The RAND Blog

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Reforming Security Assistance: Why the State Department Can't Lead from Behind

The reforms in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act are driving the Department of Defense to improve security cooperation planning. Similar reforms for the State Department could help leaders there more effectively communicate the value of security assistance and maintain their traditional leadership role.

Michael J. McNerney, Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney

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The RAND Tablet: iPad Predecessor

In the 1960s RAND developed a 10-inch-square tablet. Users could draw shapes and text on it with a stylus, which a handwriting recognition program smoothed out and rendered on a monitor. The RAND Tablet paved the way for PalmPilots, Tablet PCs, and iPads.

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Taking Stock of a Shifting World Order

The postwar order seems poised to continue eroding, without a clear alternative in the offing. It has often taken cataclysmic events to inaugurate new eras of geopolitical order, but one hopes that the postwar order will instead be reinvigorated through farsighted statecraft.

Ali Wyne

essay

Appalachia Partnership Helps Both Workers and Employers in a Changing Market

An innovative program in Appalachia is realigning the skills of the workforce with the needs of employers, getting people back on the job and providing a 21st-century model of workforce development.

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Personalized Hospital Ratings: Transparency for the Internet Age

Each annual release of hospital ratings captivates journalists, hospital leaders, and health care consumers in the United States. These ratings aggregate many measures into a single score for each hospital. But why should the opinions of report creators hold sway, if the intent is to inform patient choice? Why not ask patients instead?

Juliet Rumball-Smith, Jill Gurvey, et al.

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A Better Way to Think About Scooters

Unleashed in Santa Monica, California, last September, Bird and its competitors are now in 30 American cities and counting. Cities are responding to the scooter takeover with new regulations and increased law enforcement. But if officials rely only on 20th-century tools to integrate these 21st-century scooters into their cities, they will miss a big opportunity.

Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Tim McDonald, et al.

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McCain's Heroism

John McCain's heroism will forever punctuate America's memory of the Vietnam War, reminding us both of the horrors of war and the human potential to transcend them. His heroism also stands out because of how it empowered him as a congressman and senator to do things others could not.

Phillip Carter

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Social and Emotional Learning Prepares Students for Life

The goal of social and emotional learning is to give students the skills they need to work in teams, communicate their ideas, and manage their emotions. Research can help educators determine which programs work and which ones qualify for federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

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Iran's Disinformation Campaigns

New reports suggest that the Kremlin may have company in its efforts to shape the United States' domestic information landscape: Iran. As Americans prepare to return to the voting booths this fall, Washington would be well advised to look into Iran's disinformation capabilities and intentions.

Ariane M. Tabatabai

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The Global Order Will Outlast U.S. Leadership

Even if America bails on the international order there is plenty of evidence that Europe, China, Japan, and the rest of the developed world will maintain existing multilateral structures and build new ones. The order will survive but may become less liberal, less democratic, and perhaps less peaceful.

James Dobbins

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How the U.S. Military Learned to Learn in World War I: Lessons from the American Expeditionary Forces

The U.S. military generally believes it has little to learn from its allies. But during World War I, the more open the Americans were to their allies’ wisdom, the better they fought and the less they suffered.

Michael Shurkin

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Walking a Fine Line on Russian Sanctions

The United States and its allies are increasingly frustrated over malign activities by Russia. This week the U.S. unveiled new sanctions, and is expected to impose even more in the future. But choosing sanctions requires care. Their purpose should be to penalize Russia for misbehavior, but not to isolate Russians.

William Courtney @courtneywmh

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The Growing Risk of a New Middle East War

Escalating clashes between Israeli and Iranian forces in Syria have demonstrably increased the risk of a new, large-scale regional conflict that would likely involve the U.S. military. Tehran's continued provocations and violations of Israel's stated red lines are fueling escalation with the potential to rapidly spin out of control.

Richard C. Baffa, Nathan Vest

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A U.S.-Russia Partnership Against China Is Unlikely

After Donald Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July, it might appear as if the U.S. and Russia are considering the formation of a partnership against China. But Russia seems more likely to try to expand the scope of its cooperation with China while also attempting to extract concessions from the United States.

Ali Wyne

q&a

How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.