Commentary and Articles

commentary

Putin's Cordon Sanitaire in Ukraine
Moscow is signaling a renewed Russian lunge into northern Ukraine to create a buffer zone and seize Kharkiv. Any Russian escalation in northern Ukraine deserves to be met with the full force of Ukraine's own arms and those from the West.
Apr 10, 2024
commentary

America's Best Friend in Asia
Many describe NATO as the United States' indispensable alliance—and it remains a top priority. But with a growing slate of traditional and nontraditional security issues, many of which center on China, the United States' new go-to ally is Japan.
Apr 10, 2024
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Did North Korea Really Test a Hypersonic Missile?
North Korea is working toward the deployment of hypersonic missiles that it claims could render South Korean and U.S. missile defenses useless. Still, its claims of a successful test this month appear greatly exaggerated.
Apr 9, 2024
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The Potential of Smart Treaties
Blockchain technology presents numerous opportunities for the development of trade and commerce. One particularly interesting opportunity is smart contracts, an application that could have broad geopolitical implications if applied to treaties.
Apr 8, 2024
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U.S.-India Ties Remain Fundamentally Fragile
Despite widespread optimism about the future of the U.S.-India partnership, relations are considerably more fragile than they might appear. Indeed, the two countries continue to experience friction in several areas that, if left unaddressed, could ultimately undermine or even derail future cooperation.
Apr 7, 2024
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What Chinese Navy Planners Are Learning from Ukraine's Use of Unmanned Surface Vessels
The continued success of Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) attacks on Russian naval facilities and warships has kept USVs in the defense analytical spotlight and naval analysts around the world, particularly those in China, are taking note.
Apr 4, 2024
commentary

Putin's Embrace of Kim Jong-un Has Its Limits
The current trajectory of North Korea–Russia relations is certainly unfavorable for the United States and its allies because it essentially gives the two nations greater wiggle room to continue their bad behavior. But all is not necessarily lost. The strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea is unlikely to be decisive for either side.
Apr 4, 2024
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Building a Foundation for Strategic Stability with China on AI
In an atmosphere of deepening mutual suspicion, trying to engage with China on military uses of artificial intelligence may seem pointless. But if negotiations go somewhere, U.S. security might be palpably improved. It they fail, there is little downside.
Apr 2, 2024
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The Russian Air Force Is Hollowing Itself Out. Air Defenses for Ukraine Would Speed That Up
The Russian Aerospace Forces has fewer than 650 tactical aircraft when accounting for end-of-life aircraft; it has even less when accounting for accelerated usage. But these numbers are unlikely to change Russia's behavior, based on its exhibited willingness to accept high losses, even for trivial gains.
Mar 29, 2024
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The Year-Long Detention of Evan Gershkovich: When Foreign Nationals Become Political Pawns
Detaining foreign nationals incurs little risk for the detaining state, and can bring a large return. Negotiating to bring them home is not easy, as humanitarian appeals seldom work and there is always a quid pro quo. But the situation is not hopeless.
Mar 29, 2024
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Pushing People into Poverty and Public Health Crisis: Maryland's Recent Energy Cost Increases Could Add Up to an Equity Disaster
In March, utility prices began increasing throughout Baltimore City and in nearby counties. Prices will continue to increase over the next two years. The Department of Energy is working directly with communities affected by undue energy burdens to better understand how to improve the equity of the energy system. Maryland could follow that example.
Mar 26, 2024
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Trucks, Piers, and Parachutes Will Not Solve Gaza's Crisis
If the international community wants to solve the humanitarian problem in Gaza, it will need to go beyond thinking strictly in terms of trucks, roads, and floating piers. It will instead need to choose between a series of bad options. None are particularly appealing outcomes, but in the Middle East, nothing is ever simple.
Mar 25, 2024
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Red-Teaming the Risks of Using AI in Biological Attacks
A RAND experiment brought together several dozen researchers to role-play bad guys planning a biological attack. Some had access to large language models while others only had access to the internet. A panel of experts graded each team's plan on whether or not it could be viable.
Mar 25, 2024
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Don't Abandon Europe in the Name of 'Asia First'
Allies are key to U.S. great-power competition. They are the only asset its adversaries do not also share. Instead of a strategic calculation, isolating European partners' vital interests because they are “less important” than Asia can only harm the U.S. relationship with Asian partners as well.
Mar 22, 2024
commentary

What Sweden's Accession Means for NATO
Russia's failed invasion of Ukraine pushed neutral Sweden to embrace a role in NATO's collective defence and security. With this addition, NATO's toolkit gains Sweden's ground and air combat, nearshore and undersea warfare capabilities, as well as the country's expertise in niche areas such as cold weather operations.
Mar 22, 2024

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Quoted

Mandatory evacuation orders are issued when disasters have potentially life-threatening impacts. Disaster after disaster, orders resulted in evacuations that have saved untold lives. Milton is rapidly intensifying and expected to be one of the largest hurricanes on record when it hits the United States. Staying in place could have severe, life-threatening consequences.

Aaron Clark-Ginsberg

Behavioral/Social Scientist

Source: rand.org

The mechanisms behind the apparent adverse effects of climate change on human health are not entirely understood. However, the need for pre-planning for these events to prevent poor health outcomes is clear. Especially among the most vulnerable populations, it is critical to develop and implement mitigating strategies.

Mahshid Abir

Senior Physician Policy Researcher, Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Source: rand.org

How to Support Victims of Elder Mistreatment

Climate Change Affects Health and Will Increase Drug Demand

Revolutionary War Diplomacy: Lessons for Today

Evacuating from Hurricane Milton: What the Whole Community Can Do

The Math Equity Equation

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Commentary and Articles

Putin's Cordon Sanitaire in Ukraine

America's Best Friend in Asia

Did North Korea Really Test a Hypersonic Missile?

The Potential of Smart Treaties

U.S.-India Ties Remain Fundamentally Fragile

What Chinese Navy Planners Are Learning from Ukraine's Use of Unmanned Surface Vessels

Putin's Embrace of Kim Jong-un Has Its Limits

Building a Foundation for Strategic Stability with China on AI

The Russian Air Force Is Hollowing Itself Out. Air Defenses for Ukraine Would Speed That Up

The Year-Long Detention of Evan Gershkovich: When Foreign Nationals Become Political Pawns

Pushing People into Poverty and Public Health Crisis: Maryland's Recent Energy Cost Increases Could Add Up to an Equity Disaster

Trucks, Piers, and Parachutes Will Not Solve Gaza's Crisis

Red-Teaming the Risks of Using AI in Biological Attacks

Don't Abandon Europe in the Name of 'Asia First'

What Sweden's Accession Means for NATO

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