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.

 

Matthew J. Dagher-Margosian

Matthew J. Dagher-Margosian is a freelance China analyst and Senior Researcher for Liminal Labs. He's worked or collaborated with Trivium China, China Labour Bulletin, The... MORE

J. Michael Dahm

J. Michael Dahm is the Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and a Lecturer in International... MORE

Andi Dahmer

Andi Dahmer, a 2018 Harry S. Truman Scholar, recently graduated from Western Kentucky University. Her primary research focuses on the diplomatic recognition of Taiwan as... MORE

Joseph Dai

Joseph Dai was a technology and corporate risk investigations consultant. He is a frequent contributor to China Brief.

John C. K. Daly

Dr. John C. K. Daly is a Eurasian foreign affairs and defense policy expert for The Jamestown Foundation and a non-resident fellow at the Central... MORE

Sara Daly

Sara Daly is an international policy analyst at RAND. Her research focuses primarily on international terrorism, insurgency, emerging threats, nuclear terrorism, and intelligence issues.

Emil Danielyan

Emil Danielyan is a journalist and political analyst based in Armenia's capital Yerevan. He works for the Yerevan bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)... MORE

Rup Narayan Das

Rup Narayan Das is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi, India.

Rueben Dass

Rueben Dass is a Research Analyst with the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang... MORE

Angeli Datt

Angeli Datt is a senior research analyst for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House.

Jeremy Daum

Jeremy Daum is a Senior Fellow of the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center.

Victor Davidoff

Victor Davidoff is a Soviet dissident and human rights activist. He worked as the editor-in-chief of the Globus news agency (1993-2005) and was the publisher... MORE

Thomas Davidson

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (ret) Thomas S. Davidson II was a Senior Military Intelligence Analyst at the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) of the U.S.... MORE

Anna J. Davidson

Anna J. Davidson is a PhD researcher of Russian and East European Studies at St. Antony's College, University of Oxford, focusing on Russian strategic civil energy... MORE

Michael C. Davis

Michael C. Davis is a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC, an affiliate research scholar at the Weatherhead East Asia... MORE

Elizabeth Van Wie Davis

Elizaabeth Van Wie Davis is a Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) with a focus on Chinese domestic, foreign, and defense policies.... MORE

Elena Davlikanova

Elena Davlikanova is a Democracy Fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). She is an experienced researcher and, in 2022, co-authored ‘The Work of... MORE

Erik Davtyan

Erik Davtyan holds a Bachelor's degree in international relations from Yerevan State University. His areas of interest include the foreign policies of Armenia, Georgia and... MORE

Abigail Dawson

Abigail Dawson is an M.A. candidate at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, M.A. in Asian Studies program. Her research focus is Taiwanese history... MORE

Mauro De Lorenzo

Mauro De Lorenzo is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He conducted research in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and DR Congo for a number... MORE

Willem de Vogel

Willem de Vogel was born in The Netherlands and was schooled there and in Wales. He graduated with a Licence es Sciences Politiques from the... MORE

Thomas de Zoete

Thomas de Zoete is a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam’s Ad de Jonge Centre for Intelligence & Security Studies.

Andrew Dean

Andrew P. Dean recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University's Krieger School of Arts and Sciences with an M.A. in International Security Studies. He has expertise... MORE

Suyash Desai

Suyash Desai is an Associate Fellow, China Studies Programme, The Takshashila Institution, India. He studies China’s defence and foreign policies and also writes a weekly... MORE

Jamie Dettmer

Jamie Dettmer is an expert on North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe. He writes for Newsweek/Daily Beast, Voice of America and Maclean's. He... MORE

Andrew Devereux

Andrew Devereux is an Associate Analyst in Counter-Terrorism at Healix International and HX Global, focusing on terrorist incidents, actors and the wider MENA region. He... MORE

Chuck DeVore

Chuck DeVore is the co-author of "China Attacks" and was vice president of Research for SM&A Inc. in Newport Beach, California.

Fatoumata Diallo

Ms. Fatoumata Diallo is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) in Stockholm, Sweden. She holds degrees in International Conflict... MORE

Gulshan Dietl

Dr. Gulshan Dietl was formerly a Professor with the Center for West Asian and African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Arthur Ding

Dr. Arthur S. Ding is a Professor Emeritus at National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taipei, Taiwan. He now teaches part time at both the NCCU and... MORE

Emile Dirks

Emile Dirks is an independent researcher based in Toronto, Canada whose work focuses on extrajudicial detention and government surveillance in the People's Republic of China.

Halla Diyab

Halla Diyab is an award winning screen-writer, producer, broadcaster and published author. She holds a Ph.D. in English and American Studies from the University of... MORE

Donald N. Jensen

Donald Jensen is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and Senior Fellow with the... MORE

Han Dongfang

Han Dongfang is the founder and director of China Labour Bulletin, a non-governmental organization based in Hong Kong that seeks to promote workers rights in... MORE

Genevieve Donnellon-May

Genevieve Donnellon-May is a geopolitical and global strategy advisor interested in regional resource conflict and environmental governance in Asia. Currently, she is the Asia-Pacific analyst at... MORE

Marie Donovan

Marie Donovan is the Chief of Iran Analysis at Exovera’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis (CIRA). Her research focuses on the Iranian government and... MORE

James Doran

Jim Doran was a senior professional staff member for Asian and Pacific Affairs on the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate.

Tenzin Dorjee

Tenzin Dorjee is Senior Researcher and Strategist at Tibet Action Institute, the Stephanie G. Neuman Fellow in Comparative Defense Studies at the Saltzman Institute of... MORE

Munkh-Ochir Dorjjugder

Munkh-Ochir Dorjjugder is an associate senior researcher at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Mongolia’s National Security Council.

John Dotson

John Dotson is the deputy director of the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, DC. Previously, he was the editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief.... MORE

Aslan Doukaev

Dr. Aslan Doukaev is an expert on the North Caucasus.

Erica Downs

Erica Downs in a fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution.

Jerome Doyon

Jerome Doyon is a PhD candidate in political science at SciencesPo/CERI (Paris) and Columbia University (New York). His research focuses on Chinese Communist Party cadres’... MORE

Darcie Draudt

Darcie Draudt is a Ph.D. student in political science at Johns Hopkins University and non-resident James A. Kelly fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. She previously... MORE

June Teufel Dreyer

June Teufel Dreyer is a professor of political science at the University of Miami and a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. She... MORE

Jessica Drun

Jessica Drun is a recent graduate of the Master’s in Asian Studies program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and has previously spent time... MORE

Xiaolin Duan

Xiaolin Duan received his Ph.D in Public Policy from National University of Singapore, and now works as Assistant Professor in International Relations at King Fahd... MORE

Mathieu Duchâtel

Dr. Mathieu Duchâtel joined the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) China and Global Security Project in July 2011 as a Senior Researcher and Head... MORE

Berikbol Dukeyev

Berikbol Dukeyev, a native of Kazakhstan, completed his Ph.D. in politics and international relations from the Australian National University (ANU) in 2022. His research interest... MORE

Haian Dukhan

Haian Dukhan is a Carnegie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Central European University's Centre for Religious Studies. He is the author of “State and Tribes... MORE

Devi Dumbadze

Devi Dumbadze studied philosophy, sociology, and media in Tbilisi and Bochum. He has published articles on social philosophy, political economy, media theory, and aesthetics. His... MORE

John B. Dunlop

John B. Dunlop is a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He is an expert on Russia's two wars in Chechnya, nationalism in the... MORE

Mei Duzhe

Mei Duzhe is a PRC Chinese scientist now teaching at a leading Western university.

Nicholas Dynon

Nicholas Dynon is an academic and former diplomat specializing in Chinese media and soft power. A doctoral candidate at Macquarie University, Sydney, his research has... MORE

Valery Dzutsati

Valery Dzutsati received his doctoral degree in political science at Arizona State University in 2017. Valery is a native of North Ossetia. He holds a... MORE