The RAND Blog

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In National Security, Autistic Employees Are in the Closet. Here's Why

Archaic U.S. military and federal policies, combined with decades-old understandings about autism spectrum disorder, create an environment where people hide their autism and other cognitive diagnoses. Our national security challenges are too difficult and too important to leave to the portion of the population who use their brains in only “typical” ways.

Cortney Weinbaum @cortney_dc

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Making Military Aid Work

Security cooperation and military aid efforts can fail, but they can also exceed expectations and provide strategic benefits. Ukraine appears to be one such success. For a relatively modest investment between 2014 and 2021, the United States has reaped a substantial gain in terms of Ukraine's military capacity and efficacy.

Alexander Noyes @alexhnoyes, Richard Bennet

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The Promise—and Pitfalls—of Researching Extremism Online

How big of a problem is extremism in the United States and around the world? Is it getting worse? Are social media platforms responsible, or did the internet simply reveal existing trends? We have few answers because this research is easy to do poorly and hard to do well.

Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, Alexandra T. Evans @AlexandraTEvans, et al.

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NATO Summit, Russia's Failures in Ukraine, Vietnam Bans 'Barbie': RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the NATO summit in Vilnius, Russia’s repeated missteps in Ukraine, why America's superintendents are so stressed, and more.

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When Mass Shooters Are Seeking Fame

What motivates mass shooters? And what might break the cycle of violence? Developing an effective policy response first requires better understanding of the factors that drive would-be attackers to kill.

Pauline Moore, Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, et al.

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Should Ukraine Negotiate with Russia?

The fundamental drivers of the continuing hostilities in Ukraine could produce a years-long conflict that causes immense human suffering, economic hardship, and international instability. The United States and its allies should begin to try to steer the conflict toward an endgame.

Samuel Charap @scharap

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The War in Ukraine—Whose Quagmire?

Ukraine faces new perils. Not because of anything happening on the battlefield, but because Western impatience could force Ukraine into the spot it least wants to be in: at the negotiating table with Russia. Or, worse, not at the table where its future may be decided.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

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Tackling the Existential Threats from Artificial Intelligence

Addressing potential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) could begin with simple steps like finding appropriate risk-management approaches, conducting research to determine how AI can better meet designers' intent, and devising responses to issues related to racism, sexism, and other biases within AI systems.

Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice, Michelle Woods

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NATO's Vilnius Summit Holds the Key for Ukraine's Reconstruction

Repelling Russia's invasion will be top of mind at the NATO summit in Vilnius. But longer-term security decisions may be even more important to Ukraine's future, after the fighting stops.

Gabrielle Tarini @gabbytarini, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz, et al.

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The Problem of Surge Capacity

The vulnerability of supply chains to routine disruptions has been widely discussed and documented, but meeting such challenges can be even more difficult during unexpected surges in demand caused by wars, public health crises, or other emergencies. The creation of option contracts that would kick in during surges is one promising solution.

Bradley Martin

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Russia's War in Ukraine Could Reshape the Global Arms Market in Favor of China

The war in Ukraine is straining Russia's defense production, which is having downstream effects on Moscow's ability to export arms. China has the opportunity, the incentive, and the capacity to gain from Russia's losses. As Russia relinquishes more of its share of the global arms market, there is not much standing in the way of China's success.

Weilong Kong

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Is the Warning Clock on Our National Defense Running Out?

The United States has never invoked a ten-year rule regarding preparations for long-term military competition with China, as Great Britain did after World War I. But there have been times when the United States has behaved as if such a rule were in place.

Andrew R. Hoehn @AndyHoehn, Thom Shanker

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India Is Becoming a Power in Southeast Asia

The moment has been long in coming, but India is turning into a strategic actor in Southeast Asia. Even though the United States and its Asian treaty allies are not involved, India's moves raise the tantalizing possibility that it will increasingly complement the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy to counter China in the coming years.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

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Yemen's Year-Long Truce Creates Opportunities for Durable Peace

The truce in Yemen does not represent a comprehensive peace, but it does offer a path to ending the civil war for good. Going forward, an inclusive political process—one that includes all parts of Yemeni society, including women, civil society groups, and youth—will be critical.

Alexandra Stark

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Taiwan, Gun Violence, Fishing in the Arctic: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the potential for a Chinese attack on Taiwan, America's persistent gun violence problem, managing Arctic fisheries, and more.