The Persian Gulf region — which includes Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq — contains an estimated 50 percent of the world's oil reserves and thus plays a strategic geopolitical role. RAND has a strong presence in and focus on the region, with an office in Doha, focusing primarily on domestic and regional issues such as education and development and on assisting U.S. and allied military forces in the region.
Commentary
Qatar has a salsa scene. Dubai hosted the big international Fujairah Latin Festival. The Oman Salsa Festival took place in March. Jordan and Cairo both have a salsa scene. What makes this so conversation-worthy is that it is indicative of a growing cultural openness in parts of the Middle East.
Report
Assesses the development of Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the various dimensions of a knowledge-based economy.
Commentary
Stimulating innovation is important to the economic growth of all countries, regardless of their stages of development, writes Michael D. Rich. RAND is helping each country drive innovation in different ways.
Periodical
Stimulating innovation is important to the economic growth of all countries, regardless of their stages of development. President and CEO Michael Rich discusses how RAND is helping foster technological innovation in China, Europe, and the Middle East.
Report
An overview of the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI), including the research questions it examines, its approach to client relations and quality assurance, its research capabilities, and the public policy areas on which RQPI is focused.
Commentary
As in most war zones and high threat environments, one of the dangers to guard against is complacency...people become accustomed to a certain level of danger and assume that they have everything under control, when in fact they may have not fully thought through the problems posed by an enemy that is continually innovating, writes William Young.
Commentary
Like it or not, the United States counts among its allies a number of authoritarian Arab countries, and they are essential partners in protecting its interests, writes Seth G. Jones. The normative hope that liberal democracy may flourish in the future must be balanced by the need to work with governments and societies as they exist today.
Journal Article
Qatar
— Jan 1, 2013
This chapter focuses on Qatar's education system, describing the laws and policies under which both public and non-public schools operate.
Report
A collaboration between the RAND Corporation and Qatar Foundation, the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI) analyzes complex policy problems and helps policymakers create enduring solutions.
Commentary
Just by threatening to close the Strait, Iran increases pressure on the U.S. to restrain Israel from attacking Iran. Other key players—including major oil importers such as China, Japan, and India—would be reluctant to support military action because of heavy dependence on Persian Gulf oil, writes Alireza Nader.
News Release
Three Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows at the RAND Corporation—Robert Reardon, Markus Schiller, and David Kearn—have published new research examining nuclear security issues.
Report
This study assesses U.S. policy options on the Iranian nuclear question by addressing how to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and, failing this, how best to mitigate the negative international effects of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Report
Lessons learned from past cases of local defense forces used in the context of counterinsurgency—in Indochina, Algeria, South Vietnam, Oman, El Salvador, Southern Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq—can be applied to the current development of the Afghan Local Police.
Report
An examination of what must be done to ensure sustainability of the Qatar National Research Fund, its achievements in its first five years, and recommendations for actions to respond to the new responsibilities mandated in Decree-Law (24) of 2008.
Report
The design and implementation of the Qatar National Research Fund — the first research — funding organization of its kind in the Middle East—and descriptions of its first two programs, along with some early results and lessons learned.
Report
This dissertation covers three topics -- three points of view -- of issues in international migration.
Commentary
As the administration looks eastward—a strategy that incorporates China's rise—underestimating al Qaeda would be a dangerous mistake, writes Seth G. Jones.
Announcement
The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) is accepting applications for its 2012 awards, which honor education projects around the world—including in primary education—that have had a positive societal impact and can serve as models for other institutions or nations.
Report
Assesses stakeholder perspectives on Qatar's school transportation system (STS), identifies a vision and goals for the STS, and discusses strategies to achieve the vision and better align Qatar's STS with international norms. This is the Arabic-language version.
Report
Considering the challenges associated with continued growth and demographic changes, the government of Qatar is interested in updating its school transportation system (STS). This volume assesses the perspectives of parents and school administrators, identifies a vision for the STS, and discusses strategies to achieve it.
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