James Blake

Journalist FP Uses Voice and Passion for Global Good

Class of 2003 Former Pupil, James Blake, currently resides in New York working for the Ambassadorial Council for the International Crisis Group. His career has taken him on many adventures across the globe, something which has been hugely beneficial for his most recent career venture into the field of journalism. James regularly writes for Jane’s Intelligence Review magazine, Foreign Policy Magazine and other publications focused on humanitarian and human rights crises.

“Our hope was to make it to Europe. We fled from violence in Syria. But we have run out of money and now hope to stay here in Turkey.” The husband, father of two children, told me of their journey as they fled from violence in Syria, which has experienced a ten-year long civil war. They faced the reality of finding shelter, jobs, education and learning a new language. This conversation took place during the start of the European refugee crisis in 2015; another crisis broke out earlier this year. The unnecessary violence, death and destruction continues.

My professional career has taken me from Blairgowrie, Scotland, to New York via the plush offices of the International Monetary Fund, the United Nation’s headquarters in New York, and a visit to the White House in Washington DC, to refugee camps in Turkey, speaking to a young man who was refused asylum in the US after being trafficked and returned – still fearing for his life – to his home in San Salvador, El Salvador. I have also travelled to Syria, Lebanon and Myanmar.

But there is nothing I have found more humbling than hearing the hopes, dreams and expectations of a family that have fled violence through no fault of their own, but faced their own uncertain future with hope, a sense of humor and optimism.

For me, it all began at Dundee High School. I enjoyed making good friends, I enjoyed the competitive sports and many of my classes. But I don’t think it was until I reached my final year that I found what I was good at. Several teachers helped me beyond the expected: one is now the Rector. Two others, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Rennet, have both since left. But they all instilled in me the need for critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and to follow my own path.

I studied International Relations at St Andrews University, something which Mrs. Hudson can certainly take credit for steering me towards. In my second year, I joined the Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence. In my third year, I was the sole student awarded on an exchange program at a small liberal arts college outside Washington DC. I was pushed from my comfort zone and forced to learn, adapt and “Americanize.” I spent four months at a non-profit, which looked at nuclear threat issues and global pandemics. During this time, I went to the White House and met with then Vice President, Dick Cheney, whom my college professor had worked for. I was unimpressed.

Returning to Scotland, I finished my degree and went to study a postgraduate program at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. I struggled with Arabic, grappled with the Israel-Palestine peace process and ended up in Syria and Lebanon interviewing members of Hezbollah for my dissertation.

The next five years I spent at a political and security risk consultancy in London helping large organisations mitigate the security risks to their staff and businesses. I learned a lot about terrorism and political violence as well as how to write. Then, I moved back over the Atlantic to Washington DC. I worked at the International Monetary Fund and advised them on security issues across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. It was not uncommon for me to be woken in the middle of the night following a terrorist attack in Kabul as my colleagues sought my advice.

I moved up to New York and worked at the Humanitarian Agency International Rescue Committee. I was privileged to work on humanitarian emergencies across the world from Syria to the Central African Republic, helping people affected by conflict recover and prosper. A highlight was accompanying David Miliband, former British Foreign Secretary, to the United Nations and writing some of his speeches.

Since then, I have entered the fields of journalism, speech writing and analysis. I write for a range of publications (some with a worldwide audience), get to travel across the world and meet and interview amazingly accomplished people. But my biggest satisfaction comes from work that I feel makes a difference to society; an op-ed which inspires collective action to help a country; an investigation that uncovers a human rights or corruption issue.

Over the last few months, I won funding from the Carnegie Corp to work on a project to highlight untold stories and document on-the-ground realities in the Middle East and North Africa against the backdrop of Covid-19. To achieve this, I am working with The Soufan Center and Truepic. These stories and videos have been distributed across the media and to policymakers and humanitarian organizations across the world.

More recently, I put together a report for the bipartisan Western Hemisphere Drug Commission on improving US policy to Central America. The report was presented to US Congress and the President in November. Additionally, I am also working on a book, along with my co-author Dr. Linda Lopez. The book is structured around how cities can rebuild post Covid-19 to become resilient to future disasters such as climate migration, security issues and help better integrate and protect vulnerable communities.

I don’t know where I will be in five years’ time with my career. But I know that my mission is to help give a voice to the voiceless and use my words and writing to fight against injustices. Along with my parents and family, I owe Dundee High School a lot of gratitude.