Education: BA, English Literature and History; MPhil, International Relations, University of Cambridge

Career: James Hackett is Head of the Defence Analysis Department at the International Institute for Strategic Studies which he joined in 2001. Previously he worked as a Research Assistant in Persian studies, and at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, both in Cambridge. This was followed by a spell at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, where he was latterly a Deputy Editor and Senior Information Officer. He is Assistant Editor of the journal The Military Balance (see url below).

Honours and awards: Daniel Vincent Prize, University of Cambridge

Publications include: numerous articles in professional journals

Contact details: Address: International Institute for Strategic Studies, Arundel House, 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London, WC2R 3DX, England; Tel: +44 (0)20 7395-9147; Fax: +44 (0)20 7836-3108; Email: hackett@iiss.org ; Website: http://www.iiss.org/ ; Website: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/04597222.asp/ .