As an historian of intelligence and global security at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, I study the hidden histories of great power conflicts—espionage, subversion, sabotage, past and present. Read More >

I write about public policy.

Helping to run the Applied History Project at Harvard’s Kennedy School, I engage widely with the public and policymakers. Through commentary, and by contributing to broadcast programs, my work brings historical perspectives to present-day intelligence and national security affairs. Read More >

I’ve written
two books.

My first book, EMPIRE OF SECRETS (Harper-Press 2013) is a gripping account of British intelligence during the last days of the empire. My new book, to be published in 2023, is SPIES: The Epic Intelligence War Between East & West (Simon & Schuster/Little Brown) and will take readers inside the shadow conflict that has raged between Russia and the West for over a century. Read More >

I Comment on Current Events.

There are reporters and then there are reporters who spend 5 days camping by a raging forest fire in Siberia, because “I just wanna get the story right.” Our profile of a colleague whose drive to understand Russia represents the very best of my profession. https://www.wsj.com/articles/wsj-reporter-evan-gershkovich-detained-russia-cd03b0f3

Spy balloons, TikTok…

Relax, it’s much worse than you think.

My thoughts ⁦@ForeignPolicy⁩

“China Has Been Waging a Decades-Long, All-Out Spy War on the United States”

👇 https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/28/china-has-been-waging-a-decades-long-all-out-spy-war/

This old headline still…. *chef’s kiss*

“F.B.I. to Special-Order a Pair of Tiny Handcuffs” https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/f-b-i-to-special-order-a-pair-of-tiny-handcuffs

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