Caitlin McCulloch

Associate Political Scientist

Washington Office

Education

B.A. in government, Cornell University; B.A. in China and Asia-Pacific Studies, Cornell University; M.A. in government and politics, University of Maryland; Ph.D. in government and politics, University of Maryland-College Park

Overview

Caitlin McCulloch (she/her) is an associate political scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her primary research interests are alliance ties, security cooperation, misinformation/information warfare, Eastern Europe and the impact of environmental change on conflict. Prior to joining RAND, she was a Fulbright researcher (2016-2017) and Peace Corps Volunteer (2011-2013) in the Republic of Georgia. She received a Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park and a B.A. in China and Asia-Pacific Studies/Government from Cornell University. Her work at RAND has focused on security cooperation, information warfare, and climate change/conflict. She has published externally in outlets such as Research and Politics and Political Violence at a Glance, and has a book chapter in the Routledge Handbook on Self-Determination and Secession (2023).

Research Focus

Publications

Report
Truth Decay and National Security: Intersections, Insights, and Questions for Future Research
The authors of this Perspective explore how Truth Decay -- the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life -- affects U.S. national security, what should be done about it, and what future research on this topic should focus on.
Apr 12, 2023
Report
Staying the Unfavorable Course: National Security Council Decisionmaking and the Inertia of U.S. Afghanistan Policy, 2001–2016
The authors examined the reasons behind the inertia of the U.S. policy objective in Afghanistan through interviews with the senior leaders involved in policy deliberations between 2001 and 2016.
Feb 21, 2023
Report
Do Alliances and Partnerships Entangle the United States in Conflict?
In this report, RAND researchers assess the evidence for claims that U.S. security relationships cause the United States to adopt its partners' interests, incentivize partners to behave recklessly, and risk dragging the United States into conflict.
Nov 22, 2021
Report
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Public Communication Campaigns and Their Implications for Strategic Competition with Russia
The authors examine evidence on the effectiveness of campaigns to influence public opinion in target populations -- sometimes referred to as "information warfare" -- in the context of strategic competition between the United States and Russia.
Nov 8, 2021
Report
Countering Russia: The Role of Special Operations Forces in Strategic Competition
This report establishes a strategic framework for U.S. Army special operations forces support to countering Russian activities in the competition space.
Nov 8, 2021