Danielle Gilbert

Danielle Gilbert is an assistant professor of political science at Northwestern University and a fellow with the Bridging the Gap Project. She studies political violence, international security, hostage taking, and negotiations.


4 takeaways about the end of the Gaza hostage crisis

As their options declined, the Israeli government and Hamas finally came to the negotiating table.

Trump wants to punish countries that wrongfully detain U.S. citizens

A new executive order aims to strike back against “hostage diplomacy.”

The politics behind Marc Fogel’s release from a Russian prison

The Trump administration’s negotiations with Russia may signal a bigger shift in U.S. policy.

U.S. hostage policy will be quite different under Trump

Freeing hostages is far more complicated than it seems.

Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva are back in the U.S.

What this historic prisoner swap with Russia tells us about U.S. diplomacy.

Navigating the unthinkable: a Russian prison sentence

Highlights from Coming Home by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford.

Good to Know: Hostage taking and the rise in hostage diplomacy

Media stories spotlight the high stakes – and the pressure to bring hostages home.

Why Colombia’s ELN freed a soccer star’s parents

Research on kidnappings by armed groups explains the impact on Colombia’s peace process.

Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different

What we know about Hamas hostage-taking and Israel’s hostage recovery policy.

Biden’s hostage diplomacy, explained

It's a marriage of concessions and sanctions.