Asia Society Switzerland is delighted to announce James Crabtree as the new TOY Senior Fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute, based in New York, and Asia Society Switzerland, focusing on Asian geopolitics. James Crabtree is an analyst and author with long-standing experience in the region. The Fellowship is made possible with the support of Max and Monique Burger & “Thinking of Yves” Family, Hong Kong.

As part of his fellowship, which runs from July 1 to December 31, 2024, James will provide in-depth analysis on important developments in Asia, and how they affect both Switzerland and Europe. He will discuss his insights at several upcoming Asia Society Switzerland events, including an Executive Roundtable on July 2, and our flagship conference STATE OF ASIA on November 7. James will also curate a series of online conversations with leading minds from the region for Asia Society Policy Institute, and deliver a series of in-person high-level briefings to Asia Society Switzerland stakeholders.

James Crabtree's book The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India’s New Gilded Age, was named an Amazon book of the year and short-listed as FT / McKinsey business book of the year. He is a distinguished visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He was previously the Singapore-based Executive Director of the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Asia, where he led the organisation of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, the region's most important annual meeting of defence leaders. He was also an Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School, Asia's leading school of public policy. 

James spent ten years as a journalist and foreign correspondent, notably for the Financial Times, where he was both Mumbai Bureau Chief and Comment Editor. He is currently a columnist for Foreign Policy, and writes for publications ranging from the Financial Times to the New York Times. He previously worked as a senior advisor in the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, under Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. He has worked for various think tanks in London and Washington DC, and spent several years living in America, initially as a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.  

James is available to comment on current affairs and developments in Asia, be it the conflict between the U.S. and China, the rise of India or the friendship between Moscow and Beijing. For media or speaker inquiries to James Crabtree please contact Rebecca Farner at [email protected]. 

About Asia Society Switzerland

Asia Society Switzerland is an independent Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to Asia. Our mission is to foster Asia Competence and prepare Switzerland for a deeper and more sustainable engagement with Asia.  We do this by providing strategic intelligence, education, and training on Asia, and by building and maintaining Asia-related communities and networks.

We are part of the global Asia Society network with 16 offices around the world, including 7 in Asia. Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III, and our global CEO is Kyung-wha Kang, the former Foreign Minister of South Korea. Our global network gives us unparalleled access to international speakers and experts on a broad range of Asia issues.  

Asia Society Switzerland was founded in 2016 and is financed entirely out of Switzerland. We have a dedicated team of 7 people in Zurich, ensuring that our programs are relevant and tailored to a Swiss audience.  

Asia Society Switzerland is committed to connect business, policy, and society, helping Switzerland to under­stand and engage with Asia and to navigate our shared futures.

About Asia Society Policy Institute

With a problem-solving mandate, the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) tackles major policy challenges now confronting the Asia-Pacific in security & Diplomacy; Trade, Investment, & Innovation; Climate & Energy; and Society, Technology, & Public Health. As Asia's emerging centers of influence alter the global balance of power, the need for innovative thinking on international issues from both Asian and American perspectives has never been more urgent. 

With top-level advisors, fellows, and the premier Asia-wide network of experts, ASPI provides a unique platform for policy development. It boasts a truly Asia-wide scope; participation from business and policy leaders on equal footing; and the application of Asia Society's world-leading convening and research capabilities to the pursuit of prosperity, security, and sustainability across Asia. We believe this formula is uniquely suited to advancing international cooperation and effective policymaking during a century that many believe will belong to Asia.

About 'Thinking of Yves (TOY)'

In memory of their son Yves (1988-2011) and to keep his memory alive, Max and Monique Burger created TOY "Thinking Of Yves". With the TOY cap projects, they encourage friends to dedicate one day each year to do things that matter in Yves’ name. As long-time residents of Hong Kong, they are excited to support the TOY Senior Fellowship at Asia Society and to contribute to fostering Asia Competence in Switzerland.