Christian Curriden is a defense analyst at RAND. His work at RAND has mostly focused on Chinese and Korean issues, especially PLA research and development, as well as the Chinese defense research and industrial base. His research has also touched on proxy wars, the Chinese science and technology environment, and Chinese military interventions abroad. Outside of RAND, Christian has conducted research and published or presented papers on Chinese space capabilities and Chinese soft power in Hollywood.
Before joining RAND, he completed his MA at the University of Chicago, where his thesis used deterrence theory and trade data to explore the reasons China could not coerce North Korea. Curriden's extensive experience working and studying in China has included the completion of the State Department Critical Language Scholarship, conducting research on Chinese public opinion of North Korea at Nanjing University, and writing market reports for Fortune 500 companies at North Head, a consulting firm in Beijing. He has also conducted both primary and secondary source research in Korean on Northeast Asian diplomacy and lived in South Korea for two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
M.A. in social science, University of Chicago; B.A. in history, Brigham Young University
Chinese; Korean
