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

With Covid-19, the world has been reminded once again that it is entering a new era of great power competition, not least as China’s regime has spread propaganda and disinformation to hide how the disease emerged and spread. The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to an online panel discussion to look at … Continued

Nick Timothy’s new book, “Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism”, doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to his thoughts on how powerful economic and sociological drivers will force change in our politics. Although written before the Coronavirus pandemic, its analysis of geopolitical shifts, cultural change and economic uncertainty is tailor-made for consideration during … Continued

  There is a general consensus that political warfare is back. But for those who have been paying attention, it never went away. For much of the last two decades, authoritarian states – most obviously China and Russia -- have used a wide range of instruments to persuade, intimidate, undermine, coerce, and weaken the West. These instruments … Continued

On Monday, 9th March, court hearings will begin in The Netherlands in an attempt to determine criminal responsibility for the destruction of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. MH17 was destroyed over in eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014, killing all 298 people on board. On the basis of the investigation conducted by the Joint Investigation Team … Continued

Psychologists have long understood that social environments profoundly shape our behavior, sometimes for the better, often for the worse. But social influence is a two-way street—our environments are themselves products of our behavior. Under the Influence explains how to unlock the latent power of social context. It reveals how our environments encourage smoking, bullying, tax … Continued

In 1993, a newly-appointed CIA director warned that Western powers might have ‘slain a large dragon’ with the fall of the USSR, but now faced a ‘bewildering variety of poisonous snakes’. Since then, both dragons (state enemies like Russia and China) and snakes (terrorist and guerrilla organisations) have watched the US struggle in Iraq and … Continued

On 27 October 2018, Bari Weiss's childhood synagogue in Pittsburgh became the site of the deadliest attack on Jews in American history. For most of us, the massacre came as a total shock. But to those who have been paying attention, it was only a more violent, extreme expression of the broader trend that has … Continued

The appeal to science to strengthen racist ideologies is on the rise - and increasingly part of the public discourse on politics, migration, education, sport and intelligence. Stereotypes and myths about race are expressed not just by overt racists, but also by well-intentioned people whose experience and cultural baggage steers them towards views that are … Continued

India’s foreign policy diplomacy in the 1990s and 2000s focused majorly in trying to delineate India from being hyphenated with Pakistan. From India’s strong presence in Davos in 2006 and 2015 and in between, it marked a renewed confidence that India was an economic might in its own right. But commentators, including former Foreign Secretary … Continued

The 2019 UK General Election will go down as one of the most dramatic in post-war history. Breaching Labour’s ‘red wall’ of safe seats in working-class towns in the Midlands and the north, PM Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party to its largest parliamentary majority since 1987. Remarkably, the Conservatives can now string together an … 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

The start of 2020 has been busy for President Trump and Trump Administration lawyers. The U.S. drone attack on January 3 that killed Qasem Soleimani has raised numerous questions under U.S. and international law. Twelve days later, the U.S. House of Representatives delivered articles of impeachment to the U.S. Senate, charging President Trump with abuse of his … Continued

Eighteen months after he led his own audacious insurgency against France’s established parties Macron would face another popular insurrection. This time, he was the target. On the eve of important European elections, and with nationalist and populist forces rising across the continent, questions remain as to whether Macron can still hope to hold the centre … Continued

Protests against increasing Chinese interference in Hong Kong's promised autonomy have in 2019 been unprecedentedly large, sustained and, at times, violent. With emotions running high and divisions stoked by both Beijing and radicalised and fearful protesters, it is easy to lose sight of what we are seeing in the latest research data. Dr. Brian Fong will … Continued

Since taking power in China in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party has indoctrinated its citizens on a vast scale. Such indoctrination provides the basis of the CCP’s legitimacy, as it whitewashes inconvenient aspects of the country’s history and mythologises others. For the past few decades, Western capitals have viewed China primarily through an economic lens, … Continued

It is common for policymakers and technologists to talk about the digital transformation of public service. In practice, however, most technology projects in government involve ‘automation’ (streamlining and systematizing current ways of working) rather than ‘transformation’ (using technology to deliver services in ways that were not possible in the past). In this talk, Richard Susskind … Continued

Is the world becoming more peaceful? This proposition encounters widespread disbelief. Have the United States and its allies not been repeatedly involved in messy wars over the last decades? Alternatively, is the relative peacefulness of today’s world not attributable to a transient American hegemony since the collapse of the Soviet Union? Are we not tempted … Continued

Against a background of economic slowdown, the Chinese state is showing signs of stepping up its efforts to suppress the freedom of its religious and cultural minorities. Along with the internment of Uighur and Kazakh Muslims at ‘re-education camps’ in Xinjiang province, the religious and cultural freedoms of China’s Christian, Tibetan Buddhist, and adherents of … Continued

President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” election campaign was centered on one basic theme: that for the past 70 years the United States has been taken advantage of by the rest of the world. President Trump won the presidential election promising to protect Americans by changing America’s relationship with the world. As president, Mr. Trump has steadfastly implemented policies … Continued

It is possible to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and monitoring harmful extremist content online? In her new report, Free to Be Extreme, Nikita Malik uses cases studies of how content, individuals, and organisations are regulated for counter-extremism purposes, and examines the power dynamics between the UK Government, citizens, and technology companies … Continued

As the 21st century continues, it becomes ever more apparent that dealing with terrorism and non-state actors is a pressing international question of our times. The recent demise of so-called Islamic State territorially has left a legacy of foreign fighters, their partners and children, many of them attempting to return to the UK, while online … Continued

Britain currently ranks 17 out of 129 across the world in terms of women’s equality, with Iceland being the leader in this field for a number of years in a row. What obstacles face women in their professional, personal, and political advancement? What more can be done to support women and girls? What social and … Continued

The United Kingdom and Norway are neighbours in the North Atlantic and share interests in this strategically important area. The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to host Rear Admiral Sverre Nordahl Engeness who will speak on the Norwegian military understanding of the situation in the High North, Norway´s view on Russia, naval cooperation between the United Kingdom … Continued

To become a 'normal country', an intelligence agency is vital - former Japanese diplomat Kawakami Takishi, 2015   The prewar history of the Japanese intelligence community is an indictment of the effects of power and bureaucratic arrogance without insight. Its postwar history—one of limited Japanese power despite growing insight, and a new need to conform … Continued

Nearly three-and-a-half years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, Brexit continues to dominate the national political agenda. However, domestic debates over the funding of public services, state investment in infrastructure, and broader economic inequalities in British society, remain important. In an increasingly fragmented and volatile electoral marketplace, analysing British politics is a difficult exercise. … Continued

From the early 1970s, the three regions of Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong have experienced divergent democratic fortunes, as election driven, gubernatorial or protest initiatives have attempted to further civil society causes and democratic politics. In tandem to this, the Chinese Communist Party has grown ever more adept at its use of “sharp power”- … Continued

Achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula after a lifetime of separation will entail vision, courage and goodwill across deeply entrenched divisions. One of the key pre-requisites  for success is convergence between the two currently separated economies. It is widely recognised that there is great potential to reconstruct a flourishing economy in North Korean … Continued

Across the world women and girls are educated and indoctrinated into believing that their bodies are something to be ashamed of. This book breaks taboos. In a survey of 42 accounts from 14 countries, Nimko Ali gives voice to women across the globe, sharing intimate experiences of their rites of passage: from periods to menopause, … Continued

As the UK prepares to leave the European Union, the strategic situation in Europe has become more uncertain than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Russia looms over the continent, Turkey is becoming more unpredictable, and China’s presence is expanding. With their different visions of European integration, Germany and France are … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is hosting an invitation-only roundtable discussion with His Excellency Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson, Ambassador of the Republic of Iceland to the United Kingdom on "The UK and the Wider North". The event will take place on 18th of November (Monday) at 1 pm-2 pm at the Henry Jackson Society, Millbank Tower, 21-24 … Continued

A decade ago this week, Sergey Magnitsky died in a Russian prison having uncovered a US$230 million tax fraud committed against his employer, Bill Browder, by Russia’s authorities. In the years since, Browder has fought a campaign for justice, leading to so-called “Magnitsky Laws” being passed in the US, Canada, the Baltic States, and the … Continued

    The Henry Jackson Society and the British-Korean Society are delighted to invite you to the invitation-only roundtable with Martin Uden, Executive Chairman at the British Korean Society, Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Reader in International Relations at King's College London, Alison Evans, Senior Research Analyst in Asia-Pacific Country Risk at IHS Markit, Dr Michael Schluter, … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to an invitation-only roundtable on the topic of “Deepening understanding of the Indo-Pacific”. Welcoming remarks will be given by David Lin, the Representative of the Taiwan Representative Office. The roundtable will comprise three panels, chaired by Matthew Henderson and James Rogers of the Henry Jackson Society. Keynote speakers will be Dr … Continued

On 7 September, Russia released 35 Ukrainian individuals from prison. These included the 24 sailors Russia illegally detained in the Kerch Strat in 2018 and 11 political prisoners, not least the film director Oleg Sentsov and the student Pavlo Hyrb. A number of these political prisoners were taken hostage during the early stages of Russia’s … Continued

In August, Indian Prime Minister Modi revoked the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution. The former state has been redesignated as two Union districts. This bold and radical decision has provoked widespread domestic controversy and debate, with support from a range of political groupings and recriminations from others, … Continued

How is the US Government tackling Anti-Semitism? With growing concern over Islamist extremism, Far-Left hate speech against Jews and the rise of Neo-Nazi terrorism, Jews in the West face a nexus of ideological animosity. At the same time, liberal politicians in the US have been dogged by allegations of racism and Anti-Semitism, leading to fears … Continued

Most British and American citizens have no idea that a constitutional revolution is underway in Iran. Paradoxically, 40 years of life under religious rule has produced a large young Iranian population that is not hostile to Western democracies, but friendly; not fanatically attached to fundamentalist interpretations of Islam, but alienated from them and often from Islam … Continued

Russia has been at war with Chechnya twice since 1991, and Chechnya has been involved with the gravest of national crises that Russia has faced since the end of the Cold War. Yet, Chechnya has never received any sustained international attention. One reason for this is that many of the activists and journalists who sought … Continued

Vibrant international engagement has often been suggested to have gone out of the proverbial window in modern nation-state geopolitics. Indeed, the US in its position as global superpower can seem to be battening down the hatches. In August 2017, measures to cut migration were lauded by President Donald Trump as a helping hand to “minority … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to the invitation-only roundtable discussion with Mihoko Matsubara, Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation, Tokyo, and Azeem Aleem, VP Consulting, NTT Limited, London, on ‘Cyber Threat Landscape in Asia: Cyber attacks and Disinformation Campaigns against Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan’ on Thursday 17th of October … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to the invitation-only roundtable discussion with His Excellency Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom, on ‘Greater Eurasia: Dialogue. Trust. Partnership’ on Wednesday 9th of October at 10 am–11 am. Greater Eurasia is the world’s largest continent, comprising 65% of the … Continued

In recent years, the Western world has been rocked by a number of terrorist attacks which can be broadly categorised as “far-right”. The groups targeted have been diverse – Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh and Poway, Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, African-American churchgoers in Charleston, and Hispanic people shopping in El Paso. In the British context, far-right … Continued

One of the dominant narratives which has emerged since the June 2016 UK vote on EU membership as been the “young versus old” divide – where the country’s pro-Leave older generation is pitted against its pro-Remain younger generation. Moving away from this “intergenerational divide” Brexit narrative, HJS research fellow Dr Rakib Ehsan’s new report “A … Continued

President Donald Trump’s unorthodox approach to foreign policy and the uncertainty caused by Brexit have led to a period of flux in the UK-US Trans-Atlantic Alliance. At this event, Republican Congressman George Holding - a member of the prominent Ways and Means Committee, whose jurisdiction encompasses tax, health care, trade, and three fifths of total spending … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to this invitation-only workshop on Vietnam, the Indo-Pacific and Global Britain. The development of the Indo-Pacific as a construct has been a significant moment in ASEAN integration, matching and the PRC’s vision of the BRI. This has linked in with the expansion of Vietnam’s role in … Continued

With yet another closely contested Israeli election having just concluded, and coalition-forming prospects looking confused, it is an appropriate time to consider the background to the results: how Israel’s economic and social landscape has changed over time, how it compares with other developed countries, and how trends differ between Israel’s diverse population groups.   The … Continued

As the 21st century continues, it has become increasingly apparent that humanity is operating within a constantly shifting and multi-polar world, one which was neither foreseen by last century's intellectuals, nor accommodated within their political frameworks. In truth, the old Left–Right vocabulary of politics is incapable of explaining or conveying what has occurred in the redistribution and interplay … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to the invitation-only roundtable discussion with Admiral (Ret’d) Chen Yeong-Kang ‘Taiwan’s Overall Defence Concept (ODC) and Defence Policy’. Admiral (Ret’d) Chen Yeong-Kang is an Admiral of the Republic of China (Taiwan) who served in Taiwan’s Navy from 1974 to 2015. He was the 5th Commander of … Continued

These days the world is facing an unprecedented wave of violent extremism by non-state actors of various stripes. The causes in whose name they are willing to kill and die are very different (including religion, ethnicity, social justice among others) yet they all pose serious threat to the security and stability of nations. The rising … Continued

2019 marks the ten years of the launch of the Eastern Partnership initiative. Although the initiative has provided the necessary framework for pro-democratic reforms, it has not achieved any of its’ major goals set. The six countries of the initiative (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) remain, as they were a decade ago, between Europe … Continued

Adolf Hitler is one of the most studied figures in history, and yet some of the most important things we think we know about him are wrong. His main enemy was not, as widely believed, the Soviet Union and communism, but Anglo-America and international capitalism. Hitler was a visceral opponent of what he called 'Jewish … Continued

The UK’s decision to leave the European Union in the June 2016 referendum on EU membership has generated fierce debate on the impact of immigration. This has focused on the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of immigration and its effect on the British economy and society. With the country’s withdrawal set for October 31st, … Continued

Hong Kong is currently in the midst of the largest and most sustained protests seen in a Chinese city since 1989. In large sectors of Hong Kong society, trust in the government, the police and in the Hong Kong SAR’s political system has broken down. Questionable policing coupled with government intransigence and a violently patriotic … Continued

A recent study by British Future and the Centre for English Identity and Politics has shown encouraging signs of growing public support for an “inclusive Englishness”. The research shows that only 10% of people believe that ethnicity is an important factor in determining “Englishness” – a drop from 20% in 2012. Meanwhile, over 70% of … Continued

It is important to discuss what drives social and economic exclusion among British Muslim women. Levels of female unemployment continue to be stubbornly high within the UK’s Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities – the country’s two largest Muslim-majority ethnic minority groups. In addition to this, birthrates remain relatively high within such communities – comfortably above the … Continued

Five years ago, on 17 July 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 individuals on board. Ever since, Russia has refused to cooperate with the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT), rejecting any suggestion that Russia was involved. Yet, there is overwhelming evidence that it was; last month, the … Continued

How can an authentic Western Islam emerge? Islam is both a religion and a political-social ideology. When debating and interpreting different versions of Islam, voices of moderate Muslims trying to represent their views are often hijacked or ignored. It is clear, however, that the best way to reflect an authentic version of Islam is through … Continued

How is the US Government tackling anti-Semitism? With growing concern over Islamist extremism, Far-Left anti-Zionism and the rise of Neo-Nazi terrorism, Jews in the West face a nexus of ideological animosity. At the same time, liberal politicians across the Atlantic have been dogged by allegations of racism and anti-Semitism, leading to fears that anti-Jewish sentiment … Continued

The persecution of Christian minorities continues to persist across the world. This issue was thrust into the spotlight following the devastating Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, where a string of co-ordinated attacks targeting churches during Easter Sunday services – killing in the region of 250 people. This followed the 2016 Easter Sunday terrorist attack … Continued

The UK has suffered at the hands of far-right terrorism in recent times. This includes the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and the Finsbury Park mosque attack in 2017, which resulted in the death of Makram Ali. Neither of the sole perpetrators behind these terrorist attacks – Thomas Mair and Darren Osborne … Continued

The Asia-Pacific has become the Indo-Pacific region as the US, Japan, Australia and India have decided to join forces and scale-up their political, economic and security cooperation. The message coming from Washington, Tokyo, Canberra and Delhi is clear: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is no longer the only game in town and Beijing’s policymakers … Continued

Since 2006, the world has been in a “democratic recession”. For most of this period, the recession was shallow and even disputed, generating only modest overall global declines in political rights and civil liberties, and leaving the basic contours of democratic predominance in the world unchanged. But looking beneath the aggregate numbers, the pace of democratic breakdown … Continued

Everyone knows that populism in the US and UK today is rooted not only in resentment toward elites but also economic alienation, decaying communities, and resulting despair. Right? Not quite. Using new, unique survey data, Dr. Ryan Streeter and his colleagues have found that the media narrative feeding explanations of the “Trump phenomenon” are incomplete, … Continued

Is there a set of principles, actions or commitments which characterise conservative approaches to diplomacy? With particular reference to the United States, are these characteristics different from traditional elements of diplomacy? This meeting marks the start of an academic research project, under the leadership of Dr Ashley Cox from SOAS University of London, which seeks … Continued

According to Elif Shafak, culture and literature matters. It becomes especially relevant in the age of populism, pessimism and political uncertainty. In fact, most of the conflicts which we are experiencing today within our societies are related to culture. And yet the culture and literature are often ignored in political analyses. Elif Shafak thinks that … Continued

The development of 5G wireless networks promises to have a revolutionary impact on telecommunications technology, increasing the speed, reliability, and responsiveness of wireless networks. These enhanced capabilities will enable new possibilities for growth and business in health care, self-driving cars, automated industries, and telemedicine. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications Policy at the … Continued

Germany, like many countries in the West, is witnessing decline in support for long-standing establishment parties. The CDU/CSU and SPD recently recorded their lowest vote shares for a European Parliament Election, with the Greens and Alternative für Deutschland making electoral advances. Indeed, with the Greens quickly establishing itself as the leading progressive political party in … Continued

The unfolding crisis in Venezuela represents a major challenge not only for the country’s citizens, but also for the international community. Venezuela is facing economic collapse on a scale unprecedented for a country not at war; the IMF forecasts that inflation will reach 10million% this year. Some Venezuelans have responded by emigrating, leading to one of … Continued

As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the events culminating in the Tiananmen Square Massacre of June 4th 1989, it is important to note that the Chinese Communist Party does not – despite its insistence on this point – speak for all Chinese. Nowhere is that more true than Hong Kong, where strong identity issues have arisen over the … Continued

As the strategic environment changes, planning for state-on-state military confrontation has re-emerged. Non-state actors – perhaps assisted by revisionist powers – have also not gone away. This less benign strategic environment is emerging at a time of military technological change, with the development of direct energy weapons, autonomous and semi-autonomous systems, and cyber capabilities. All … Continued

The BJP had an impressive victory in the 2019 General Election, emerging as the single largest party garnering more vote share than it had in 2014. The opposition Indian National Congress, failed to improve on its dismal 2014 showing and now faces an existential crisis. The BJP's win came as a personal vote of confidence … Continued

In the twenty-five years after 1989, the world enjoyed the deepest peace in history. In The Rise and Fall of Peace on Earth, the eminent foreign policy scholar Michael Mandelbaum examines that remarkable quarter century, describing how and why the peace was established and then fell apart. To be sure, wars took place in this … Continued

The Asia-Pacific has become the Indo-Pacific region as the US, Japan, Australia and India have decided to join forces and scale-up their political, economic and security cooperation. The message coming from Washington, Tokyo, Canberra and Delhi is clear: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is no longer the only game in town and Beijing’s policymakers better get ready … Continued

In recent times, national populism has been on the march in much of the Western world. 2016 was a year of political earthquakes, with the UK voting to leave the European Union and Donald Trump being elected as the 45th President of the United States. In 2017, the National Front’s Marine Le Pen won over … Continued

Twenty years after NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia, the Western Balkans countries are beset by economic, political, and social uncertainty. The promise of membership to the European Union, which has been a driver of reform in the region, has still not yet materialised for all-but-one country. Security issues are again at the fore of regional politics. … Continued

In light of the publication of the Modernising Defence Programme in December 2018, which recognised the emergence of a more volatile and competitive world system, it has been argued that the United Kingdom is being forced once again to revisit its strategic defence posture. For over three centuries, Britain has acted as a custodian of … Continued

The relationship between Russia and the West is once again deep in crisis. A major reason for this is that Western leaders have too often believed (or hoped) that Russia sees the world as they do. But things look very different from Moscow. In confronting the West, Russia is implementing strategic and doctrinal approaches that … Continued

The movement of internet communications technology (ICT) toward the fifth generation of wireless networks will provide a profound change in latency, data speed and volume, allowing for new technologies – such as agriculture or delivery drones, self-driving vehicles, and other data-driven tech. The deployment of 5G promises substantial job creation, global leadership, with first-movers set … Continued

Over the past ten years, the level of repression has been rising steadily in Russia. Several hundred prisoners of conscience and political prisoners are today imprisoned or detained in the country, a figure comparable to that in the late Soviet Union. Elena Sannikova, a veteran of Soviet dissent, will speak about the forms of moral … Continued

The special relationship is under strain. President Donald Trump’s unorthodox approach to foreign policy together and the uncertainty caused by Brexit have led to a period of flux in the UK-US’ trans-Atlantic alliance. Based on his extensive experience as an American diplomat and attorney, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat will analyse the current and future of the … Continued

On March 29, the United Nations adopted Security Council Resolution 2367 on sexual violence in conflict. Questions have been raised, however, over the omission of language regarding sexual and reproductive health following opposition from the United States on grounds that such language implies support for abortions. It has become increasingly important to shed light on … Continued

Following the devastating terrorist attacks in Christchurch, the New Zealand government acted swiftly to ban the pre-attack “manifesto” produced by sole assailant Brenton Tarrant. The writing of manifestos is a hallmark of modern far-right terrorism, with the likes of Anders Breivik and Dylann Roof both producing documents explaining the motivations behind their terrorist attacks. In … Continued

In late 2013, the People’s Republic of China began building and fortifying islands across a number of reefs in the South China Sea. These bases, built at immense cost, underscored China’s maritime strategy to dominate one of the world’s most important waterways and overturn decades of established international law, creating in effect a “Chinese lake”. … Continued

A report published last year by the Atlantic Council, a leading US think tank, highlighted Russia’s extensive manipulation of the US justice system. This is a little-known, but important, channel through which the Kremlin undermines Western democracies by using these democracies own institutions against themselves. Issuing Interpol Red Notices to critics, mounting libel actions, and … Continued

As the prospect of British withdrawal from the European Union has been pushed back beyond the original date (29th March 2019), Brexit has created more and more uncertainty. By relying on his extensive experience and expertise, the former European Commissioner for Trade and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy will present his views … Continued

The rising wealth of middle class households and voters has transformed the politics of banking crises. At this event, Jeffrey Chwieroth will explain how mass political demand has contributed to rising financial fragility and political instability and discontent in contemporary democracies. In their new book, The Wealth Effect: How the Great Expectations of the Middle … Continued

In the state elections in December 2018, the big loser was the BJP, which had won 62 of 65 Lok Sabha seats in these states in the Modi Wave of 2014. But the BJP’s loss was not just Congress’ gain. Other parties also gained at BJP’s expense. Looking ahead to the 2019 General Elections, the … Continued

With incidents of terrorism and extremism increasing around the world – and from a variety of different sources including Islamists, the Far Right and the Far Left – what are the trends explaining how the purveyors of hate are succeeding in getting their messages through to would-be acolytes? And what should we be aware of when … Continued

Belarus has received increased international attention over recent years, much of which has focused on Russia’s ambitions towards the country. While Belarus remains a Soviet-style authoritarian state, authorities have loosened their grip on power, a sign many analysts see as an attempt to stay on good terms with the West. Minsk’s own intentions and capabilities … Continued

According to the Asia Development Bank, Asia will need $1.7 trillion a year in investment in infrastructure if it is to continue current growth rates. Its ability to provide that is well-below that figure. In 2013, China stepped up its own contribution by creating the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to enhance connectivity … Continued

We live in uncertain times. From Brexit and Donald Trump’s election as US president, to Russia’s revisionism and China’s stagnating economy, international affairs are increasingly unpredictable. Thomas L. Friedman will answer questions including: What are the forces reshaping the world today? How has the West to responded to these? And what more should the West … Continued

A new form of democracy is giving birth. A disturbing, profound movement of the yellow vests, like the great Jacqueries - the famous peasant revolts in the Middle Ages in France, carries the risk of contagion throughout Europe and is jeopardizing the liberal democratic model. At this event, we will explore the Illiberalist’s temptations of … Continued

Entry into the European Community in 1973 was a momentous event - with seismic consequences for British politics and the constitution. Brexit is likely to have equally momentous consequences both for our constitution - on Parliament, on the courts, on individual rights, and, above all on he question of whether the United Kingdom can be held … Continued

With returning IS fighters and uncertainty over Brexit, concerns surrounding human rights, civil liberties and national security have never been greater. Is our current terrorism legislation fit for purpose? Are our national efforts to prevent radicalisation working? Should we introduce new powers to curb the return of British-born terrorists? Lord Carlile will analyse these critical … Continued

  Putin’s Hostages: Ukrainian Political Prisoners of the Kremlin is a documentary about the roughly 70 Ukrainians political prisoners incarcerated throughout Russia and occupied Crimea. These prisoners are held in conditions that threaten their health, life, and human dignity. Many of them are kept in long-term isolated confinement, with devastating effects on their mental health. … Continued

In the eyes of many, the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is diminishing. With peace talks stalling and the current political climate in Israel in flux, options for how to deal with the enduring conflict have arguably fallen by the wayside. The outcome of the Israeli elections, that will take place … Continued

For the past decade, Japan and the United Kingdom have been forming a closer strategic partnership, to extent that the two countries declared that they regard one another as each other’s “closest security partners respectively in Asia and Europe.” As two of the world’s leading powers, Britain and Japan have the power to lay the … Continued

For Israel, security concerns not only span the volatile region it inhabits but also transcend to threats from far further afield. At this event Mr. Yaakov Peri, former Director of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, will present his strategic assessment of Israel’s frontiers to the North, South, East, West and also in space. He … Continued

Although in recent years the Russian state’s information warfare capabilities have been increasingly tested in the West, falsified narratives, manipulation of facts and psychological influence are still one of the most effective tools at the Kremlin’s strategic disposal. A lot has been said and written about Russia’s disinformation and propaganda successes. However, there is still … Continued

The 'Asian Century' is even bigger than you think. Far greater than just China, a new re-ordering of Asia is taking shape over multi-civilisational region spanning Saudi Arabia to Japan, Russia to Australia, Turkey to Indonesia—linking five billion people through trade, finance, infrastructure, and diplomatic networks that together represent 40 percent of global GDP. China … Continued

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to host Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Former Australian Prime Minister, for a special event chaired by Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, to discuss "Preserving the Freedom of the Asia Pacific in an Age of Great Power Rivalry". The UK-Australia relationship is one of enduring defence, … 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

Separating a child from their family is one of the most drastic actions a court can take. However, family courts in the United Kingdom have had to make difficult decisions on what happens to children at risk of radicalisation. Many of these children are part of families that love and care for them, but still … Continued

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in early 2014, gave rise to fears that the Kremlin might try its luck militarily elsewhere in eastern Europe. That has not (yet) happened, but the prospect that it might nevertheless has led to a fundamental reassessment of European security. NATO now has thousands of troops, armour and aircraft stationed in … Continued

It is clear that women serve as facilitators, supporters, and instigators of violence in terrorist movements. This panel will discuss women’s voices in extremism. What role do women play in the radicalisation process? Are women’s voices heard in setting the government agenda of deradicalisation? With the collapse of Islamic State and an increasing flow of … Continued

There are many reasons why the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians has foundered. One of the most contentious issues between the two sides has been “the Right of Return” of Palestinian refugees to Israel proper, and how many such people will be allowed to enter Israel as part of any peace deal. In recent years the work … Continued

As President Donald Trump confounds Washington DC and promises to reshape policy from taxation to healthcare to foreign affairs, governments and companies must grapple with crucial questions: Can the President’s tax cuts keep the economy strong, despite worldwide worries over Brexit and trade disputes? Will the Federal Reserve keep its independence?  Will the U.S. build up bigger and bigger … Continued

Five years ago next month, Russia annexed Crimea in the first forcible annexation of the territory of a European country since 1945. It would, in quick succession, go on to invade eastern Ukraine. The war Russia waged – which has claimed over 10,000 lives, almost a third of them civilians – generated considerable popularity for … Continued

In late August last year stories began to emerge in the media of a confrontation between the Royal Navy and the People’s Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the South China Sea. At the time, it was rumoured that HMS Albion, an amphibious assault ship, had challenged some form of unlawful or … Continued

Western liberalism is under attack, not only at home also but from newly-emboldened authoritarian states abroad. Across the West, states have begun to change their domestic and foreign policies to adjust to the new realities of increasing populism, growing Chinese and Russian power, and uncertain American commitment. For the first time since the end of … Continued

In January 2014, Ukraine’s then-President Victor Yanukovych passed a series of ‘anti-protest’ laws to quash growing unrest in the country. Within weeks, he would flee for Russia. This was the culmination of three months of protests, which had begun when Yanukovych refused to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. Following Yanukovych’s toppling, Ukraine … Continued

The 1MDB scandal, the theft of billions of dollars from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, and the attempt to cover it up became ‘Southeast Asia’s Watergate’, in 2018 bringing down the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak after 61 years of single-party power. Beyond that, it has had repercussions throughout the global banking sector, is shaking Goldman … Continued

As the United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union, its position in relation to the continental mainland is once again in the spotlight. Since the Second World War, Britain's principal objective has been to underscore - alongside the United States - the defence of Europe, first against German resurgence, then against the Soviet menace, and … Continued

“Whether we like it or not, Brexit will happen at 11 PM on 29 March 2019. That much is sure and is what the people voted for in a free and fair Referendum. What is less clear, and something which only the bravest of soothsayers would have a shot at predicting is what Britain will be like after … Continued

Deep new rifts are tearing apart the fabric of Britain and other Western societies: thriving cities versus the provinces, the highly-skilled elite versus the less educated, wealthy versus developing countries. As these divides deepen, we have lost the sense of ethical obligation to others that was crucial to the rise of post-war social democracy. So … Continued

In August of last year, human rights experts in the UN called on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to release the nearly one-million Uighurs that have been interned in re-education camps, under the pretext of countering terrorism. The historic parallels of detentions based on religious identity in the 20th century are obvious. And yet, … Continued

Since the last major biography of Churchill, forty-one sets of papers have been deposited at the Churchill Archives, and The Queen has allowed Dr. Andrew Roberts to be the first Churchill biographer to read her late father King George VI’s diary records of Churchill’s weekly audiences with him during the Second World War. He also … Continued

Future Politics confronts one of the most important questions of our time: how will digital technology transform politics and society? Jamie Susskind argues that rapid and relentless innovation in a range of technologies – from artificial intelligence to virtual reality - will transform the way we live together. A ground-breaking work of political analysis, Future … Continued

Though mankind has traded tangible goods for millennia, recent technology has changed the fundamentals of trade, in both legitimate and illegal economies. In the past three decades, the most advanced forms of illicit trade have broken with all historical precedents and, as Dark Commerce shows, now operate as if on steroids, tied to computers and social media. … Continued

China’s Belt and Road strategy is acknowledged to be the most ambitious geopolitical initiative of the age. Covering almost seventy countries by land and sea, it will affect every element of global society, from shipping to agriculture, digital economy to tourism, politics to culture. Most importantly, it symbolises a new phase in China’s ambitions as a superpower: to remake the world economy … Continued

Jews lived continuously in the Middle East and North Africa for almost 3,000 years. But in just 50 years, indigenous communities outside Palestine almost totally disappeared as more than 99 percent of the Jewish population fled. Until the mass exodus of Christians and Yazidis, the post-1948 displacement of more than 850,000 Jewish refugees was the largest movement of … Continued

India and Turkey were the two exemplars of twentieth-century ‘secular states’ outside of the West. Professor Sumantra Bose believes that in the early 21st century Hanafi-Sunni Islamists have decisively taken over the state in Turkey, and in India Hindu nationalists have emerged as by far the leading political force. What explains the collapse, in all but … Continued

At a time when the world’s two acknowledged superpowers seem to be moving closer towards economic and political conflict, a new feature documentary by two-time Academy Award®–winning director Malcolm Clarke explores how the destiny of both countries became so deeply and inextricably intertwined. By examining the day-to-day lives of ordinary Chinese and American citizens this … Continued

The political events of recent years have sent shockwaves throughout the established order of Western liberal democracies. Election after election has thrown up astonishing results, with the traditional parties on the back foot as populist and fringe candidates/parties make historical gains. Can we view these years of instability as a cathartic release, ahead of a … Continued

As global trade becomes increasingly maritime in nature, so too it is beginning to follow the centre of the global economy, from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific. Over the past decade, the Indo-Pacific has become a new fulcrum for trade and geopolitics linking the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Asia-Pacific. ASEAN, the US, Australia, India, … Continued

The United States’ adoption of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 marked a watershed in America’s, and the West’s, relations with Russia. The Act allowed the US to freeze the assets and withhold the visas of people who are violating human rights globally. Similar legislation has since been adopted in the … Continued

Prof. Andrew Lambert’s new book, Seapower States examines how Britain and four other seapowers used their special identities to inform their decision-making, enabling them to achieve success disproportionate to their size. Lambert shows how creating maritime identities made these states more dynamic, open, and inclusive than their lumbering continental rivals. He argues that it was only … Continued

Dave Rich’s updated edition of The Left’s Jewish Problem: Jeremy Corbyn, Israel and Antisemitism (2018) contends that antisemitism is a ‘sickness’ at the heart of left-wing British politics that has become increasingly insidious in recent years. Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and the multitude of antisemitism scandals in his labour party have shone a new spotlight on … Continued

At a time when economics and politics are ever more polarized between left and right,  Jesse Norman MP in his 'Adam Smith: What He Thought and Why It Matters' offers a Smithian analysis of contemporary markets, predatory capitalism and the 2008 financial crash, returns us to first principles and shows how the lost centre of a modern public … Continued

Long before the election of Donald Trump, Timothy Snyder began to issue warnings concerning threats to American democracy. A leading expert in European history, he is well-versed in the events that saw early-twentieth-century Europe yield to fascism, Nazism, and communism. Snyder does not believe history repeats itself, but he does believe it instructs—and what he … Continued

The status of women offers key insights into a nation's prosperity and security. The first-ever Women, Peace and Security Index offers a comprehensive measure of women's well-being and empowerment in homes, communities, and societies. Drawing on internationally recognized data, it ranks 153 countries on women's inclusion, justice, and security, and reveals important patterns as well as … Continued

Since Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia in 2000, a defining trait of his regime has been its use of politically-motivated assassinations to silence its critics and opponents. Such assassinations have almost always been accompanied by disinformation campaigns in which Russia’s state-run media outlets have played a central role. In early September, Alex Goldfarb, … Continued

Human Rights activist and Arab scholar Dr. Elham Manea in her book Women and Sharia Law: The Impact of Legal Pluralism in the UK explored the effects of multiculturalism and legal pluralism in the West, offering a passionate critique of the growing ‘homogenising’ of cultures, and analysing the extent to which Muslim women suffer when liberal societies bow … Continued

Over the past 4 years, the People’s Republic of China has built a number of fortress islands in the South China Sea, across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The move has strategic implications for trading nations, in Europe and Asia. With more than 12% of its trade transiting the sea lane and a … Continued

Moneyland is the secret country of the wealthy and unscrupulous, the place where they put their assets, their children and themselves to escape scrutiny and oversight. Some 10 percent of all the money in the world has been stashed in this liminal offshore place, making it the third richest country in the world, with dramatic … Continued

It is widely recognised that Russia abuses Interpol. Russia uses the International Criminal Police Organization to harass dissidents, political opponents, human rights activists, and businessmen who have fallen foul of Vladimir Putin’s regime. What is less well recognised, however, is how Russia does this – the mechanisms that Russia abuses, and the ways this abuse … Continued

The Afghanistan War has now lasted for 17 years, and estimates suggest has cost the US government upwards of $750 billion in prosecuting it. While the reasons for engagement in the first place post- 9/11 were obvious and necessary, what has been dubbed “The Endless War” seems to show no signs of ending. A succession … Continued

The Middle East remains one of the most tumultuous regions in the world today, with its many ethnic and religious minorities often suffering more than most. Every day millions of people in that region suffer from persecution at the hands of tyrannical regimes and militant groups. While the West often turns a blind eye, atrocities … Continued

The level of cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States has been described as “unparalleled” among major powers. However, as Britain prepares to leave the European Union, many commentators are asking what the future holds for the ‘Special Relationship’ in terms of economic activity and commerce post-Brexit. The Henry Jackson Society is pleased … Continued

The past 18 months have seen an immense amount of economic, diplomatic, and even military activity relating to the Korean Peninsula. The development of a North Korean nuclear weapons system capable of reaching the US mainland – and thus potentially cancelling out the US nuclear umbrella over South Korea – has led to a strong … Continued

As one of al-Qaeda's most respected bomb-makers, Aimen Dean rubbed shoulders with the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden himself. As a double agent at the heart of al-Qaeda's chemical weapons programme, he foiled attacks on civilians and saved countless lives, brushing with death so often that his handlers … Continued

The most dangerous threat we face today is no longer military, but rather the increasingly pervasive exposure of our personal information. Nothing undermines our freedom more than losing control of information about ourselves. In addition to social media and online browsing, shopping and streaming, our smart devices—from iPhones to the car GPS, from Fitbit to … Continued

Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 by explicitly rejecting the foreign policy of recent presidents, Democrat and Republican. Perhaps nowhere was this rejection clearer than with regard to U.S. policy towards the European Union. Whereas past U.S. presidents sought to nurture the EU, Trump has denounced the EU as a "foe" and called for more "Brexits." … Continued

To book for our next event, Exploding Data: Reclaiming Our Cyber Security in the Digital Age, press here.   SPEAKERS: Dr Brian Klaas and Professor Nic Cheeseman, co-authors, How to Rig an Election Contrary to what is commonly believed, authoritarian leaders who agree to hold elections are generally able to remain in power longer than autocrats who … Continued

SPEAKER: Professor Carl Minzner, author, End of an Era China’s reform era is ending. Core factors that characterised its political stability, ideological openness, and rapid economic growth are unravelling. Since the 1990s, Beijing’s leaders have firmly rejected any fundamental reform of their authoritarian one-party political system, even as a decades-long boom has reshaped China’s economy and society. … Continued

SPEAKER: Dr Ian Kearns, author, Collapse: Europe After the European Union Could the European Union collapse in the near future? Following the Brexit vote, and amid the rise of terrorism, a still vulnerable single currency, the growing threat from Russia, a staggering refugee crisis and spiralling Euroscepticism, many have wondered how long the EU can survive. … Continued

SPEAKERS: His Excellency Renato Carlos Sersale di Cerisano - The Argentine Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Dr. Shimon Samuels - Director for International Relations at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre; Anita Weinstein - AMIA Bombing Survivor; Michael Caplan QC - International Criminal Law Consultant; Dr. Ariel Gelblung - Latin-American Representative at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and … Continued

SPEAKERS: Marina Litvinenko, activist and campaigner; Luke Harding, Guardian correspondent; and Giles Udy, historian and author During Vladimir Putin’s time in power a number of his critics and opponents have been murdered – both inside and outside of Russia. The poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018 brought this issue back to the headlines. It recalled … Continued

  SPEAKER: Dr Simon Ross Valentine, author, Peshmerga: 'Those Who Face Death' Before the invasion of northern Iraq by ISIS in 2014 few people in the West knew where Kurdistan was as a region, and even fewer had heard of the Peshmerga as a fighting force. This has now changed. With the appearance of ISIS, the … Continued

SPEAKER: Dr Linda Yueh, economist and author As we anticipate the visit of President Donald Trump to the UK, many are wondering (and worrying) that his brand of America First will see increasing pressure on the UK, particularly in the form of tariffs. As always, the US leader will most likely focus on trade deficit … Continued

SPEAKERS: Dr Michael Green - Author of By More Than Providence and Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair at CSIS; Dr Alessio Patalano - Reader in War Studies, KCL; and Dr John Hemmings - Director, Asia Studies Centre, HJS Such has been the impact of Michael Green’s new book that Defence Secretary General Mattis has … Continued

In the midst of some great changes in the international system, countries have been left with the qaundry of how they wish to respond. As Britain reshapes its global future, it will increasingly turn to other partners and allies. Britain’s shift from the European continent will arguably give it more space to act in the … Continued

SPEAKER: Eliot Higgins, Founder of Bellingcat The destruction of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 shocked the world. Russia quickly unleashed a disinformation campaign on a scale not seen in the post-Cold War years. In response, the West announced a number of multi-national and national investigations into the downing. When Russia’s lies … Continued

SPEAKERS: Humphrey Hawksley, author of Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the Asia-Pacific and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion ; Bill Hayton, Associate Fellow with the Asia Programme of Chatham House and Dr Euan Graham, Director, International Security Programme at the Lowy Institute Few territories are as hotly contested as the western Pacific Ocean. Across the 1.5 million square mile … Continued

SPEAKER: PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER ANDREW, Author of The Secret World: A History of Intelligence Partly because of official secrecy, no 20th century profession was as ignorant of its history as the intelligence community. The celebrated Bletchley Park codebreakers who broke Hitler’s ciphers in WW2 had no idea that their predecessors had broken French ciphers during the Napoleonic … Continued

PROFESSOR NIGEL BIGGAR, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Oxford University, in conversation with Douglas Murray The nation-state is here to stay. Thirty years ago it was fashionable to predict its imminent demise, but the sudden break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s unshackled long-repressed nationalisms and generated a host of new states. … Continued

SPEAKER: EHUD OLMERT, former Prime Minister of Israel It’s been 10 years since the last meaningful peace deal was put forward by Israel to the Palestinians. That peace deal included the creation of a special committee consisting of representatives from five nations to manage the religious sites in Jerusalem. It went on to offer a … Continued

Whatever one’s feelings toward the outcome of the 2016 US elections, there can be no doubting the historic impact and significance of the election itself – the selection of the candidates, the legal challenges, and the thus far unheard of influence of social media. By kind invitation of Nigel Evans MP, the Henry Jackson Society … Continued

As Britain considers its relationship with Europe, European security has never been more precarious, with Russian revanchism on the rise at NATO’s borders. The subversive activities that it carries out inside Europe, and its claims on the Arctic will present the Western Alliance with real challenges. In the meantime, there are shifts inside Europe – … Continued

As the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, geopolitics is returning to the European continent. Germany and France are squabbling to define the future of European integration. Russia continues to menace its European neighbours, and British allies and partners. China is surging in Asia, with growing interests in Europe, the final destination for its Belt … Continued