About Us

Mission

The Jamestown Foundation’s mission is to inform policymakers and the broader community about events and trends in societies that are critical to the United States and its partners. Jamestown provides objective analysis and context, drawing upon indigenous and primary sources.

Programs

The Jamestown Foundation’s main publications are China Brief, Eurasia Daily Monitor and Terrorism Monitor. Click on the map below to explore them.

About Us

 

Origins

Founded in 1984 by William Geimer, The Jamestown Foundation made a direct contribution to the downfall of Communism through its dissemination of information about the closed totalitarian societies of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

William Geimer worked with Arkady Shevchenko, the highest-ranking Soviet official ever to defect when he left his position as undersecretary general of the United Nations. Shevchenko’s memoir “Breaking With Moscow” revealed the details of Soviet superpower diplomacy, arms control strategy and tactics in the Third World, at the height of the Cold War. Through its work with Shevchenko, Jamestown rapidly became the leading source of information about the inner workings of the captive nations of the former Communist Bloc. In addition to Shevchenko, Jamestown assisted the former top Romanian intelligence officer Ion Pacepa in writing his memoirs. Jamestown ensured that both men published their insights and experience in what became bestselling books. Even today, several decades later, some credit Pacepa’s revelations about Ceausescu’s regime in his bestselling book Red Horizons with the fall of that government and the freeing of Romania.

The Jamestown Foundation has emerged as a leading provider of information about Eurasia. Our research and analysis on conflict and instability in Eurasia enabled Jamestown to become one of the most reliable sources of information on the post-Soviet space, the Caucasus and Central Asia as well as China. Furthermore, since 9/11, Jamestown has utilized its network of indigenous experts in more than 50 different countries to conduct research and analysis on terrorism and the growth of al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda offshoots throughout the globe.

By drawing on our ever-growing global network of experts, Jamestown has become a vital source of unfiltered, open-source information about major conflict zones around the world—from the Black Sea to Siberia, from the Persian Gulf to Latin America and the Pacific. Our core of intellectual talent includes former high-ranking government officials and military officers, political scientists, journalists, scholars and economists. Their insight contributes significantly to policymakers engaged in addressing today’s newly emerging global threats in the post 9/11 world.

 

Nikolai Getman: The Gulag Collection

In 1946, an artist named Nikolai Getman was imprisoned in the Soviet Union’s GULAG, a system of forced labor camps across Siberia and the interior of the USSR. Upon his release in 1954, Getman commenced a public career as a politically correct painter. Secretly, however, for more than four decades, Getman labored at creating a visual record of the GULAG, which vividly depicts all aspects of the horrendous life (and death) so many innocent millions experienced during that infamous era. Getman’s collection is unique because it is the only visual record known to exist of this tragic phenomenon. In early 1997, The Jamestown Foundation learned of The Gulag Collection and that Getman was desperate to get the painting transported to the West; he feared that upon his death they would be destroyed. With the financial support of Jim Kimsey, The Jamestown Foundation brought the paintings to the United States, where in 1997 they were put on display in the U.S. Congress. The Collection remained with Jamestown until 2009, when it was permanently transferred to the Heritage Foundation, where it resides today (heritage.org).

 

Donor Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

Effective Date: January 2023

At The Jamestown Foundation, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our donors’ personal information. This Donor Privacy and Confidentiality Policy outlines our commitment to protecting donor data and privacy and describes how we collect, use, store, and share donor information. By interacting with our organization and providing your personal information, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

  1. Information Collection: We collect personal information from donors when they engage in activities such as making donations, signing up for our publications, newsletters, or participating in events. The information we collect may include:
    • Name, address, email address, and phone number
    • Donation history and contribution details
    • Payment information (credit card details, bank account numbers, etc.)
    • Communication preferences
  1. Use of Information: We use the collected donor information for the following purposes:
    • Processing donations and providing donation acknowledgements
    • Communicating with donors about our activities, events, and campaigns
    • Sending newsletters and other relevant updates
    • Conducting donor surveys and feedback requests
    • Internal record-keeping and analysis
  1. Data Security: We take reasonable measures to protect donor data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. We use industry-standard security practices to safeguard the information we collect, including encryption, secure networks, and access controls. However, please note that no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.
  2. Third-Party Disclosure: We do not sell, trade, or rent donor information to third parties. However, we may share certain data with trusted service providers who assist us in carrying out our activities, such as payment processors or email service providers. These service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the data and can only use it for the purposes specified by us.
  3. Donor Rights: Donors have the right to:
    • Access their personal information held by us
    • Request corrections or updates to their information
    • Opt-out of receiving future communications
    • Request the deletion of their personal information, subject to legal obligations

To exercise these rights or for any questions regarding this policy, donors can contact us using the provided contact information.

8. Data Retention: We retain donor data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. When donor information is no longer needed, we securely dispose of or anonymize it to prevent unauthorized access.

9. Policy Updates: We may update this Donor Privacy and Confidentiality Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We encourage donors to review this policy periodically for any updates. The revised policy will be effective immediately upon posting on our website.

 

Jemima Baar

Jemima Baar is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Affairs, with a concentration in International Security Policy and regional specializations in China and Russia, at... MORE

Bahruz Babayev

Bahruz Babayev is a PhD candidate and researcher at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC). His main research focuses on trans-regional transportation routes as well as... MORE

Renny Babiarz

Renny Babiarz received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University where he wrote his thesis on of China’s nuclear weapons program. He previously served as a... MORE

Pavel K. Baev

Dr. Pavel K. Baev is a senior researcher at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO).

Gregorio Baggiani

Gregorio Baggiani specializes in historical-political research and analysis of the Soviet Union, the post-Soviet states and, in particular, Ukraine. He is based in Rome, Italy.

Orkhan Baghirov

Orkhan Baghirov is a Senior Research fellow at the Baku-based non-governmental independent research organization Center for Studies of the South Caucasus (CSSC), where he is... MORE

Eva Baguma

Eva Baguma is an Atlas Corps Fellow from Uganda, who is currently a Development and Operations Associate at Ashoka. She previously served as the Program... MORE

Gegentuul Baioud

Dr. Gegentuul Baioud is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Hugo Valentin Centre of History Department at Uppsala University. She received her PhD from Macquarie... MORE

Zhulduz Baizakova

Zhulduz Baizakova is a graduate of the Faculty of International Relations, Kazakh National University and holds an MSc in International Security and Global Governance from... MORE

Chietigj Bajpaee

Chietigj Bajpaee is a Ph.D. Candidate at King’s College – London and he previously was a senior Asia analyst at Control Risks, a London-based risk... MORE

Chietigj Bajpaee

Chietigj Bajpaee is a South Asia analyst at Control Risks, a London-based risk consultancy. He has previously worked at IHS Global Insight, the Center for... MORE

Uday Bakhshi

Uday Bakhshi is a researcher focused on geopolitics and conflict in South and Southeast Asia. He is an operational risk analyst, and a contributor to... MORE

Abdul Hameed Bakier

Abdul Hameed Bakier is an expert on internet media monitoring and analysis. He is based in Jordan.

Edwin Bakker

Edwin Bakker is on the editorial board of Helsinki Monitor and Vrede & Veiligheid, and secretary general of the executive committee of the Netherlands Helsinki... MORE

Kiyya Baloch

Kiyya Baloch, a freelance journalist, reports on the insurgency, politics, and Baloch militancy in Balochistan. He tweets at @KiyyaBaloch.

Harley Balzer

Harley Balzer retired in June 2016 from his full-time positions in the Department of Government, School of Foreign Service and Department of History at Georgetown... MORE

David Bandurski

David Bandurski is the editor of the China Media Project website and a frequent commentator on Chinese media. He is an award-winning journalist whose writings... MORE

Bassam Barabandi

Mr. Barabandi is Director of External Relations and Co-Founder of People Demand Change. Born in Damascus City with familial ties to Deir Azzour Province, Syria,... MORE

Anton Barbashin

Anton Barbashin is a political analyst, managing editor and member of the editorial board at Intersection Project. He is also an analyst at the Center... MORE

Jack Barclay

Jack Barclay is an independent consultant on the use of strategic communication to counter violent extremism. He is based in the United Kingdom, where he... MORE

Manhal Bareesh

Manhal Bareesh is a Syrian journalist and researcher within the framework of the Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria project, part of the Middle East Directions... MORE

Ridvan Bari Urcosta

Ridvan Bari Urcosta is a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at Warsaw University, where he specializes in Russian Foreign Policy and particularly... MORE

Alex Barker

Alex Barker is a Research Intern at the Center for Chinese Military Studies at National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies and holds an... MORE

Yuri Barmin

Yuri Barmin is an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, covering the Middle East and North Africa, Moscow's policy towards the region, as well... MORE

Clark Edward Barrett

Clark Edward Barrett researches Chinese economic and technology policy and competitiveness issues. Dr. Barrett holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge,... MORE

Charles K. Bartles

Lieutenant Colonel Charles K. Bartles is an Army Reservist assigned to United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). He has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, and has... MORE

Iftekharul Bashar

Iftekharul Bashar is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological... MORE

Abdul Basit

Abdul Basit is a research fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. His research focuses on jihadist militancy... MORE

Migeddorj Batchimeg

Migeddorj Batchimeg is a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Studies of Mongolia. She now serves as the National Security Advisor to the President... MORE

Sharon Bean

Sharon Bean has 25 years of experience building institutional capacity in a variety of settings, including civil-military, post conflict, stabilization, governance, and anti-corruption projects. Recently,... MORE

Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga

Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga is a Senior Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and a former editor of China Brief.

Joseph Bebel

Joseph Bebel is the Editor of Eurasia Daily Monitor at The Jamestown Foundation. Mr. Bebel earned a BA in European Studies from Brigham Young University... MORE

Jeffrey Becker

Dr. Jeffrey Becker is an analyst in the CNA China Studies Division. Dr. Becker’s published books and monographs include From Peasants to Protesters: Social Ties,... MORE

Burak Bekdil

Burak Bekdil is an Ankara-based freelance journalist. He writes a column for the Turkish Daily News and covers defense and security for the U.S. weekly... MORE

Nurbek Bekmurzaev

Nurbek Bekmurzaev is an independent researcher and freelance journalist based in Bishkek. He has a graduate degree in International and European Security from the University... MORE

Vyacheslav Belokrenitsky

Dr. Belokrenitsky is chair of the Near and Middle East Department, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, and Professor, Institute of International... MORE

Alex Benetos

Alex Benetos is a contributor to The China Guys newsletter.

Ryan Berg

Ryan C. Berg is a research fellow in Latin America Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

Ilan Berman

Ilan Berman is Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia,... MORE

Benedetta Berti

Benedetta Berti is the Earhart Doctoral fellow at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, where she is specializing in international security studies and Middle Eastern studies.... MORE

Alec Bertina

Alec Bertina is a non-traditional security actors researcher with a focus on Russian PMCs and paramilitary groups. He is an all source analyst for Grey Dynamics... MORE

Aliy Berzegov

Aliy Berzegov is a freelance writer based in New York.

Baktybek Beshimov

Baktybek Beshimov is a former Member of Parliament and Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to India, Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Studies, MIT.

Nidal Betare

Prior to co-founding and working as the Managing Director of DC-based People Demand Change, Nidal Betare has held numerous positions working with civil society and... MORE

Aman Bezreh

Aman Bezreh is an intelligence analyst based in London. She is particularly focused on covering and analyzing jihadi groups activities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aman has... MORE

Sanchita Bhattacharya

Dr. Sanchita Bhattacharya is a Research Fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management. She works on terrorism and socio-political issues of Pakistan. She... MORE

Jack Bianchi

Jack Bianchi is a Senior Analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and focuses on security strategy and defense issues in the Asia-Pacific... MORE

Mykola Bielieskov

Mykola Bielieskov is a senior analyst in the analytical department of the Ukrainian charitable foundation, Come Back Alive. His research and writing focus primarily on... MORE

Savannah Billman

Savannah Billman is a graduate of the Yenching Academy of Peking University. She is a Content Manager at China Admissions. She has written for The World... MORE

Ed Bithell

Ed Bithell is a former UK civil servant and diplomat, now writing on trade and industrial policy in Brussels. His most recent role before leaving... MORE

Richard A. Bitzinger

Richard A. Bitzinger is Senior Fellow with the Military Transformations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. Formerly with... MORE

Andrew Black

Andrew Black is an analyst specializing in terrorism and political violence in Africa.

Madeleine Blackman

Madeleine Blackman is a recent graduate of Georgetown University, and an intern at Valens Global.

Sergei Blagov

Prior to working as Moscow-based independent researcher and journalist, Dr. Sergei Blagov was a newswire reporter. He spent nearly seven years reporting from Hanoi, Vietnam,... MORE

Stephen Blank

Dr. Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Previously, he worked as a professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of... MORE

Dennis J. Blasko

Dennis J. Blasko, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), is a former U.S. army attaché to Beijing and Hong Kong and author of The Chinese Army... MORE

Ludo Block

Ludo Block is a former Dutch senior police officer and served as the Dutch police liaison officer for Russia and surrounding countries between 1999 and... MORE

Dan Blumenthal

Dan Blumenthal is a resident fellow in Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute and vice chairman of the U.S.-China Security and Economic Review Commission.... MORE

Vladimir Bobrovnikov

Vladimir Bobrovnikov is a senior research fellow at the Institute for Oriental Studies (Moscow) and teaches anthropology and Arabic in the Russian State University of... MORE

Alessandra Bocchi

Alessandra Bocchi is a freelance journalist based in Italy, focusing on conflict and politics in Libya and Tunisia.

Siarhei Bohdan

Dr. Siarhei Bohdan is an associate analyst at the Ostrogorski Centre. He defended his doctoral thesis in Political Science at the Freie Universität Berlin in... MORE

Dmitry Bolkunets

Dmitry Bolkunets is engaged in analytical and political activities as a co-organizer of the Belarus Democratic Forum. He has extensive experience in PR and event... MORE

Boris Bondarev

Boris Bondarev is a former Russian diplomat who recently resigned from his position in opposition to Russia's war against Ukraine. Mr. Bondarev was born in Moscow... MORE

Jeb Boone

Jeb Boone is a freelance writer and journalist and former managing editor of the Yemen Times.

Federico Bordonaro

Federico Bordonaro is a senior analyst with the Power and Interest News Report, an analytical organization that utilizes open source intelligence to provide conflict analysis... MORE

Jakub Bornio

Dr. Jakub Bornio is an assistant professor at the University of Wrocław and a senior analyst for the Institute of Central Europe in Lublin, Poland.... MORE

Anna Borshchevskaya

Anna Borshchevskaya is the Ira Weiner Fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East.  In addition, she is a fellow... MORE

Nicholas Borst

Nicholas Borst is a research associate and the China program manager at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. His research areas include China's financial system,... MORE

Anneli Botha

Anneli Botha is a senior researcher on terrorism at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Cape Town.

Uran Botobekov

Dr. Uran Botobekov is an expert on Political Islam and is a regular contributor to Modern Diplomacy and The Diplomat. He received his PhD in... MORE

Pieter Bottelier

Pieter Bottelier is a senior adjunct professor at The Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Prior to this, he served at the... MORE

Christopher Boucek

Christopher Boucek is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Princeton University and a Lecturer at the Woodrow Wilson School.

Juliana Bouchaud

Juliana Bouchaud is a Research Analyst with Rhodium Group's China Corporate Advisory practice, contributing to Rhodium’s research on Chinese economic, technology, and foreign policy developments,... MORE

Anouar Boukhars

Anouar Boukhars is a specialist on politics of the Muslim world. Dr. Boukhars is an assistant professor and director of the Center for Defense and... MORE

Alexandra Bradford

Alexandra Bradford has an MA in Terrorism, Security and Society from Kings College London. Her main area of study focuses on homegrown Islamist extremism and... MORE

David Bradley

David H. Bradley is a foreign area officer in the United States Army and candidate for a Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) in China... MORE

Anne-Marie Brady

Anne-Marie Brady is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. She is the Editor of The Polar Journal and,... MORE

Anne-Marie Brady

Anne-Marie Brady is a Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand, and a Global Fellow at... MORE

James Brandon

James Brandon is a political and security risk analyst. He was Director of Research at the Quilliam Foundation, a UK-based think-tank, from 2008-2011, and was... MORE

Birgit Brauer

Birgit Brauer, Ph.D., is an Almaty-based analyst and journalist who writes for the The Economist and other publications on Central Asian affairs.

Ojars J. Braze

Ojars J. Braze is an independent economic researcher based in Riga, Latvia. He studied economics and business management at Latvian University. After this, he researched... MORE

Matthew Brazil

Matt Brazil is a Senior Analyst at BluePath Labs and a Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation. He pursued Chinese studies as an undergraduate at UC... MORE

Joseph Brennan

Joseph Brennan is a Program Associate at The Jamestown Foundation.

Marc Brody

Marc Brody is an independent journalist who specializes in the Caucasus.

Jack Broome

Jack Broome is a security analyst focusing on Southeast Asian and East Asian regional politics, with a specialisation in ethno-religious violence, intra-state conflict, anti-state activity... MORE

Colin Brose

Colin focused his studies on Russia and Eurasia, gaining a Master of International Service from the School of International Service, American University and an MA... MORE

Kerry Brown

Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London. Prior to this he was the Professor... MORE

Michael Brown

Michael C. Brown is a third year law student at Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and Deputy Executive Director of ICCSL.

Alexis Brown

Alexis Brown is a freelance writer based in mainland China. They have provided analysis for a range of global consultancies and research organizations on China's... MORE

Matthew Bruzzese

Matthew Bruzzese is a senior Chinese language analyst for BluePath Labs.

Matthew Bryza

Matthew Bryza just completed a 23-year career as a U.S. diplomat, over half of which was spent at the center of policy-making and international negotiations... MORE

Sara Brzuszkiewicz

Sara Brzuszkiewicz is Managing Editor of European Eye on Radicalization, PhD student at the University of Sacred Heart (Milan), and researcher at al-Mesbar Studies &... MORE

Girard Bucello

Girard Bucello is a Fall 2019 Europe-Eurasia Intern with The Jamestown Foundation. He holds a Master's degree in EU Politics with a specialization in the... MORE

Janusz Bugajski

Janusz Bugajski is a Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation in Washington, DC. He hosted several long-running television shows broadcast in the Balkans; has authored... MORE

Maksym Bugriy

Maksym Bugriy is a political risk and investment consultant based in Ukraine.

Syed Adnan Ali Shah Bukhari

Syed Adnan Ali Shah Bukhari is Associate Research Fellow and Team Leader of South and Central Asia Desk at the International Centre for Political Violence... MORE

Anno Bunnik

Anno Bunnik is a Ph.D. Fellow at Liverpool Hope University, the Centre for Applied Research in Security Innovation.

Oana Burcu

Dr. Oana Burcu is an Assistant Professor in Contemporary Chinese Studies and Fellow of the Asia Research Institute in the School of Politics and International... MORE

Tobias J. Burgers

Tobias J. Burgers is a Doctoral Researcher at the Otto Suhr Institute, Free University Berlin, from which he holds a Master’s in Political Science. His... MORE

Taylor Butch

Taylor Butch is a contributing analyst to the Asia Pacific Desk at Wikistrat, a foreign affairs analyst with the consulting firm Duco, and a freelance... MORE

Kiran Butt

Kiran Butt is a Pakistan-based journalist who covers security and politics in the region. She is also the digital editor at The Khorasan Diary. She... MORE