Henry Jackson Society

The Henry Jackson Society is a United Kingdom-based foreign-policy and national-security think tank with a transatlantic outlook. Founded in Cambridge on 11 March 2005 by academics and students including Brendan Simms, Alan Mendoza, Gideon Mailer, James Rogers, and Matthew Jamison, it was named after Henry M. Jackson, the Democratic senator from Washington who combined support for progressive domestic programmes with a strongly anti-communist and interventionist foreign policy. Jackson’s reputation among both Democrats and Republicans gave the organisation a symbolic basis for presenting its outlook as cross-party and democratic rather than tied to one conventional political faction. The Society describes itself as non-partisan and has historically promoted what it calls a forward strategy: the use of diplomatic, economic, cultural, political, and, where necessary, military instruments to support liberal democracy and protect human rights. Its principles have included support for strong expeditionary military capabilities among democratic states, closer strategic cooperation among the United States, the United Kingdom, European democracies, NATO, and other democratic institutions, and a more active British role in international affairs. The organisation’s early outlook was critical of approaches that treated military force as an option only of last resort and sceptical of international bodies in which democratic and non-democratic states have equal standing. The organisation initially operated from Cambridge before moving to London. It has organised parliamentary meetings and public events, including sessions with speakers in the House of Commons, and has produced policy reports, briefings, research papers, and commentary. Its work has covered British grand strategy, defence, NATO, Russia and the former Soviet states, China and Asia, Iran and the wider Middle East, Islamist terrorism, far-right extremism, online radicalisation, civil liberties, social cohesion, and threats to liberal democratic governance. Its research centres and programmes have included the Asia Studies Centre, the Global Britain Programme, the Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre, the Centre for the New Middle East, the Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism, Student Rights, the Centre for Social and Political Risk, and the Henry Jackson Initiative for Inclusive Capitalism. The Society has been influential in debates about Britain’s international role, intervention, defence spending, China, Russia, counter-extremism, and the future of the UK’s development and foreign-policy institutions. A report published by the Society in 2019 proposed merging the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Prime Minister Boris Johnson later wrote the foreword to that report, and the merger was announced in 2020. The organisation has also attracted sustained criticism. Commentators and some former members have characterised it as right-wing, neoliberal, neoconservative, hawkish, or interventionist despite its non-partisan self-description. Its work on Islamism, Muslim communities, university speech, and extremism has been criticised by Muslim organisations, academics, journalists, and former participants who have alleged that some of its language and research unfairly generalised about Muslims or associated ordinary Muslim organisations with extremism. The Society has rejected or disputed such characterisations and has continued to present its work as research into threats to democratic societies. In 2020, it paid damages to Huda Television Ltd after mistakenly associating the British Muslim educational broadcaster with a similarly named Egyptian television channel. The Society remains active as a London-based think tank, with particular emphasis on democratic resilience and strategic competition involving China and Russia.

The Henry Jackson Society was founded at the University of Cambridge on 11 March 2005 by a group of academics and students including Brendan Simms, Alan Mendoza, Gideon Mailer, James Rogers, and Matthew Jamison. Its name honours Henry M. Jackson, a Democratic US senator associated with support for liberal democratic values at home and an uncompromising anti-communist position abroad. Jackson’s cross-party reputation was important to the Society’s original self-presentation as a coalition of centre-left, centre-right, and independent figures committed to democratic geopolitics. The Society’s founding principles called for a more active British role in world affairs. It argued that liberal democracies should help countries move towards democratic government and that this effort could involve diplomatic, economic, cultural, political, and, in the original formulation, military tools. It also supported capable militaries with global reach, European defence cooperation preferably within NATO, and stronger unity among democratic states. The organisation was sceptical of international arrangements that gave non-democratic governments equal influence over questions of political legitimacy and human rights. In its early period, the Society addressed subjects including the Balkans, Israel, Iran, intervention, and transatlantic security. In 2006 it sought to increase public attention to the Ahwazi Arabs of Iran, whom it described as suffering repression. The organisation later moved from Cambridge to London and developed a regular programme of parliamentary meetings, public events, and policy publications. In 2009, it created Student Rights to monitor alleged political extremism and marginalisation at British universities. The project became one of the Society’s most controversial activities. Critics argued that it treated Muslim student organisations and events as inherently suspect, relied on incomplete or misleading interpretations, and at times appeared sympathetic to far-right positions. The National Union of Students criticised the project in 2014, while other commentators and former participants accused the Society of contributing to an anti-Muslim political environment. A major organisational change occurred in 2011, when the Society merged with the Centre for Social Cohesion. Douglas Murray joined the organisation in the same year. The merger broadened the Society’s work on integration, Islamism, and extremism but also produced internal and external disputes. Former member Marko Attila Hoare opposed the merger and later left, citing concerns about Murray’s positions on Islam and immigration. Critics subsequently argued that the merger brought new supporters and donors associated with the Centre for Social Cohesion into the Society’s funding and public profile. The Society continued to advocate an assertive approach to international crises. In 2013 its president told a UK parliamentary inquiry that intervention could be considered at an early stage rather than only after every other option had been exhausted. The group also became associated with debates about UK foreign policy, NATO, military capability, and the relationship between Britain, Europe, and the United States. In 2014, the Society was connected through membership to Raheem Kassam, who became managing editor of Breitbart’s UK operation. In 2015, a Society event featuring Bobby Jindal drew attention after he made disputed claims about supposed Muslim no-go zones in Britain. The organisation’s research portfolio expanded during the 2010s. Its Asia Studies Centre examined China, North Korea, Asian security, and vulnerabilities in Western critical infrastructure. The Global Britain Programme argued for an open and expansive British geostrategy after the UK’s changing relationship with the European Union. The Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre studied Russian domestic and foreign policy, including the concept of contemporary Russian conflict. The Centre for the New Middle East, established after the Arab Spring, focused on political, ideological, military, and security developments in the region, with several publications sharply critical of Iran. The Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism investigated Islamist terrorism, extremist offending, the charitable sector, sentencing, and criminal use of the darknet. In 2012 the Henry Jackson Initiative for Inclusive Capitalism opened a transatlantic discussion about inequality and the durability of capitalism. In 2018 the Centre for Social and Political Risk was announced to study threats to governance and social cohesion in liberal Western democracies. The Society’s research also influenced policy discussions. Its 2017 study by Hannah Stuart examined individuals convicted under UK terrorism law between 1998 and 2015 who had an Islamist connection. A later strand of work compared prison sentences for Islamist and far-right offenders. In 2019 the Society published a report proposing the merger of the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Boris Johnson wrote the foreword, and in June 2020 his government announced that the merger would proceed. The Society’s activities have prompted sustained ideological debate. Supporters regard it as a source of research and advocacy for democracy, human rights, national security, and Western strategic cooperation. Critics have described it as right-wing, neoliberal, neoconservative, hawkish, or interventionist, and have alleged that some of its work on Muslims and Islam reflects an anti-Muslim agenda. In 2020 the organisation paid damages to Huda Television Ltd after an identification error connected the company to allegations concerning a different broadcaster. The Society has also worked with technology companies and other institutions on countering terrorist and extremist use of digital platforms. It remains a London-based think tank, currently concentrating particularly on democratic resilience and international challenges associated with China and Russia.

• 2020

  UK government announces departmental merger

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Johnson government announced the merger of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, an idea previously advanced in a Society report.

• 2019

  Development-office merger proposal published

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A Society report proposed combining the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

• 2018

  Centre for Social and Political Risk announced

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society announced a centre focused on threats to governance, social cohesion, integration, and free expression.

• 2017

  UK Islamist terrorism study published

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Hannah Stuart published a study covering terrorism convictions and attacks involving an Islamist connection between 1998 and 2015.

• 2012

  Inclusive capitalism initiative launched

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Henry Jackson Initiative for Inclusive Capitalism began work on inequality and the political sustainability of capitalism.

• 2011

  Merger with Centre for Social Cohesion

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society merged with the Centre for Social Cohesion and broadened its research on integration and extremism.

• 2009

  Student Rights created

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A project was launched to track political extremism and alleged marginalisation on British university campuses.

• 2006

  Ahwazi Arab advocacy

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society worked to increase attention to the position of Ahwazi Arabs in Iran.

• 2005

  Society founded in Cambridge

  [1]Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Henry Jackson Society was established on 11 March by academics and students seeking a more active British role in promoting liberal democracy and international security.

A non-partisan, interventionist and transatlantic foreign-policy think tank advocating liberal democratic values, strategic cooperation among democracies, and a more assertive British international role. External descriptions have variously placed it on the right, in the neoliberal camp, or within the neoconservative tradition.

• Research centre

  Asia Studies Centre

  The Asia Studies Centre examines strategic and political change across Asia, including China, North Korea, regional tensions, and the security implications of economic growth. Its work has addressed possible outcomes of negotiations involving North Korea and the protection of Western critical infrastructure from vulnerabilities associated with Chinese technology and supply chains.

• Policy programme

  Global Britain Programme

  The Global Britain Programme advocates an open, confident, and expansive British geostrategy. It focuses on the United Kingdom’s role in liberal international institutions, European security, NATO, defence spending, and the country’s relationship with the European and international orders.

• Research centre

  Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre

  This centre studies Russian domestic and foreign policy and developments in the former Soviet states. Its publications have examined Russian strategic behaviour and the concept of contemporary Russian conflict, including claims that the Putin government uses methods associated with Soviet and KGB-era practice.

• Research centre

  Centre for the New Middle East

  Established in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the centre monitors political, ideological, military, and security developments across the Middle East. Its research has included strongly critical assessments of Iran and analysis of the regional implications of political change and conflict.

• Research centre

  Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism

  The centre researches Islamist terrorism, far-right extremism, terrorism sentencing, the charitable sector, university radicalisation, and the use of online and darknet infrastructure by criminals and extremists. It has also compared the treatment of Islamist and far-right offenders in the UK criminal-justice system.

• Campus-monitoring project · 2009

  Student Rights

  Student Rights was created to document what the Society identifies as political extremism and marginalisation on British university campuses. The project has monitored speakers and student activities, but has faced criticism from student organisations and commentators who argue that it has disproportionately targeted Muslims or used insufficiently supported claims.

• Research centre · 2018

  Centre for Social and Political Risk

  Announced in 2018, this centre focuses on threats to governance in liberal Western democracies. Its stated areas include social cohesion, integration, freedom of speech, political correctness, demographic change, and other social and political risks.

• Policy initiative · 2012

  Henry Jackson Initiative for Inclusive Capitalism

  The initiative began a transatlantic debate about income inequality and the extent to which unequal economic outcomes could weaken public confidence in, and the political stability of, capitalist systems.

• 2020

  Defamation damages over mistaken broadcaster identification

  The Society paid damages to Huda Television Ltd after wrongly confusing the UK educational broadcaster with an Egyptian channel that it had associated with radical content.

  Source

• 2017

  Criticism of alleged anti-Muslim agenda

  The Muslim Council of Britain and other critics argued that the Society’s publications and commentary used indirect stereotypes about Muslim integration and the relationship between Muslims and terrorism. Former co-founder Matthew Jamison also publicly condemned the organisation’s later direction.

  Source

• 2015

  Controversial no-go-zone claims at Society event

  Bobby Jindal made disputed claims at a Society event that Muslims had established British areas governed by Sharia and inaccessible to others. The remarks became part of a wider political controversy about Islam and integration.

  Source

• 2014

  Controversy over Student Rights

  Critics alleged that Student Rights used misleading or insufficiently contextualised claims about Muslim student events and had defended a far-right speaker. The National Union of Students accused the project of contributing to the demonisation of Muslims.

  Source

Read more

• 2019Global Britain and departmental integration advocacy

  United Kingdom

  The Society promoted a more integrated and strategically ambitious British foreign policy, including a proposal to merge the UK’s development and foreign-affairs departments.

  Outcome. The UK government announced the proposed merger in 2020.

  Source
• 2009Student Rights campus monitoring

  United Kingdom

  The Student Rights project monitored university speakers and activities that it considered connected to extremism or the marginalisation of vulnerable students.

  Outcome. The project generated media attention and criticism from the National Union of Students and others who argued that it unfairly scrutinised Muslim organisations.

  Source
• 2006Ahwazi Arab advocacy

  United Kingdom · Iran · International

  The Society sought to raise international awareness of the Ahwazi Arabs and what it described as oppression by the Iranian government.

  Source

• 2020

  Pay damages to Huda Television LtdOther

  Background

  The Society had mistakenly identified a UK Muslim educational broadcaster as an Egyptian station associated with allegations of extremist material.

  Action taken

  It paid damages to Huda Television Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The payment followed legal criticism of the mistaken identification and became a notable example in debate about the Society’s counter-extremism research.

  Source

• 2019

  Advocate integration of UK development and foreign-policy departmentsStrategy

  Background

  The Society argued that Britain’s international strategy would be more coherent if development policy and foreign affairs were managed within a single institutional framework.

  Action taken

  It published a report proposing the merger of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Aftermath

  The government announced the merger in 2020; Boris Johnson had written the report’s foreword.

  Source

• 2018

  Create the Centre for Social and Political RiskProduct launch

  Background

  The Society identified social cohesion, integration, free expression, political correctness, and demographic change as risks to liberal democratic governance.

  Action taken

  It announced a dedicated centre to research and propose responses to these issues.

  Source

• 2011

  Merge with the Centre for Social CohesionM&A

  Background

  The Society sought to broaden its work on social cohesion, integration, Islamism, and extremism.

  Action taken

  It merged with the Centre for Social Cohesion and incorporated associated personnel and research interests.

  Aftermath

  The merger expanded the organisation’s profile but also intensified criticism and caused disagreement among some members and former members.

  Source

1. 1Henry Jackson Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Henry Jackson Society official websitehenryjacksonsociety.org