Terrorism and Homeland Security

RAND is a world leader in research on terrorism, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and homeland security—topics that affect a wide variety of policy areas and challenge individuals and nations worldwide. As a public service, RAND disseminates all its unclassified research online or in printed documents.

Research conducted by: Homeland Security and Defense Center; RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment; RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND Europe; RAND Arroyo Center; Center for Terrorism Risk Management Policy

Featured at RAND

RAND Book Provides Critical Review of U.S. Actions Since 9/11; Recommends Future Anti-Terror Path

A new collection of essays by experts from the RAND Corporation examines America in the decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, focusing a critical eye on the nation's actions since the attacks and outlining changes in strategy needed to improve efforts against jihadist groups.

All Items (1149)

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Global Dimensions of Public Health Preparedness and Implications for US Action — Jun 1, 2012

This study suggests four timely US actions to address today's competing realities of globalization and economic austerity: raise awareness among clinicians and local health departments; capture and share exemplary disaster management practices across countries; ensure that US global health investments are effective, efficient, and sustainable; and think globally while acting locally to enhance US health security.

REPORT

Security Issues Facing the Tri-Border Area Between the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia — May 23, 2012

The area between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia is a key hub of terrorist and related criminal activity in Southeast Asia. The Coast Watch System was designed to improve maritime domain awareness in the region but has some issues to overcome.

COMMENTARY

A Final Word on the NDAA — May 6, 2012

While I have no doubt of Levin's determination to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens, incremental adjustments and seemingly small compromises, each sensible under the circumstances, can have a cumulative effect that erodes the very liberty we are trying to protect, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

REPORT

The Nature of the Chinese-Iranian Partnership and the Challenges It Poses for the U.S. — May 2, 2012

The partnership between China and Iran presents challenges to U.S. interests, including dissuading Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. An analysis of the factors driving Chinese-Iranian cooperation offers policy options for influencing this partnership to meet U.S. objectives.

COMMENTARY

Is the War on Terror Over? Not Yet. — Apr 30, 2012

Over time, al Qaeda could just fade away. Always resilient, it may morph to survive. Developments on any of several fronts might even enable it to rise again. In a long contest, surprises must be expected, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

COMMENTARY

Al Qaeda Is Far from Defeated — Apr 29, 2012

As the administration looks eastward—a strategy that incorporates China's rise—underestimating al Qaeda would be a dangerous mistake, writes Seth G. Jones.

COMMENTARY

A Year After Osama bin Laden's Death, Obituaries for al Qaeda Are Still Way Too Premature — Apr 23, 2012

Predictions of al Qaeda's imminent demise are rooted more in wishful thinking and politicians' desire for applause lines than in rigorous analysis, writes Seth G. Jones.

REPORT

Book by Noted Expert Proposes a Renaissance of Thought on Nuclear Deterrence for Today's Strategic Environment — Apr 17, 2012

A new book by the late French scholar Thérèse Delpech provides a critical review and update of nuclear deterrence theory, focusing a critical eye on nuclear issues during the Cold War, examining the lessons of past nuclear crises, and outlining ways in which these lessons apply to major nuclear powers and nuclear pretenders today.

NEWS RELEASE

Book by Noted Expert Proposes a Renaissance of Thought on Nuclear Deterrence for Today's Strategic Environment — Apr 17, 2012

A new book by the late French scholar Thérèse Delpech provides a critical review and update of nuclear deterrence theory, focusing a critical eye on nuclear issues during the Cold War, examining the lessons of past nuclear crises, and outlining ways in which these lessons apply to major nuclear powers and nuclear pretenders today.

REPORT

Assessing the Benefits of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regulatory Actions to Reduce Terrorism Risks — Apr 16, 2012

This document distills and synthesizes the proceedings of a workshop in which experts in the field of regulatory analysis and terrorism risk examined alternative approaches for estimating the benefits of regulations designed to reduce the risks of terrorist attacks in the United States. The workshop gave rise to several recommendations for improving the modeling and data collection that support the benefit-cost analysis of terrorism…

RESEARCH BRIEF

Improving Counterinsurgency Campaign Assessment: The Importance of Transparency in the Fog of War — Apr 13, 2012

Current processes used by the U.S. military do not provide accurate assessments of counterinsurgency campaigns. A new process that adds transparency and context to assessments would make them more credible and useful at all levels of decisionmaking.

MULTIMEDIA

Mexican Security in Decline: Implications and Options for the United States — Apr 9, 2012

On June 17, 2009, Jack Riley discussed how Mexican security issues affect the United States, implications for traditional border concerns such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking, and various policy options available to aid the Mexican government in improving security.

REPORT

Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of Al Qa'ida Since 9/11 — Apr 9, 2012

A comprehensive, landmark history and insider's account chronicles the ongoing battle against al Qa'ida, the greatest threat the West has faced in the modern era.

COMMENTARY

Terror's 'Invisible Women' — Apr 4, 2012

For their part, a younger generation of female jihadists has come to believe that acts of violence can be just as liberating politically and spiritually for women as for men, writes Karla Cunningham.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Role of Law in Public Health Preparedness: Opportunities and Challenges — Apr 1, 2012

Most local public health officials rely on their perceptions of the legal environment in which they operate, but those perceptions often do not match the actual laws enacted.

REPORT

Exploring How the EU Should Establish a Cybercrime Centre — Mar 28, 2012

After visiting EU high tech crime units, conducting interviews with stakeholders, and holding a scenario-based workshop, RAND Europe researchers determined that a European Cybercrime Centre hosted by Europol would bring together input from several different entities and drive a common approach to tackling cybercrime.

REPORT

How Should the United States Manage Future Irregular Warfare Challenges? — Mar 27, 2012

Based on America's recent experience in irregular warfare and future threats, there are several issues that should be considered: organization, the health of U.S. soldiers and their families, training and education, and inter-agency cooperation.

REPORT

Using Pattern Analysis and Systematic Randomness to Allocate U.S. Border Security Resources — Mar 27, 2012

Pattern and trend analysis and systematic randomness can be used to position U.S. border security personnel and equipment effectively for interdiction, and in some circumstances the combined approach is competitive with perfect surveillance.

REPORT

Analysis of the Cities Readiness Initiative — Mar 27, 2012

The Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) aims to improve communities' ability to rapidly provide life-saving medications during public health emergencies. The authors examine (1) the status of communities' operational capability to meet the goal of delivering medical countermeasures within 48 hours of a federal decision to deploy assets and (2) whether there is evidence that CRI has improved communities' capability to meet that goal.

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