Todd C. Helmus

Lies, Misinformation Play Key Role in Israel-Hamas Fight

At the strategic level, the war in Gaza is about perception, telling a story about who is the victim and who is the aggressor. Lies, mistruths, and disinformation will play a key and continuing role in this fight.

How to Put RAND Findings on Veteran Support for Extremism in Context

A RAND survey found that U.S. veterans appeared to support extremist groups at a rate lower than the general population. In contrast, a new University of Maryland study found that veteran status was the most prominent characteristic among extremists involved in terrorism attacks with four or more victims.

The Ukrainian Army Is Leveraging Online Influencers. Can the U.S. Military?

Much has been said about Ukraine's astounding success in the information battlefield. How might the U.S. military emulate Ukraine's success to not only help win wars, but also to address its flagging campaign to recruit new members?

One Year After Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Experts React

We asked nearly 30 RAND experts to highlight takeaways from the first year of Russia's all-out war—and share what they're watching as the conflict in Ukraine grinds on. Here's what they said.

Keeping Russians Informed About Ukraine Could Help End This War

Russia has taken increasingly aggressive actions to restrict access of information about the war in Ukraine. Ensuring that the Russian people know the truth about what their government is doing in Ukraine could bring this war to an end soon rather than later.

Help, Not Just Hunt, Violent Extremists in the Military

The Pentagon is working to rid itself of violent extremist members. In addition to strengthening the chain of command to detect and remove extremist members from its ranks, the military could also empower military family members to intervene.

Summit a Chance to Clarify U.S.-Russia Relations: RAND Call With Experts

RAND experts discuss possible topics of conversation and potential takeaways from the upcoming summit between the United States and Russia. The summit will be a chance to rebuild and review the countries' fraught relationship.

The Link Between Extremism and Military Functioning

U.S. Department of Defense policy prohibits service members from actively participating in extremist activities. Broadening the policy to include passive forms of participation could introduce two challenges.

Human Intelligence: The Key to Ferreting Out Extremism in the Ranks

The U.S. military is fighting extremism—including white supremacists and violent anti-government radicals—in its own ranks. De-radicalized former extremists can provide crucial first-hand intelligence on extremist groups' recruiting tactics.

Are Counter Violent Extremism Interventions Effective?

Government efforts to counter the propaganda and radicalization that lead to violent extremism are becoming more common around the world, but there's little research on whether such programs work. It is critical to conduct more research to tease out which programs are most effective.

How You Can Fight Russia's Plans to Troll Americans During Campaign 2020

The goal of Russian interference is to trigger emotional reactions and drive people to ideological extremes, making it nearly impossible to build a consensus. But Americans are less likely to have their emotions manipulated if they are aware that manipulation is the goal.

Fighting Terror the Cold War Way

With much talk about how to “win hearts and minds” in the Muslim world, it's surprising that few are looking back to a global contest of ideas that the U.S. and its allies categorically won: the Cold War, write Todd C. Helmus and Dalia Dassa Kaye.

Ad Men for U.S. Defense

Improving the U.S. military's brand identity demands more than just a catchy new slogan. While communications can help explain U.S. policies, the behavior of every soldier, sailor, airman and marine is what ultimately determines how civilians view U.S. forces, write Todd Helmus, Russell Glenn and Christopher Paul in a commentary appearing in United Press International.

Report

Prevalence of Veteran Support for Extremist Groups and Extremist Beliefs: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey of the U.S. Veteran Community

The authors conducted a nationally representative survey of the U.S. veteran community to examine the prevalence of support for specific extremist groups and ideologies, including support for political violence.

Report

In the Wreckage of ISIS: An Examination of Challenges Confronting Detained and Displaced Populations in Northeastern Syria

The authors examine the humanitarian and security conditions in two Syrian camps for internally displaced persons: al-Hol and Roj. They address concerns about radicalization and highlight challenges in returning displaced residents to their homes.

Commentary

A House Reunited: Prospects for Bipartisanship in a Divided Country

Based on workshop discussions, this Perspective presents some proposed solutions, and potential data sources to evaluate these solutions, to problems related to mis- and disinformation, election security, extremism, and immigration reform.

Report

China's Role in the Global Development of Critical Resources: Case Studies in Coal Power, Electricity Transmission, and Seabed Mining

China's foreign investment and financing activities over the past two decades have garnered substantial attention and raised concerns. This report explores Chinese investment and financing activities in energy infrastructure and critical minerals.

Research Brief

A Dangerous Web: Mapping Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism

The authors reviewed literature on racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), analyzed social media data from six platforms, and created a global network map to better understand how to inform counter-REMVE strategies online.

Report

An Exploratory Examination of Agent-Based Modeling for the Study of Social Movements

The authors of this report explore the use of agent-based modeling as a method for studying the effects of information and communications technologies on the formation, maintenance, and dissolution of social movements over time.

Commentary

Artificial Intelligence, Deepfakes, and Disinformation: A Primer

This Perspective provides an overview of the threat of deepfakes and reviews the fundamental artificial intelligence-driven technologies that make them possible. It highlights deepfakes' threats, as well as factors that could mitigate them.

Draft

The Role of Communication and Network Technologies in the Dynamics of Social Movements

Investigates the multi-faceted role of information technologies in the spread and dynamics of social movements.

Report

Mapping White Identity Terrorism and Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism: A Social Network Analysis of Online Activity

The authors reviewed literature on racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), analyzed social media data from six platforms, and created a global network map to better understand how to inform counter-REMVE strategies online.

Report

Do National Security Communication Campaigns Work? Taking a Lesson from the Public Health Sector

Through a systematic review of research on public health communication campaigns, the authors identified insights relevant to national security communication campaigns, such as those conducted by the U.S. Army's psychological operations forces.

Commentary

What Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorder Can Tell Us About Addressing Violent Extremism

In this Perspective, the authors examine similarities between violent extremism and substance dependence in terms of social and psychological causes, behaviors, and opportunities for prevention and intervention.

Report

Countering Violent Extremism in the U.S. Military

To support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)'s efforts to counter extremism in its ranks, the authors considered how a terrorism prevention framework might address the issue. They offer intervention initiatives that DoD might consider adopting.

Research Brief

What Do Former Extremists and Their Families Say About Radicalization and Deradicalization in America?

Violent extremism is an evolving, ongoing threat in the United States. This project describes personal accounts of white supremacists, Islamic extremists, and their family members about joining extremist groups and, in some cases, deradicalizing.

Report

A Compendium of Recommendations for Countering Russian and Other State-Sponsored Propaganda

To help audiences make sense of the large array of counterdisinformation recommendations, the authors of this report coded recommendations in 64 other policy reports and assessed which recommendations benefit from researcher consensus.

Report

Detecting Conspiracy Theories on Social Media: Improving Machine Learning to Detect and Understand Online Conspiracy Theories

Using linguistic and rhetorical theory, researchers developed an improved model of machine-learning technology to detect conspiracy theory language. This report describes the results and suggests ways to counter effects of online conspiracy theories.

Report

Violent Extremism in America: Interviews with Former Extremists and Their Families on Radicalization and Deradicalization

Terrorism and ideologically inspired violence are persistent and serious threats to U.S. national security. This report uses interviews to explore why and how 32 individuals joined extremist organizations and how some of them exited these groups.

Report

Countering Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

This report describes responses to both Russian memes designed to breed dissension and a public service announcement warning about threats from foreign interference in U.S. elections. This is the fourth report in a series on election security.

Report

Tweeting Out Surveys to Pro-Ukraine Influencers: Exploring the Potential for Enlisting Support in the Information Fight Against Russia

RAND researchers used Twitter advertisements to solicit survey participation from the most-influential members of the pro-Ukraine activist community, drawing on key influencers to help counter Russian propaganda in the region.

Journal Article

Social Media and Influence Operations Technologies: Implications for Great Power Competition

Russia, China, and the so-called Islamic State are three key U.S. adversaries that have exploited online technologies for propaganda. This chapter reviews the aims, capabilities, and limitations of online propaganda for each of these entities.

Report

Russian Propaganda Hits Its Mark: Experimentally Testing the Impact of Russian Propaganda and Counter-Interventions

This report, the third in a series, describes a study designed to assess how people react to and engage with Russia's online propaganda. Media literacy advisories and labeling the source of the propaganda were found to have a counter effect.

Report

Counter-Radicalization Bot Research: Using Social Bots to Fight Violent Extremism

As the online recruitment of violent extremist organizations grows, the U.S. government may benefit from promising emerging technology tools to rapidly detect targets of such recruitment efforts and deliver counter-radicalization content to them.

Report

Foreign Interference in the 2020 Election: Tools for Detecting Online Election Interference

This report, the second in a series on information efforts by foreign actors, describes what appears to be an instance of election interference on Twitter and offers recommendations for response.

Report

From Consensus to Conflict: Understanding Foreign Measures Targeting U.S. Elections

Russia might try to manipulate and divide U.S. voters via social media during the U.S. political campaign season of 2020. This first report in a series of four reviews research on foreign actors targeting local, state, and national elections.

Report

Countering Violent Extremism in Indonesia: Using an Online Panel Survey to Assess a Social Media Counter-Messaging Campaign

This report presents the results of an evaluation designed to assess the effects of countering violent extremism–themed social media content used in a campaign to promote tolerance, freedom of speech, and rejection of violence in Indonesia.

Report

Countering Violent Extremism in the Philippines: A Snapshot of Current Challenges and Responses

In this report, RAND researchers provide a snapshot of the terrorist and extremist threats facing the Philippines and the countering violent extremism efforts that the Philippine government and nongovernmental agencies have undertaken in response.

Report

Promoting Peace as the Antidote to Violent Extremism: Evaluation of a Philippines-Based Tech Camp and Peace Promotion Fellowship

This report contains an evaluation of and recommendations from a countering violent extremism (CVE)–themed set of tech camps and fellowships in the Philippines. This report also contains research from a study of CVE radio programming on Mindanao.

Report

Countering Violent Extremism in Nigeria: Using a Text-Message Survey to Assess Radio Programs

The authors present the results of a text message–based randomized controlled trial designed to assess the impact of a countering violent extremism (CVE)–themed radio program broadcast in northern Nigeria in 2018–2019.

Research Brief

The Growing Need to Focus on Modern Political Warfare

RAND researchers analyzed how political warfare is practiced today and identified ways that the U.S. government, its allies, and its partners can respond to or engage in this type of conflict to achieve U.S. ends and protect U.S. interests.

Report

Life as a Private: Stories of Service from the Junior Ranks of Today's Army

This volume tells the stories of six soldiers in their own words. While a separate RAND Arroyo Center report details the service experiences of 81 junior enlisted soldiers, this report provides deeper insight into the junior enlisted experience.

Report

Assessing Outcomes of Online Campaigns Countering Violent Extremism: A Case Study of the Redirect Method

This report reviews prior assessments of online programs dedicated to countering violent extremism (CVE), offers recommendations for future assessments, and provides a case study of one particular CVE campaign.

Report

Countering Russian Social Media Influence

The Russian government's campaigns of disinformation -- political, social, religious, or otherwise -- have found a comfortable home on social media. This report presents strategies to counter Russian social media influence.

Testimony

Russian Social Media Influence: Understanding Russian Propaganda in Eastern Europe: Addendum

Document submitted August 30, 2018, as an addendum to testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on August 1, 2018.

Testimony

Russian Social Media Influence: Understanding Russian Propaganda in Eastern Europe

Testimony presented before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on August 1, 2018.

Report

Life as a Private: A Study of the Motivations and Experiences of Junior Enlisted Personnel in the U.S. Army

Who joins the Army, why, and how satisfied are they with their decisions? This study's portrayal of U.S. Army privates could serve as an educational tool for Army senior leadership, junior officers, noncommissioned officers, and prospective recruits.

Report

Russian Social Media Influence: Understanding Russian Propaganda in Eastern Europe

Researchers analyzed Russian social media data and conducted interviews with regional and security experts to understand the critical ingredients to countering Russia's propaganda campaign against former Soviet states.

Report

Modern Political Warfare: Current Practices and Possible Responses

Analyzes how political warfare is practiced today and identifies the most effective ways that the U.S. government, along with its allies and partners, can respond to or engage in this type of conflict to achieve U.S. ends and protect U.S. interests.

Commentary

Empowering ISIS Opponents on Twitter

This Perspective presents options for operationalizing recent RAND Corporation findings about ISIS opponents and supporters on Twitter. It formulates a countermessaging approach for two main communication pathways.

Report

Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism helps programs assess their activities and identify needed improvements. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.

Tool

RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism uses checklists, worksheets, and templates to help programs assess whether their activities have met their goals and identify needed improvements.

Report

Assessment of the State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) Program

Assesses the Bureau of Justice Assistance's State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training Program, which provides various forms counterterrorism training to state, local, and tribal law enforcement personnel.

Report

Investing in the Fight: Assessing the Use of the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Afghanistan

This report examines the use of the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) in Afghanistan. It explores the effectiveness of CERP in supporting tactical operations in Afghanistan during the counterinsurgency-focused 2010--2013 time frame.

Report

Examining ISIS Support and Opposition Networks on Twitter

This report examines the debate about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Arabic Twitter and uses a mixed-methods analytic approach to identify and characterize in detail the Twitter networks of ISIS supporters and opponents.

Report

Evaluating the Impact of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) on Fatigue and the Implications for Driver Safety

Summarizes findings from a review of the literature on whole-body vibration (WBV) and fatigue, in addition to looking at study designs and methodology for providing more rigorous investigations of the impact of WBV on fatigue and driver safety.

Report

Advising the Command: Best Practices from the Special Operations Advisory Experience in Afghanistan

Identifies best practices for Special Operations Advisory Groups, which are tasked with advising headquarter elements of the Afghan Special Security Forces.

Report

Building Special Operations Partnerships in Afghanistan and Beyond: Challenges and Best Practices from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Colombia

This report summarizes key special operations forces (SOF) partnering practices and presents findings from case studies in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Colombia. It also identifies best practices to benefit development of SOF in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Report

Promoting Online Voices for Countering Violent Extremism

American Muslims play an important role in helping counter extremism, and are increasingly using social media to this end. RAND researchers identified challenges facing these Muslim activists, and identified ways to help empower these voices online.

Report

Locals Rule: Historical Lessons for Creating Local Defense Forces for Afghanistan and Beyond

Analyzes the use and management of local defense forces in eight major counterinsurgencies, from Indochina to Operation Iraqi Freedom, in order to inform U.S. and allied operations in Afghanistan as well as other current or future conflicts.

Research Brief

Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Servicemembers and Their Families: Existing Department of Defense Programs and Options for Improvement

Provides overviews and detailed descriptions of 211 programs currently sponsored or funded by the Department of Defense to address psychological health and traumatic brain injury, along with recommendations to maximize program effectiveness.

Report

Programs Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among U.S. Military Servicemembers and Their Families

Provides overviews and detailed descriptions of 211 programs currently sponsored or funded by the Department of Defense to address psychological health and traumatic brain injury, along with recommendations to maximize program effectiveness.

Report

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

In a series of essays, this book addresses the question of how America has responded in the ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and suggests options for more effectively dealing with the terrorist threat in the future.

Report

Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World

Within the Arab world, many creative works are being produced that could play a role in countering violent extremism. This book examines the substantial barriers to the broad dissemination of these creative works and suggests ways to overcome them.

Report

Social Science for Counterterrorism: Putting the Pieces Together

Why does terrorism arise and decline? Why do people become terrorists or disengage? How do terrorists generate, maintain, or lose public support? How do terrorists make decisions? These are the questions that the authors address.

Report

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery

A comprehensive study of the post-deployment health-related needs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury among servicemembers returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Research Brief

Applying Madison Avenue Principles and Recent Operational Experience to Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations

This research brief summarizes a study that examined successes from the commercial marketing industry and how those lessons might assist U.S. and coalition forces to improve shaping campaigns during stability operations.

Report

Enlisting Madison Avenue: The Marketing Approach to Earning Popular Support in Theaters of Operation

Enlisting Madison Avenue extracts lessons from business marketing practices and adapts them to U.S. military operations in a unique approach that will potentially maximize the impact and improve the outcome of civilian-focused influence efforts.

Report

''People Make the City,'' Executive Summary: Joint Urban Operations Observations and Insights from Afghanistan and Iraq

Reveals lessons that will better enable military and civilian alike to meet national policy objectives by more effectively conducting urban combat and restoration.

Report

Steeling the Mind: Combat Stress Reactions and Their Implications for Urban Warfare

Describes the known precipitants of combat stress reaction, its battlefield treatment, and the preventive steps commanders can take to limit its extent and severity.

Journal Article

Reinforcing Effects of Diazepam Under Anxiogenic Conditions in Individuals with Social Anxiety

Diazepam (DZ) reinforcement was tested under anxiogenic (public speaking) and neutral (computer task) conditions.