James Thornton is an international relations analyst and former diplomat with 15 years of experience in geopolitical strategy, trade negotiations, and multilateral diplomacy, holding a Master's in International Affairs from Georgetown University and having served in senior advisory roles at intergovernmental organizations and think tanks specializing in global governance and economic statecraft.
James Thornton holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, where he concentrated on international security and trade policy. He began his career as a policy analyst at a Washington-based think tank focused on transatlantic relations before joining the diplomatic service, where he spent eight years working on trade negotiations, climate diplomacy, and UN system reform initiatives. During his tenure, he served as an economic attaché in European and Asian posts, gaining firsthand experience in bilateral and multilateral negotiations on tariff agreements, environmental protocols, and institutional governance questions. After leaving government service, James joined a premier international policy institute as Senior Fellow for Global Governance, where he analyzes emerging geopolitical trends, coalition dynamics within international organizations, and the intersection of trade policy with security concerns. He has authored policy briefs and analytical reports on diplomatic strategy, enforcement mechanisms for international agreements, and the evolving balance between unipolar and multipolar world orders. James regularly briefs policymakers, corporate leaders, and academic audiences on reading diplomatic signals, anticipating alliance shifts, and understanding how regional powers leverage asymmetric influence. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and contributes expert commentary to major international affairs publications. His work helps professionals navigate the complex interplay of economics, diplomacy, and power in shaping the contemporary international system.