The RAND Blog

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Afghanistan: Give Peace a Chance

The timetable set out in the Afghan peace agreement was always unrealistically ambitious. If the Biden administration postpones the May withdrawal of U.S. troops, then this could provide the two Afghan sides more time to address core issues that must be resolved if any settlement is to stick.

James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins

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Other Voices: Striking Rates of Food Insecurity in the Hill District and Homewood

The number of Americans experiencing food insecurity has increased since the pandemic began. And rates are higher among African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. Proactive and aggressive policy actions could help reduce the inequities in places like Pittsburgh's Hill District and Homewood neighborhoods.

Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Tamara Dubowitz @TamaraDubowitz

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Myanmar Coup: First Foreign Policy Test for President Biden

Shortly after dawn on February 1, Myanmar's military staged a coup against the nation's fledgling civilian government. There are no easy solutions, and how the Biden administration responds will be widely seen as a template for other thorny situations in the future.

Jonah Blank

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Lead from Behind

Support for a reformed rules-based order may be the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. But the word “reformed” is crucial in that statement. The U.S. approach to strengthening global order will have to change in ways that will sit uneasily with the expectations and habits of the world's leading power.

Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr

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Equal, Rapid Access to Vaccines Is More Important Than Ever as New COVID-19 Variants Emerge

Vaccine nationalism could prolong the pandemic and lead to preventable deaths. If some countries don't receive timely access to vaccines, then the virus will continue to spread in some populations, mutate further, and potentially render existing vaccines less effective.

Marco Hafner, Christian Van Stolk

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What Works in Preventing the Development of Depression and Anxiety in Children

Mental health problems have been increasingly recognized as one of the most significant health concerns for children and adolescents in developed countries. But the quality of existing evaluations can make drawing conclusions about what works in preventing the development of anxiety and/or depression in children difficult.

Michaela Bruckmayer

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Wargames as an Educational Tool

The benefits of games for military education are well documented. But harnessing the potential of games to foster innovation may require a commitment to sustain gaming over the years needed to explore a problem space and develop and stress-test new ideas.

Elizabeth M. Bartels @elliebartels

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Navigating Norms for the New Space Era

To make better progress on global norms for responsible behavior in space, the U.S. defense and intelligence communities might first consider reaching a consensus among themselves on what these norms should be. Until they reconcile their differences the United States will be less likely be in a position to play a leadership role.

Chad J. R. Ohlandt, Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock, et al.

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Biden Doubles Down on Trump's Taiwan Policy, but Will It Last?

It's an open secret that Taiwan welcomed the Trump administration's policy to significantly strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations, and it was jittery about the transition to the Biden administration. Early indications, however, are that the Biden team appears poised to opt for a stronger relationship with Taiwan as set forth under the Trump administration.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

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The United States and Japan Should Prepare for War with China

The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and stability in the East China Sea region. Those benefits come through a shared commitment to provide robust responses from peacetime to contingencies. But is the alliance equipped, postured, and authorized to do what will need to be done in a conflict?

Jeffrey W. Hornung

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Unemployment Insurance, Domestic Extremists, Housing Insecurity: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the pandemic has revealed about America's unemployment system, why stopping domestic extremism will be difficult, how housing insecurity may affect sleep, and more.

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Humans Are Living Longer, So What Do We Do with All This Extra Time?

Medical and public health improvements over the past century have led to dramatic increases in longevity. New policies may be needed to ensure these extra years become mutually beneficial to all generations.

Andrew R. Hoehn, Bonnie Hagemann, et al.

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What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances

Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.

David Stebbins, Sina Beaghley

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Stabilizing China-India Relations in 2021: Is This Possible?

China-India relations seem to be at their lowest point in decades. The Ladakh confrontation is fraught with the risk of escalation. But both countries have much to gain from a compromise. Leadership on both sides could help by focusing on the long-term gains in a spirit of give-and-take.

Rafiq Dossani

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Alexei Navalny Has Become a Profile in Courage. This Puts the Kremlin in a Quandary

Prolonging Alexei Navalny's imprisonment, attempting to murder him—or actually succeeding—would only galvanize his supporters. And releasing him could be viewed as a victory for the opposition, making the Kremlin look weak.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Elina Treyger