Anika Binnendijk

Photo of Anika Binnendijk
Political Scientist
Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. in international security studies, Tufts University; M.A.LD in international security studies, Tufts University; B.A. in public & international affairs, Princeton University

Overview

Anika Binnendijk is a political scientist at the RAND Corporation. At RAND, Binnendijk leads research and analysis on a range of topics including national security decisionmaking, European defense, gray zone challenges, national resilience, and emerging defense technologies including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and human-machine teaming. She joined RAND from the State Department's Office of Policy Planning, where she was responsible for advising the Secretary of State on policy questions related to Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the Caucasus, and NATO, and prior to that on Iran and Persian Gulf issues. During her State Department tenure, she served for a rotation as Director for Russia at the National Security Council. From 2009 to 2012 Binnendijk worked at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, first as a special assistant and policy advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and later the country director for Egypt. Her doctoral dissertation addressed security force responses to civil resistance during post-Communist nonviolent uprisings.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Commentary

  • Digital image of heads with padlocks, photo by maxkabakov/Getty Images

    Now Could Be the Time to Form Policy for Emerging Brain- and Body-Enhancement Technologies

    Policymakers might consider developing appropriate policy frameworks for emerging brain- and body-enhancement technologies to ensure that innovations harnessed for societal, economic, or military benefits do not create new vulnerabilities and that governments adequately defend and manage against potential attacks. The technology is quickly moving forward. Policy may need to play catch-up.

    Jan 12, 2021 RealClearDefense

  • Spanish Army soldiers run during the Silver Arrow 2017, the multinational military drills involving eleven NATO member countries in Adazi, Latvia October 29, 2017

    Deterring the Unthinkable: NATO's Role Along the Eastern Flank

    As NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to set the stage for the 2018 NATO summit, key issues will include defense burden-sharing and NATO’s role to the south in counterterrorism and refugee management. But strengthening deterrence to the East must remain the top priority for the alliance.

    Nov 7, 2017 Defense News

Publications