The Henry Jackson Society (HJS) is a UK-based nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that seeks to advance foreign policy, especially as it concerns the principles of modern liberal democracy, civil rights, environmental responsibility, and a free market economy. ¹

The Henry Jackson Society supports institutions that further unity among world democracies, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). HJS also supports democratic powers like the United Kingdom, the United States, and the countries of the European Union maintaining a strong military. ²

Activities

The Henry Jackson Society has two main research program areas: one focused on advancing the free world and the other focused on securing our society. Each program area is broken down into more specific research centers that provide information to the public and make policy recommendations. ³

The Henry Jackson Society’s Advancing the Free World Programme has centers specifically focused on Asia, Russia and Eurasia, the Middle East, and Great Britain. ⁴ The Asia Studies Centre intends to influence a foreign policy that supports regional liberal democracies while protecting British economic interests. ⁵ The Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre conducts analytical research on domestic and foreign policy issues in Russia and surrounding areas. Much of the Centre’s focus in 2022 is on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ⁶ The Centre for the New Middle East monitors political, ideological, military, and security developments in the region to provide analytical research and policy solution recommendations. ⁷ The Centre for Global Britain advocates for an open and expansive British geostrategic policy, especially as it regards liberalism and national democracy. ⁸

The Henry Jackson Society’s Securing Our Society’s Programme has centers specifically focused on terrorism and radicalization, student rights, and threats to Western democracy. ⁹ The Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism uses in-depth research and policy recommendations to address the threat of both violent and non-violent radicalization, terrorism, and extremism. Recent research has focused on Islamist terrorism, extremist-right antisemitism, and online radicalization. ¹⁰  The Centre for Student Rights supports equality and democracy on college campuses while combatting political extremism and marginalization of vulnerable students. ¹¹ The Centre on Social and Political Risk aims to identify threats to Western democracies and propose policy solutions that prevent social, cultural, and political instability. ¹²

Funding

The Henry Jackson Society is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While HJS does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the American Endowment Foundation ($100,000 in 2017), ¹³ the Goodman Family Supporting Foundation ($50,000 in 2016), ¹⁴ and Donors Trust ($45,000 in 2017). ¹⁵

People

Sam Armstrong is the director of communications at the Henry Jackson Society. Armstrong formerly worked for the anti-UK Independence Party division of the UK’s Conservative Party. ¹⁶

Sam Ashworth-Hayes is the director of studies at HJS. Ashworth-Hayes formerly worked as a senior economist at the Behaviouralist. ¹⁷

Kajol Kochar is the director of operations and finance at HJS. ¹⁸

Board of Directors

Alan Mendoza is a co-founder, the executive director, and chair of the board of the Henry Jackson Society. Mendoza is a trustee of the President Reagan Memorial Fund Trust. ¹⁹

Liad Meidar is a managing partner at Gatemore Capital Management. ²⁰

Brendan Simms is the director of the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. ²¹ Simms is the founder and former chair of the Project for Democratic Union. ²²

1. “Statement of Principles.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022.  https://henryjacksonsociety.org/statement-of-principles/.
2. “Statement of Principles.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022.  https://henryjacksonsociety.org/statement-of-principles/.
3. “Research.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/research-landing/.
4. “Advancing the Free World Programme.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/advancing-the-free-world-programme/.
5. “Programme Asia Studies Centre.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/asia-studies-centre/.
6. “Russia and Eurasia Studies Centre.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/russia-eurasia-studies-centre/.
7. “Centre for the New Middle East.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/centre-for-new-middle-east/.
8. “Centre for Global Britain.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/global-britain-programme/.
9. “Securing Our Societies Programme.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/securing-our-societies-programme/.
10. “Programme Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/centre-on-radicalisation-and-terrorism/.
11. “Centre for Student Rights.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/student-rights-2/.
12. “Centre on Social and Political Risk.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/centre-on-social-political-risk/.
13. American Endowment Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Schedule I, Part II.
14. Goodman Family Supporting Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Schedule I, Part II.
15.  Donors Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Schedule I, Part II.
16. “Sam Armstrong.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/staff/sam-armstrong/.
17. ^[1] “Sam Ashworth-Hayes.” LinkedIn, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-ashworth-hayes-886a23aa/.
18. “Kajol Kochar.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/staff/kajol-kochar/.
19. “Dr. Alan Mendoza.” The Henry Jackson Society, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://henryjacksonsociety.org/staff/dr-alan-mendoza/.
20. “Liad Meidar.” LinkedIn, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/liad-meidar-50735463/?originalSubdomain=uk.
21. “Brendan Simms.” LinkedIn, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-simms-546468206/.
22. “Team.” Project for Democratic Union. Archived from the original July 19, 2015. Accessed February 18, 2022. http://www.democraticunion.eu/about/team.