feel pride in the Soviet victory over Nazism in World War Two. With the number of Soviet dead estimated at 27 million, the significant role it continues to play in Russian popular and political culture is to a certain extent understandable. But the Kremlin has co-opted this tragic and heroic legacy for … Continued

On the 12th February 2021 the Chinese Communist Party banned BBC World News from broadcasting within China. The move was seen as a response to the decision by Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting regulator, to revoke the license of Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN). Following an investigation, Ofcom concluded that CGTN “is controlled by a body which … Continued

Since the end of the Cold War, the 15 successor states to the Soviet Union have adopted different paths to their economic and political transition. Some, like those in the Baltics, have become democratic and liberal, while others, such as Belarus and Tajikistan, remain authoritarian regimes. ‘The Westernization Report’, issued by the Washington D.C.-based StrategEast … Continued

Tensions are mounting as Russia continues to move troops and equipment to Crimea and the Ukrainian border. The UK and USA have unequivocally voiced their support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity but this new wave of Russia aggression poses the question: what can we do in the long-run to better support Ukraine? In particular, … Continued

Islamist extremism still continues to dominate the terror landscape. In the last decade we have seen the emergence of a number of new Islamist groups and a series of attacks perpetrated by terrorists acting both under the instruction of - and inspired by – Islamist terror groups. Most recently, ISIS and its barbaric ideology has … Continued

In the wake of the UK Government’s Integrated Review and accompanying Defence Command Paper, the UK Armed Forces are set to undergo a seismic structural change in how they operate. In particular, the British Army is to significantly reduce troop numbers in addition to a reduced heavy armour capability. However, there is more funding available … Continued

Disengagement and deradicalisation are terms often used interchangeably, with little meaningful inquiry as to what either imply. Accusations abound of the failures and deficiencies of the measures employed to ‘cure the terrorist’, often with little appreciation of the complexities of human behaviour and the plethora of social, psychological and environmental factors which can influence behavioural … Continued

From cultural nationalism to white supremacy, the far-right has become a significant counter terrorism priority over the last few years across Europe, the UK and North America. Far-right inspired plots, attacks and arrests are on the rise. This is a result of the increased membership of cultural nationalist, white nationalist, and white supremacist groups and … Continued

The cyber security insurance market never took off as expected and is currently facing a major crisis as claims from companies hit by the escalating ransomware wave hit the insurers. Still, Jan Lemnitzer argues that a well-regulated insurance market could provide protection to companies and solve the big issue in cybersecurity that years of awareness … Continued

In the foreign policy they pursued for more than 60 years, Jack, Bobby, and Ted Kennedy offer valuable lessons for President Biden. Throughout their lives, the Kennedy brothers believed that America must play a prominent role on the world stage, and that it could serve as a beacon for others to emulate. They feared war, … Continued

The US and EU’s lack of a coherent strategy towards the Western Balkans has emboldened Russia to hinder the region’s integration into the EU and NATO. In recent years, the Western Balkans has been at the forefront of Russia’s strategy to expand its global influence and undermine the West. These strategies have included more traditional soft … Continued

The crimes of the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet are well known as too is the failure of governments around to world to say, let alone do, anything in response. For years Freedom House placed Tibet as the second least free place in the world and since the 2008 Tibetan uprising suppression there has intensified. … Continued

Across the Eurasian landmass, authoritarian regimes are using deeply subversive means to destabilise the liberal democratic global order. A revisionist Russia is actively engaged in using below-threshold means to destabilise NATO partners across Europe. In the Baltic states and across eastern Europe, Russia continues utilising cyber-attacks and information warfare, whilst recently utilising sophisticated disinformation campaigns … Continued

It is almost five years since the Oxford English Dictionary named “post-truth” its word of the year. Since then, the onslaught of fake news, disinformation, and conspiracy theorising have not only remained unrelenting, the problem has grown worse. With the COVID-19 pandemic, a maturing environment and practice of disinformation has found its ideal host, a … Continued

On the 1st of February 2021, newly re-elected State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi was forcefully detained by a military junta, alongside other members of her National League of Democracy (NLD) party. This coup took place hours before her confirmation in Parliament. Leader of the Military, Min Aung Hlaing, claimed that the NLD … Continued

We are delighted to host celebrated investigative journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan as they discuss their timely and fascinating book The Compatriots: The Brutal and Chaotic History of Russia’s Exiles, Émigrés, and Agents Abroad. Building on their extensive expertise on Russian intelligence, this event will discuss the complex and changeable role of Russian émigrés … Continued

On 25th January 2020, the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall QC announced a new review into terrorism across the prison estate in England and Wales. This timely announcement comes in the wake of a number of terrorist attacks perpetrated by radicalised offenders released from across the UK prison estate and an increase … Continued

2020 was a turning point for Britain. Following the death of George Floyd in the US state of Minnesota, a wave of Black Lives Matter demonstrations took place in the UK. The protests, as far-reaching as the Shetland Islands to the Isle of Wight, have undoubtedly had an impact on various spheres of British life … Continued

Since the last National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) has been established, the world has endured global cyber attacks in WannaCry and Not-Petya, financial losses to cyber crime have ballooned and show no signs of slowing down.   There is a clear and present need for a new generation of NCSS, but what directions should UK … Continued

In 2014 army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha launched a coup which brought himself and the Thai military to power. Five years later elections, widely seen as unfree and unfair, took place in an attempt to legitimise this rule. The junta remained in power, marking yet another setback for democracy in Thailand. This has not occurred without … Continued

Most who study or work to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism do so with one overriding purpose - to reduce, or even prevent further victims of terrorist attacks. Consulting survivors and the families of those lost to terrorism holds significant potential for the continued development of preventative and responsive strategies to terrorism - … Continued

India will soon have the largest population in the world, and in ten years is predicted to have the third-largest economy and defence budget. It is no wonder that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was keen to visit New Delhi for the country’s national day last month. While Covid may have cancelled this trip it has … Continued

Even in prison, Aleksei Navalny has continued his epic battle against Putin’s kleptocracy. On 19th January, Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation released their biggest investigation yet into their most sensitive topic yet: Vladimir Putin’s own wealth. The video detailing Putin’s $1billion palace reached 85 million views in just six days and sparked large-scale protests across more than sixty … Continued

In the wake of the Prime Minister’s much-vaunted recent announcement of the uplift in defence spending, the Royal Navy are set to be the big winners with increased frigates and destroyers bolstering the navy’s fleet. On the back of this announcement the UK-led Carrier Strike Group is set for its first operational mission this spring, … Continued

In the 2019 Queen's Speech, the Government announced it was “considering whether to follow allies in adopting a form of foreign agent registration”. The Government’s announcement followed a series of concerning accounts of strategic adversaries conducting disinformation and aggressive lobbying operations in London, at the risk of undermining the UK’s democratic system.   In order … Continued

On 17th July, 2014, passenger jet Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was destroyed over eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board were killed, their bodies strewn across the cornfields of east Ukraine. These people were victims of Russia’s proxy war in Ukraine, which rages to this day and has claimed over 13,000 lives. Immediately after MH17 … Continued

2020 marked a testing year for the English education system. Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been concerns that exam cancellations and the shift towards greater virtual learning, carries the risk of widening existing social and economic inequalities in England. In addition to this, cultural fault-lines have emerged over the content and … Continued

Anybody familiar with Russia will recognise the constancy of campaigns launched by state, quasi-state, and non-state actors – from law enforcement officers to so-called journalists and internet trolls – to discredit out-of-favour figures by the spreading of damaging information about them and their alleged activities. This phenomenon — “black PR” (chernyi piar) — emerged in the 1990s and has over time become a … Continued

The past few months have been especially terrible for Hongkongers. Their city, which over the past few years has bustled with political activity and protest, stood still. However, it was not just the fear of COVID-19 which kept people off the streets. The introduction of the national security law, in the summer of 2020, has … Continued

The December 2019 General Election will go down as one of the most dramatic in postwar history. Shattering Labour’s ‘red wall’ of previously safe seats in working-class towns across the Midlands, Northern England, and Wales, Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the Conservatives to their largest parliamentary majority since 1987 – with former Labour leader Jeremy … Continued

RSVP No European country has suffered as grievously from jihadist terrorist as France. Nearly three hundred people have been killed in a succession of outrages since 2015. President Macron has responded to the horrific murder of schoolteacher Samuel Paty, and the deadly knife attack committed at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice, with a robust … Continued

Next year marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. For Xi Jinping it is the first milestone in completing his ‘China Dream’, the last being 2049 which marks 100 years since the founding of the People’s Republic. By this point Xi hopes to restore China as a great nation, one … Continued

The election of Donald Trump in 2016 ushered in a very unique and controversial style of US Presidency. The development and delivery of US Foreign Policy by President Trump and his administration was at times both bold and brash, marked by unilateralism, and has been characterised by some as rife with internal conflicts among Cabinet … Continued

The 2020 US Presidential Election will go down as one of the most fascinating elections in American political history. While outgoing President Donald Trump has been soundly defeated in terms of the both the popular and Electoral College vote, initial voting data suggests that he unexpectedly managed to build on his 2016 support among both … Continued

WHEN 16:00-17:00 BST 7 December 2020 WHERE ONLINE Speakers: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Glen Grant Defence & Reform Expert, Ukrainian Institute of the Future & Senior Fellow, Institute for Statecraft, UK Moderator: Dr Alan Mendoza Executive Director, The Henry Jackson Society RSVP HERE The Henry Jackson Society and British-Ukrainian Aid are delighted to announce British-Ukrainian Aid’s … Continued

Following the Labour Party’s disastrous showing in last December’s UK General Election, much has been said on the breakdown of its relationship with traditional working-class voters in the industrial heartlands. However, figures suggest that there has also been a notable fraying of ties between Labour and British voters of Indian origin. In Harrow East – … Continued

Watch this event back here: https://youtu.be/C-IdqsZUhVg See the event transcript   In response to China’s rise, the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ has become increasingly popular among strategic policy circles. The United States, Japan, Australia, and India have all created their own Indo-Pacific strategies or approaches, each with a slightly different interpretation – and ambition – for the … Continued

The Chinese Communist Party's actions in Hong Kong show that it is increasingly willing to act in ways that violate international norms, laws and expectations when it sees doing so as being in its own interests. Nowhere is this truer than in circumstances in which President Xi perceives the legitimacy of the party to rule … Continued

Following the police homicide of African-American George Floyd in the US state of Minnesota on 25 May 2020, a wave of civil unrest involving Black Lives Matter activists has gripped America’s major cities, from the eastern state of California to the western state of New York. However, the death of George Floyd has thrust issues … Continued

On 9 August, Belarusians took to the polls in their country’s presidential election. Aliaksandr Lukashenka, the five-term president, claimed a landslide victory, but there is compelling evidence that the vote was rigged. For the past week, citizens have protested against Lukashenka’s government and the election results. These protests have led to a troubling police crackdown, … Continued

Since the outset of the global Coronavirus pandemic, fundamental assumptions about our world have been called into question.  Much of this reevaluation has focused on the question of trade. With nations unable to obtain essential supplies including PPE amidst the pandemic, import security has come to be seen as a national security concern. Nations have … Continued

President Vladimir Putin’s Russia seeks to weaken Western institutions and governments. Its disinformation campaigns attempt to exacerbate pre-existing divisions and create polarisations in societies. These campaigns are often most visible during elections, but they do not stop when the ballot box closes. Instead they are one of a number of tools in the Kremlin’s broader … Continued

China today is facing the worst crackdown on human rights since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. Across the board, basic freedoms are severely restricted and human rights widely and systematically violated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But there is one freedom which is experiencing, arguably, the worst repression since the Cultural Revolution, and that … Continued

How does the Chinese Government engineer its victories around the world? How has this threat influenced different aspects of our societies? How does it seek to persuade our leaders, policymakers, and elites to take decisions in its interests? These questions are no longer the niche interests of security analysts but real and present threats to our … Continued

The recent Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations in the UK, following the police homicide of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 in the US state of Minnesota, have thrust issues such as trust and confidence in British public institutions into the spotlight. But messaging around the issue of black lives has become intertwined with the … Continued

A discussion with the chairs of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs, Defence and International Development Select Committees: Tom Tugendhat MP, Tobias Ellwood MP and Sarah Champion MP Covid-19 has interrupted HM Government’s Integrated Strategic Review. The pandemic – and the geopolitics behind it – has forced Britain’s strategists and policymakers to think harder about how the … Continued

20 years ago, Sir Robert Cooper’s updated pamphlet – The Postmodern State and the World Order – was published. It focused on the changing strategic situation in Europe. His argument, in a nutshell, was that globalisation and the end of the Cold War had rendered Europe a very different place to what had gone before. … Continued

All event times are in BST.   It is evident that Coronavirus has transformed our world. But what will its impact be on international relations and global politics? Whether it is changes in the international order and how that order interacts, the future of globalisation, China’s global role, the relative strengths of the free versus … Continued

Event times are in BST.   While most look on a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic with worry, and view it as a challenge to be overcome, there are dangerous, hate-filled actors who consider these troubling times to be a gift. A golden opportunity not to be wasted. Far-right extremists – both abroad and closer … Continued

All event times are in BST   In 2021, for a two-year period, Russia will chair the Arctic Council, the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic. It will do so whilst the region – and the world – grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, and uncertainty over … Continued

Beijing’s plans to impose a ‘national security law’ on Hong Kong’s independent judiciary have provoked an international outcry.  The EU’s top diplomat has said that China’s attempts to strengthen its control of Hong Kong pose a threat to the rules-based international order.  The proposed law conflicts directly with China’s international obligations under the legally-binding Sino-British … Continued

It is easy to forget this now, but at the start of 2020, the biggest flashpoint for many international policy-makers was not a global pandemic in the making, but the vexed question of how to handle Iran. When US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018 supported by the … Continued

Following the extensive use of social media platforms by extremist groups and terrorist organisations for propaganda and recruitment purposes, technology companies have taken important proactive policy decisions on removing material and banning users from their sites. This discussion will focus on whether some of the same techniques and lessons learned can be applied to new … Continued

All event times are in BST   Ukraine is used to fighting crises – and at the moment it is fighting three. The country currently has had around 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, in a population of almost 42 million. It has the lowest testing rate in Europe, and the health care system is dilapidated … Continued

All event times in BST   Covid-19 has hit Western and Southern European countries – Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland – particularly hard. Across the continent, governments have implemented ‘lock downs’ to contain and repress the spread of the virus. China and Russia have seized on … Continued

Event times are in BST   The United Kingdom (UK) is currently in second place behind the United States (US) in terms of the national number of COVID-19 deaths, and also ranks highly in terms of active cases. There are of course valid criticisms to be made about using ‘league tables’ without adjusting for population … Continued

Covid-19 has left a trail of destruction everywhere in its wake, but one of its most pernicious impacts is likely to be in the advances made by authoritarian states – and putative authoritarians – against their own populations but also against the free world. Human rights violations and suppressions of dissent that would normally spark global … Continued

Event times are in BST   In a provocative new thesis – laid out in his book “Has China Won? The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy” – veteran diplomat Professor Kishore Mahbubani takes as his starting point the common idea that the defining geopolitical clash of the century will be between the USA and China, … Continued

  As Europe is to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2, national narratives of those historic events hugely differ across Europe. Identity and historical memory are often hijacked by populist and nationalist agendas and history suddenly enters the political mainstream. In Britain, the tabloid media has often fallen back on spurious references … Continued

Since the end of the Cold War, Britain established an increasingly ‘global approach’ to its foreign, security and defence policy. This approach foresaw the acceleration of globalisation, the rise of liberal democracy around the world, the continuity of Western technological ascendancy, and conditions preferable to a less cohesive and robust British nation-state. With the onset … Continued