Eric V. Larson

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Senior Policy Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.Phil. in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; A.B. in political science, University of Michigan

Overview

Biography

Eric Larson is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Larson's research focus includes jihadist strategy, ideology, propaganda, and discourse; influence operations, strategic communications, and information operations; irregular warfare; American and foreign attitudes toward U.S. military operations; media and public opinion; and social science approaches to national security analysis. Prior to joining RAND, he worked as a policy and systems analyst for the National Security Council. Larson received his A.B. in political science from the University of Michigan and his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Jihadist strategy, ideology, propaganda, and discourse
  • Influence operations, strategic communications, and information operations
  • Irregular warfare
  • American and foreign attitudes toward U.S. military operations
  • Foreign attitudes toward the United States

Selected Publications

Eric V. Larson and Bogdan Savych, American Public Support for U.S. Military Operations from Mogadishu to Baghdad, RAND Corporation (MG-231), 2006

Eric V. Larson et al., Ambivalent Allies? A Study of South Korean Attitudes Toward the U.S., RAND Corporation (TR-141), 2005

Eric V. Larson et al., Assuring Access in Key Strategic Regions: Toward a Long-Term Strategy, RAND Corporation (MG-112), 2004

Eric V. Larson and Bogdan Savych, Misfortunes of War: Press and Public Reactions to Civilian Deaths in Wartime, RAND Corporation (MG-441), 2003

Eric V. Larson, Casualties and Consensus: The Historical Role of Casualties in Domestic Support for U.S. Military Operations, RAND Corporation (MR-726), 1996

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: ABC; Chicago Tribune; China Jiangsu TV; Christian Science Monitor; Financial Times; The Guardian; Los Angeles Times; NBC; New York Times; Newsday; Reuters; Salon; Taiwan Central News Agency; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post; Yazhou Zhoukan (China)

Publications

Understanding and Influencing Public Support for Insurgency and Terrorism - 2012

China and India, 2025: A Comparative Assessment - 2011

RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 2, Summer 2011 - 2011

The Long Shadow of 9/11: America's Response to Terrorism - 2011

Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: An Update of RAND's 1993 Study - 2010

Sexual Orientation and U.S. Personnel Policy Revisited - 2010

Foundations of Effective Influence Operations: A Framework for Enhancing Army Capabilities - 2009

Understanding Commanders' Information Needs for Influence Operations - 2009

Assessing Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Intelligence Analysis - 2008

As Enemies Put Innocents at Risk, U.S. Military Must Continue Efforts to Minimize Civilian Deaths and Be Positioned to Better Inform the Public When Casualties Do Occur - 2007

Misfortunes of War: Press and Public Reactions to Civilian Deaths in Wartime - 2006

American Public Support for U.S. Military Operations from Mogadishu to Baghdad - 2005

Ambivalent Allies? A Study of South Korean Attitudes Toward the U.S. - 2004

American Public Support for U.S. Military Operations from Mogadishu to Baghdad: Technical Appendixes - 2004

Assuring Access in Key Strategic Regions: Toward a Long-Term Strategy - 2004

Interoperability of Coalition Air Forces: Lessons Learned from U.S. Operations with NATO Allies - 2004

Interoperability of U.S. and NATO Allied Air Forces: Supporting Data and Case Studies - 2004

Near-Term Options for Improving Security at Los Angeles International Airport - 2004

Past and Future: Insights for Reserve Component Use - 2004

Metrics for the Quadrennial Defense Review’s Operational Goals - 2003

Building a New Foundation for Innovation: Results of a Workshop for the National Science Foundation - 2002

RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002 - 2002

Review of Steven Kull and I.M. Destler, Misreading the Public: The Myth of a New Isolationism - 2002

Balancing Strategy, Forces, and Resources: Lessons for the Current Defense Review - 2001

Defense Planning in a Decade of Change: Lessons from the Base Force, Bottom-Up Review, and Quadrennial Defense Review - 2001

Preparing the U.S. Army for Homeland Security: Concepts, Issues, and Options - 2001

The California Wellness Foundation’s Violence Prevention Initiative Findings from an Evaluation of the First Five Years - 2001

Interoperability: A Continuing Challenge in Coalition Air Operations - 2000

Air Power as a Coercive Instrument - 1999

The Economic Costs and Implications of High-Technology Hardware Theft - 1999

Futures Intelligence: Assessing Intelligence Support to Three Army Long-Range Planning Communities - 1998

New Forces at Work: Industry Views Critical Technologies - 1998

Casualties and Consensus: The Historical Role of Casualties in Domestic Support for U.S. Military Operations - 1996

Ends and Means in the Democratic Conversation: Understanding the Role of Casualties in Support for U.S. Military Operations - 1996

Public Support for U.S. Military Operations - 1996

A New Methodology for Assessing Multilayer Missile Defense Options - 1994

The Decisionmaking Context in the Department of the Navy: A Primer for Cost Analysts - 1994

Report of a Workshop on Expanding U.S. Air Force Non-Combat Mission Capabilities - 1993

Cost Factors in the Army: Volume 2 - Factors, Methods, and Models - 1992

Technological Risk: The Case of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile - 1990