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.

 

Anar Valiyev

Anar Valiyev holds Ph.D. in Urban and Public Affairs from University of Louisville in Kentucky. His areas of interest include urban terrorism, public policy of... MORE

Riccardo Valle

Riccardo Valle holds a Master's degree in diplomacy and international relations from University of Trieste, Italy, and he is now an independent researcher focused on... MORE

Michelle Van Cleave

Michelle Van Cleave, a member of Jamestown’s Board of Directors, served as the National Counterintelligence Executive under President George W. Bush. As the head of... MORE

Johan van de Ven

Johan van de Ven is a Senior Analyst at RWR Advisory Group, a Washington, D.C.-based consultancy that advises government and private-sector clients on geopolitical risks... MORE

Daan Van Der Schriek

Daan van der Schriek is a freelance journalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan. He has covered Central Asia and the Caucasus for several years. He holds... MORE

Willem Van Kemenade

Willem van Kemenade is a visiting senior fellow with The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, specializing in China’s global strategic relations.

John S. Van Oudenaren

John S. Van Oudenaren is a former Editor-in-Chief of China Brief and China Program Manager at The Jamestown Foundation. Prior to joining Jamestown, Mr. Van... MORE

Cobus van Staden

Cobus van Staden is a senior researcher with the South African Institute for International Affairs, and the co-host of the weekly China in Africa Podcast... MORE

Guy Van Vlierden

Guy Van Vlierden is a journalist for the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. He specializes in issues relating to terrorist and extremism and also covers... MORE

Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Wladimir van Wilgenburg is a political analyst specializing in issues concerning Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey with a particular focus on Kurdish politics. In 2011... MORE

Oleg Varfolomeyev

Oleg Varfolomeyev is a journalist based in Kyiv, Ukraine. He covers economic and political developments in Ukraine for analytical network EmergingMarketWatch and is a stringer... MORE

Abigaël Vasselier

Abigaël Vasselier is the Asia and China program coordinator at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She graduated in a Master’s degree in Asian Politics... MORE

Alexei Vassiliev

Dr. Alexei Vassiliev is Director of the Institute of African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Alex Vatanka

Alex Vatanka is a scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C., where he focuses on Iran. He also lectures as a Senior Fellow... MORE

Alex Vatanka

Alex Vatanka specializes in Middle Eastern affairs with a particular focus on Iranian regional and foreign policy. From 2006 to 2010, he was the managing... MORE

Mairbek Vatchagaev

Dr. Mairbek Vatchagaev is a noted Chechen historian and political analyst on the North Caucasus and a former senior ranking official in the Chechen government... MORE

William van der Veen

William van der Veen is a strategic communications professional with experience across a range of industries. He has previously worked with United Nations Women and... MORE

Cavid Veliyev

Cavid Veliyev is a senior research fellow in the Foreign Policy Analysis Department at the Baku-based Center for Strategic Studies (SAM) under the President of... MORE

Dan Verton

Dan Verton is the Founder of Homeland Security Television, an award-winning journalist, and author of five books, including The Insider: A True Story and Black... MORE

Lorenzo Vidino

Lorenzo Vidino is an analyst at the Investigative Project on Terrorism and the Jebsen Center at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He... MORE

Laurent Vinatier

Laurent Vinatier is an expert on the Chechen conflict, Russia and Central Asia. A Ph.D. candidate at Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, he is author... MORE

Hajnalka Vincze

Hajnalka Vincze is a foreign and defense policy analyst in NATO/European issues. A former research fellow at the Hungarian Defense Ministry’s Strategic Research Institute, she... MORE

George Vișan

George Vișan is an associate researcher at the Romania Energy Center (ROEC).

Reidar Visser

Reidar Visser is a research fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and editor of the Iraq website https://www.historiae.org. His books include "Basra, The... MORE

Evgeny Vodichev

Evgeny Vodichev is a science policy analyst, historian of science, and human geographer. He holds a doctorate in history from the Russian Academy of Sciences.... MORE

Denis Volkov

Denis Volkov is a sociologist and analyst at the Levada Center, an independent polling organization and think tank based in Moscow. He has authored several... MORE

David Volodzko

David Volodzko is an editor at the technology and information company Brightwire. He is the former national editor for the Korea JoongAng Daily (the New... MORE

George Voloshin

George Voloshin is an international affairs expert widely published on issues related to Eurasian politics, with a special focus on Central Asia. More information about... MORE

Enzio Von Pfeil

Mr. von Pfeil is chairman and CEO of Commercial Economics in Hong Kong.

Wilson VornDick

Wilson VornDick consults on national security, emerging technologies, and China for Duco and Rane. He received a B.A. from George Washington University and studied at... MORE

Mykola Vorobiov

Mykola Vorobiov is a Ukrainian political, investigative and military correspondent. Since the Russian annexation of Crimea and further incursion into eastern Ukraine, Mykola spent over... MORE

Maryna Vorotnyuk

Maryna Vorotnyuk PhD, is an expert working on security developments in the Black Sea region, Ukrainian and Turkish foreign policies, and the Southern Caucasus. She... MORE