Seth G. Jones

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Media Resources

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Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center
Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.A. in political science, University of Chicago; A.B., Bowdoin College

Overview

Biography

Seth G. Jones is associate director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation, as well as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as the representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. Before that, he served as a plans officer and advisor to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan).

Jones specializes in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, including a focus on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and al Qa'ida. He is the author of Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa'ida after 9/11 (W.W. Norton, 2012) and In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan (W. W. Norton), which won the 2010 Council on Foreign Relations Silver Medal for Best Book of the Year. He is also the author of The Rise of European Security Cooperation (Cambridge University Press, 2007). Jones has published articles in a range of journals, such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and International Security, as well as in such newspapers and magazines as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

Among his many RAND publications are Afghanistan's Local War (2010), Counterinsurgency in Pakistan (2010), How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering Al Qa'ida (2009), and Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan (2008). Jones is also coauthor of RAND's series of reports on nation-building.

Jones received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Previous Positions

Representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations; Plans officer and advisor to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan

Recent Projects

  • Counterterrorism efforts against al Qa'ida
  • How terrorist groups end
  • Counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan
  • Best practices in nation-building

Selected Publications

Seth G. Jones "Al Qaeda in Afghanistan," in Bruce Hoffman and Fernando Reinares, Leader-Led Jihad, Columbia University Press (forthcoming)

Seth G. Jones, "The False Promise of the Arab Uprisings," Foreign Affairs, 92(1), 2013

Seth G. Jones, Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa'ida after 9/11, W.W. Norton, 2012

Seth G. Jones, "Think Again: Al Qaeda," Foreign Policy, (193), 2012

Seth G. Jones, Afghanistan's Local War: Building Local Defense Forces, RAND (MG-1002-MCIA), 2010

Seth G. Jones, In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan, W.W. Norton, 2010

Seth G. Jones and Martin Libicki, How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qa'ida, RAND (MG-741-1-RC), 2008

Seth G. Jones, "The Rise of Afghanistan's Insurgency," International Security, 32, 2008

Honors & Awards

  • RAND President's Award, 2008
  • 2010 Council on Foreign Relations Silver Medal for Best Book of the Year, Council on Foreign Relations
  • RAND President's Award, 2012

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: ABC; Al Hurra; BBC; Chicago Tribune; Christian Science Monitor; CNN; CNN International; C-SPAN; Dallas Morning News; Financial Times; International Herald Tribune; Los Angeles Times; MSNBC; National Public Radio; New York Times; Newsday; Newsweek; San Diego Union-Tribune; San Jose Mercury News; Time Magazine; U.S. News & World Report; USA Today; Voice of America; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post

Commentary: Christian Science Monitor; Financial Times; International Herald Tribune; Newsweek; New York Post; New York Times; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post

Commentary

Preventing a Nuclear 'Great Game' — May 29, 2013

  • The Wall Street Journal

The Benefits of U.S. Drones in West Africa — Apr 5, 2013

  • U.S. News & World Report

Moving Beyond Afghanistan's Soviet Legacy — Jan 10, 2013

  • U.S. News & World Report

Al Qaeda's War for Syria — Jul 27, 2012

  • The Wall Street Journal

Al Qaeda Is Far from Defeated — Apr 29, 2012

  • The Wall Street Journal

Think Again: Al Qaeda — Apr 23, 2012

  • Foreign Policy

Al Qaeda in Iran — Jan 29, 2012

  • ForeignAffairs.com

Why the Haqqani Network Is the Wrong Target — Nov 6, 2011

  • ForeignAffairs.com

Is It Time to Withdraw from Afghanistan? — Sep 19, 2011

  • The New York Times Upfront

Focus on Economic Aid to Pakistan — May 10, 2011

  • NYTimes.com

Beating Back the Taliban — Mar 14, 2011

  • ForeignPolicy.com

Take the War to Pakistan — Dec 4, 2009

  • The New York Times

Path to a Pashtun Rebellion in Afghanistan — Oct 2, 2009

  • Washington Post online

Going Local: The Key to Afghanistan — Aug 8, 2009

  • The Wall Street Journal

South Asia's Taliban Problem — Apr 14, 2009

  • NYTimes.com

Going the Distance — Feb 15, 2009

  • The Washington Post

Backlash Against Terror — Dec 21, 2008

  • The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Backlash Against Terror — Dec 8, 2008

  • Ethics Newsline, a publication of the Institute for Global Ethics

How to Save Karzai — Jul 15, 2008

  • Foreign Policy

Afghan Problem is Regional — Jul 4, 2007

  • United Press International

Afghanistan: Why Canada Should Stay — May 7, 2007

  • Toronto Star

Afghanistan's Local Insurgency — Jan 31, 2007

  • International Herald Tribune

Pakistan's Tribal Deals Aren't Working — Dec 28, 2006

  • International Herald Tribune

How to Curb Rising Suicide Terrorism in Afghanistan — Jul 18, 2006

  • Christian Science Monitor

Striking Iran Is an Option, Not Inevitable — Apr 11, 2006

  • Christian Science Monitor

Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud — Jan 13, 2006

  • International Herald Tribune

The Danger Next Door — Sep 23, 2005

  • New York Times

Why Allies Send Spooks to America — Oct 25, 2004

  • International Herald Tribune

A Dangerous Peace — Aug 9, 2004

  • Newsweek

Gaza pullout - a Cynic's Path to 'Peace' — Apr 29, 2004

  • Christian Science Monitor

The U.N.'s Strengths and Weaknesses in Iraq — Feb 18, 2004

  • San Diego Tribune

America's Record on Nation Building — Jun 13, 2003

  • The New York Times

Publications