Professor of Practice, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies; Director of Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism
Jason Blazakis is a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) where he focuses on threat financing, sanctions, violent extremism, and special operations related research. He is also the Director of MIIS’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism where he directs research on domestic terrorism, terrorism finance, recruitment, propaganda, and the use of special operations to counter transnational threats.
From 2008-2018, he served as the Director of the Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office, Bureau of Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State. In his former role, Jason was responsible for directing efforts to designate countries, organizations, and individuals as terrorists, also known as State Sponsors of Terrorism, Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Jason previously held positions in the Department of State’s Political-Military Affairs, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Intelligence and Research Bureaus, and at U.S. Embassy Kabul.
Prior to working at the Department of State, Jason served as a domestic intelligence analyst at the Congressional Research Service. In addition, he was the national security adviser to a United States Congressional Representative. He also has worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration.
Jason is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Soufan Center.
He has published articles in Time Magazine, Foreign Affairs, The Hill, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Lawfare. He regularly is quoted by the media (Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, ABC, CBS, NBC, amongst others) on a wide-range of terrorism and sanctions related matters.
He holds degrees from the University of Mississippi, Columbia University, and Johns Hopkins University.
DPPG 8616
Independent PracticumCourse Description
Students will choose a focal topic or challenge that is relevant to their degree. Under faculty member’s guidance, students will then implement a suitable plan of activities to shed significant light on this topic. Final products may take many forms including a traditional research paper, a guide or manual for practitioners, a video product, or alternative deliverable that would be of value to a well-defined audience of practitioners. Students must identify a faculty sponsor who has consented to supervise the project in order to enroll in this class. Work can be taken on-campus or in field settings. Credit is variable (4 or 6 units) and depends upon the scope, complexity and rigor of the project.
The B section is 3 credits and is only open to joint IEM/MPA students.
Terms Taught
MIIS 8505
Introduction to TerrorismCourse Description
Introduction to Terrorism
This course is designed to provide a critical introduction to the subject of terrorism, an often misunderstood phenomenon that has assumed a particular salience in the wake of 9/11. Its aim is to clarify fundamental definitional and conceptual problems, introduce students to the burgeoning literature on the subject, describe basic terrorist organizational and operational methods, survey a wide range of terrorist groups and ideologies, examine certain high-profile terrorism themes, and tentatively assess the nature of the threat posed by terrorists to global security in the future. (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course.
Terms Taught
MIIS 8523
SEM: Rise of Islamic StateCourse Description
SEM: Rise of Islamic State
This course will provide an in-depth overview into the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as the Islamic State, the Arabic acronym Daesh, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in addition to other aliases). The rapid rise of the Islamic State has taken counterterrorism policymakers and foreign policy practitioners by surprise.
In an effort for students to come to a common understanding of key terms that will be discussed throughout the course, a session will be devoted to understanding key concepts and terms related to Islamic history. In this regard, students should take away from the course a baseline understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, meaning of the caliphate, the five pillars of Islam, and Shar’ia law.
The course will trace the history of the Islamic State’s rise and will examine the leadership figures/personalities behind the group. The course will also examine the Islamic State’s connection and ultimate divorce from al-Qa’ida. The course will all examine how the group finances its operations as well as the rise of its affiliates.
Finally, the course will also explore the group’s use of foreign fighters and social media to further its agenda. Global responses in an effort to counter the Islamic State will also be discussed. (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are JANUARY 31 through MAY 20. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course.
Terms Taught
MIIS 8524 Current
SEM:CounteringViolentExtremismCourse Description
SEM: Countering Violent Extremism
This course on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) will examine the non-violent approaches to countering violent extremism, such as prevention (preventing violent extremism, PVE), intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. The course will also examine the pathways individuals take to extremism, with a focus on the myriad of push and pull factors that can contribute to radicalization. The course will also examine the various types of CVE/PVE programs developed by governmental and non-governmental entities. The course is experiential by design and the class will participate in the Invent 2 Prevent (I2P) program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, the McCain Institute and EdVenture Partners. I2P is a national competition whereupon, specifically, students in the class will create a tool, product, or initiative to prevent targeted violence and extremism. The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8502 Current
Intro to IntelligenceCourse Description
This course examines the role of intelligence in the conduct of US national security. The course will cover the basics of intelligence, to include the intelligence cycle, intelligence requirements, types of collection and analysis, and the roles and capabilities of organizations that make up the US intelligence community. The course will look at the role of intelligence over history and include case studies.
LEARNER OUTCOMES:
1. Identify the members of the US Intelligence Community and describe their general responsibilities.
2. Understand and explain the different stages of the intelligence cycle.
3. Describe the various types (INTs) of Intelligence and corresponding US agencies in responding to national requirements.
4. Using a case study approach, understand the interaction between policy makers and the intelligence community.
5. Apply course content to write a paper on a member of the intelligence community or a intelligence collection capability and its impact to US policy.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8584
Introduction to TerrorismCourse Description
The course is an introduction to the subject of terrorism. The course will focus on a range of fundamental questions, such as: What is Terrorism? What causes Terrorism? Why do terrorist groups emerge and how do they end? What is extremism? Why do individuals join terrorist groups? What are lone wolf terrorists? What is leaderless jihad? These are but a few of the elements that will be explored over the course of the semester. The course also aims to expose students to a wide range of terrorist groups and ideologies.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8619 Current
Sem:CounteringViolentExtremismCourse Description
This course on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) will examine the non-violent approaches to countering violent extremism, such as prevention (preventing violent extremism, PVE), intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. The course will also examine the pathways individuals take to extremism, with a focus on the myriad of push and pull factors that can contribute to radicalization. The course will also examine the various types of CVE/PVE programs developed by governmental and non-governmental entities. The course is experiential by design and the class will participate in the Invent 2 Prevent (I2P) program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, the McCain Institute and EdVenture Partners. I2P is a national competition whereupon, specifically, students in the class will create a tool, product, or initiative to prevent targeted violence and extremism.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8643
Sem: Rise of Islamic StateCourse Description
This course will provide an in-depth overview into the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as the Islamic State, the Arabic acronym Daesh, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in addition to other aliases). The rapid rise of the Islamic State has taken counterterrorism policymakers and foreign policy practitioners by surprise.
In an effort for students to come to a common understanding of key terms that will be discussed throughout the course, a session will be devoted to understanding key concepts and terms related to Islamic history. In this regard, students should take away from the course a baseline understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, meaning of the caliphate, the five pillars of Islam, and Shar’ia law.
The course will trace the history of the Islamic State’s rise and will examine the leadership figures/personalities behind the group. The course will also examine the Islamic State’s connection and ultimate divorce from al-Qa’ida. The course will all examine how the group finances its operations as well as the rise of its affiliates.
Finally, the course will also explore the group’s use of foreign fighters and social media to further its agenda. Global responses in an effort to counter the Islamic State will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the Islamic State from its creation to its current status as a significant power broker primarily operating in Syria and Iraq.
• Understand the key personalities and motivations of leadership figures within the Islamic State as well as methods the group utilizes to accrue wealth, territory, and general support.
• Understand the reasons for the split between the Islamic State and al-Qa’ida as well as the implications of the split to include the development of the Islamic State’s affiliates.
• Comprehend the role of women and foreign fighters within the Islamic State.
• Understand the U.S. and global response focused on countering the Islamic State through the application of soft and hard power.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8662 Current
MANPTS Honors ThesisCourse Description
The MANPTS Honors Thesis is a highly selective program through which a limited number of students will design and conduct individual research projects of professional length, scope, and quality under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Applications for the honors thesis will be accepted in the Spring from students in their second or subsequent semesters in the NPTS MA program who are currently maintaining a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Applications will require a personal statement, academic transcript, sample of research writing, proposal for the thesis, and recommendation from a member of the faculty or research staff. In recommending a student for the honors thesis, a faculty or staff member must agree to serve as the student’s thesis advisor if the student is selected for the program. The NPTS Program Chair will appoint a selection committee composed of NPTS faculty and staff from the appropriate MIIS research centers to review applications. Students will be selected for the honors thesis on the basis of GPA, demonstrated proficiency in research and analytical writing, and any other relevant criteria as determined by the selection committee. Throughout the Fall semester, thesis advisors will provide students enrolled in NPTG 8662 with individualized supervision of their thesis projects in a manner similar to a directed study. Thesis advisors will set a schedule for research and writing of the thesis and will meet with students as needed to review progress and provide comments and advice. At the end of the Fall semester, students will present their projects to the Monterey Institute community in a symposium at which invited experts will provide comments and suggestions for further development and publication of research.
Terms Taught
NPTG 8696
SEM: Terrorism FinancingCourse Description
The course examines how terrorist groups finance their operations. It also explores current policy approaches to curb financial support to terrorists through the application of U.S. and international sanctions, in particular how multilateral fora, such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force, disrupt and deter terrorist financing. At the completion of the course, students will have a better understanding of the key tools, including law enforcement, diplomacy, and intelligence, that are used to counter terrorists’ financial networks and activities. Students will use structured analytic tools such as weighted ranking methods, scenario trees, causal flow programming, game theory, and logic to form analytic judgments. Prior coursework or professional experience in intelligence, (counter) terrorism, or finance recommended.
Terms Taught
Jason’s areas of interests include sanctions, terrorism financing, terrorist motivation and behavior, counterterrorism methods, violent extremism, terrorist use of the internet, terrorism and the media, and the role of intelligence in informing national security decision-making.
MA in International Relations and National Security Studies, Columbia University, 2003
MA in Government, Johns Hopkins University, 2001
BA in Political Science, University of Mississippi, 1997
“Sanctions: Bringing the Wagner Group and State Proxies into the CTF Fold.” Research briefing paper for the Royal United Services Institute, March 2023.
“Opinion: Don’t blur the lines by calling Mexican drug cartels ‘terrorist organizations’.” Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2023.
“The Changing Face of the Wagner Group: From Military Adventurism to Venture Capitalism.” The Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, March 2023.
“The Wagner Group’s Social Footprint: A Time-Series Analysis of PMC World.” The Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, March 2023.
“Here’s Why Russia’s Wagner Group Is Worse Than You Think | Opinion.” Newsweek, February 1, 2023.
“Russia’s Wagner Group Is About More Than Mercenaries | Opinion.” Newsweek, December 9, 2022.
“Op-Ed: Should the U.S. declare Russia a sponsor of terrorism? We need more than a ‘no’ from Biden.” Los Angeles Times, September 20, 2022.
“The Gender Pay Gap Is a National Security Threat.” Lawfare Blog, August 21, 2022.
“Far-Right Online Financing and How to Counter It.” Academic monograph for the Global Center on Cooperative Security, August 2022.
“Comparing Violent Far-Right Terrorist Designations among Five Eyes Countries.” Monograph piece for The Soufan Center, July 28, 2022.
“Protect our nonprofits from domestic terrorism.” The Hill, July 20, 2022.
“Nothing less than new policies and a domestic terrorism law will help.” The Hill, June 6, 2022.
Contributed “Chapter 1: Columbia” to The Handbook of Latin America and Caribbean Intelligence Cultures by Florina Cristiana Matei, Eduardo E. Estévez, and Carolyn Halladay, June 2022.
“Opinion | On Iran, Biden should reverse Trump’s imaginary statecraft.” The Washington Post, May 24, 2022.
“Biden should swiftly put Russia on terror list.” The Hill, May 3, 2022.
“Article Review 156 - ‘White Supremacy, Terrorism, and the Failure of Reconstruction in the United States.” Article review for H-Diplo RJISSF, April 5, 2022.
“Foreign Fighters, Volunteers, and Mercenaries: Non-State Actors and Narratives in Ukraine.” Special report for The Soufan Center, April 4, 2022.
“Ukraine’s Future - Civil Society Groups Are Key.” Global Best Practices Group, March 25, 2022.
“Op-Ed: The ultimate sanction: Listing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.” Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2022.
“US has taken FARC off its terrorist list, giving insight into Biden’s foreign policy.” The Conversation, January 26, 2022.
“From Paramilitaries to Parliamentarians: Disaggregating Radical Right Wing Extremist Movements.” Peer-reviewed piece for the US Institute of Peace Resolve Network, December 10, 2021.
“Op-Ed: America is a safe haven for terrorists. What can we do about it?” Los Angeles Times, December 5, 2021.
“Triad of Far Righ Extremism.” Book review for the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, November 1, 2021.
“Keep Your Eyes on Afghanistan’s ISIS-K.” Defense One, October 21, 2021.
“Opinion | It’s a real possibility that our next 9/11 could arrive from within.” The Washington Post, September 6, 2021.
“The Intangible Benefits of a Domestic Terrorism Statute.” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, June 24, 2021.
“Quantifying The Q Conspiracy: A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding the Threat Posed by QAnon.” Special report for The Soufan Center, April 19, 2021.
“Reexamining Counterterrorism Approaches.” International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, April 6, 2021.
“The International Far-Right Terrorist Threat Requires a Multilateral Response.” Lawfare, April 4, 2021.
“How New is the Extremist Threat? Preliminary Conclusions From the U.S. Capitol Arrests Data.” War on the Rocks, March 16, 2021.
“Lack of domestic terrorism law creates an imbalance.” USA Today, February 22, 2021.
“Op-Ed: Why QAnon’s similarity to other cults makes it a significant national security threat.” Los Angeles Times, February 21, 2022.
“A Way Forward With Iran? Options for Crafting a U.S. Strategy.” The Soufan Center, February 18, 2021.
“Countering QAnon: Understanding the Role of Human Trafficking in the Disinformation-Extremeist Nexus.” Polaris and Soufan Group, February 2021.
“Can We Call the Proud Boys Terrorists?” Slate, February 4, 2021.
“Counterterrorism - at home and abroad - will be renewed under Biden.” The Hill, December 9, 2020.
“Trump Will Name Houthis a Terrorist Group to Box in Biden on Iran. This Will Lead to Death and Diplomacy Demise in Yemen.” Talking Points Memo, December 1, 2020.
“Trump Abused U.S. Sanctions and Failed to Get Results. Biden Can Do Better.” Foreign Policy, November 19, 2020.
“The Rising Threat of White Supremacists.” Podcast with KCBS Radio, November 2, 2020.
“The Frighteningly Sophisticated Plot to Kidnap Gretchen Whitmer.” Slate, October 8, 2020.
“Trump’s Rhetoric Breeds Radicals Who Think They’ve Been Anointed By POTUS To Fight.” Talking Points Memo, September 29, 2020.
“The Atomwaffen Division: The Evolution of the White Supremacy Threat.” Special report for The Soufan Center, August 12, 2020.
“Terrorism and Risk During COVID-19.” UK Finance, August 1, 2020.
“How the US could respond to Russia’s support of the Taliban.” The Hill, July 1, 2020.
“The US Has Become The World’s Top Exporter Of White Extremism.” Talking Points Memo, June 17, 2020.
“Deadly Prayers.” Book review for the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, June 5, 2020.
“The Growing Irrelevance of State’s List of Countries Not Cooperating on Counterterrorism.” Just Security, June 4, 2020.
“Why Trump Can’t Designate Antifa as a Terrorist Organization.” Slate, June 1, 2020.
“Using a Terrorism List to Squeeze Cuba and Venezuela.” Lawfare, May 31, 2020.
“Is the threat from ISIS really more significant because of COVID-19?” The Hill, May 13, 2020.
“Inside The Russian Imperial Movement: Practical Implications of U.S. Sanctions.” Special report for The Soufan Center, April 23, 2020.
“Coronavirus social distancing presents special challenges to spies.” The Hill, April 8, 2020.
“Better intel could help the US designate white supremacist groups as terrorists.” The Hill, March 25, 2020.
“The Trump-Netanyahu Alliance Is Endangering Americans and Israelis.” Foreign Policy, February 3, 2020.
“Brexit Could Spark a Return to Violence in Northern Ireland.” Foreign Policy, January 22, 2020.
“The US Recently Made a Smart Move Toward Iran. Killing Soleimani Wasn’t It.” Defense One, January 3, 2020.
“Domestic Terrorism is fueled by paranoid delusions. Here’s how we fight them.” Philadelphia Inquirer, August 18, 2019.
“Hamza bin Laden’s Reported Death is not the Death of al-Qaeda.” The Hill, August 2, 2019.
“The Logistics of Terror: The Islamic State’s Immigration and Logistics Committee.” The Strategy Bridge, June 18, 2019.
“Sudan at a Crossroads: Rethinking U.S. Policy.” Lawfare, June 9, 2019.
“The Muslim Brotherhood is Not a Terrorist Organization.” Foreign Affairs, May 17, 2019.
“The Reappearance of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.” The Hill, May 2, 2019.
“Why Trump’s Latest Move Against Iran Was Pointless – And Dangerous.” Time Magazine, April 9, 2019.
Spycast (International Spy Museum’s Podcast) on terrorism finance and domestic terrorism with Vincent Houghton. March 19, 2019.
“A Road Map for Congress to Address Domestic Terrorism.” Lawfare, February 27, 2019.
“Pakistan’s Proxies: The Kashmir Attack and U.S. Policy Response.” Lawfare, February 24, 2019.
“Walls Don’t Work In Isolation; First End the Shutdown.” The Hill, January 9, 2019.
Lawfare Podcast on Domestic Terrorism with Mary McCord and Ben Wittes – January 2019.
“Labeling Venezuela a Terror-Supporting State Doesn’t Fit.” The Hill, December 3, 2018.
“Leaving Syria Shrinks U.S. Influence in the Levant.” The Hill, December 3, 2018.
“American Terrorists: Why Current Laws are Inadequate for Violent Extremists at Home.” Lawfare, December 2, 2018.
“Ten Years After the Mumbai Attacks, Where are They Now?” The Hill, November 9, 2018
“Border Security and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.” Congressional Research Service, 2004.
The gift will support staff positions and senior research scholars, giving CTEC the flexibility to recruit and retain an exceptional team, and positioning the center to identify and address threats to national security.
| by Jason Warburg
Five Middlebury Institute students have earned the opportunity for rapid advancement in the government policy arena through the competitive Presidential Management Fellowship program.
| by Caroline Crawford
Diverting Hate, which started as a Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies classroom project, is a new user diversion resource being developed by Kaitlyn Tierney MAIPD ’22 and Courtney Cano MAIPD ’22.
