The RAND Blog

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Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight

China's last major war experience gave it virtually zero lessons to apply to future armed conflict. At some point the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will need to test its new capabilities and the training it has honed over time. There are at least three reasons why Vietnam is likely in the PLA's crosshairs.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

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We're Just Beginning to Grasp the Toll of the Islamic State's Archaeological Looting in Syria

During the Islamic State's rise, looted artifacts were said to be a significant source of income for the group. But no one had identified the value, using empirical data and systematic calculations, of the artifacts that were known to exist in Syria's archaeological sites. Until now.

Fiona Greenland, Oya Topçuoğlu, et al.

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RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age: Three Takeaways

How has the rise of digital technology shaped the way that news is presented? RAND researchers conducted an empirical study to find out. Here's what you need to know from their findings.

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Getting to Know the Competition

Americans are facing a new reality in global great power relations that will define the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy for the foreseeable future. Understanding China's threat perceptions, while remaining clear-eyed regarding differences in objectives, is essential to developing strategies to deter conflict.

Cortez A. Cooper III

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What Ronald Reagan Can Teach Us About Dealing with Contemporary Russia

Politics loves its historical analogies and today, perhaps, there is no more common a comparison to the Trump presidency than the Reagan administration. Reagan's tenure was marked by his successful competition with the Soviet Union. Does Reagan provide a blueprint for triumphing over modern Russia?

Raphael S. Cohen, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins

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Three 'New Rules' Worth Considering for the Internet

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has called for new internet regulation starting in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy, and data portability. But why stop there? His proposal could be expanded to include much more: security-by-design, net worthiness, and updated internet business models.

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

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Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?

Europe faces mounting pressure from both Tehran and Washington regarding the Iran nuclear deal. European countries could take steps to signal their commitment to upholding the deal, but doing so may alienate the United States.

Ariane M. Tabatabai

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Hospital Prices, Border Solutions, Sri Lanka: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on hospital prices, common-sense solutions to the border crisis, myths about the Sri Lanka attacks, and more.

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U.S., Iran Must Both Tread Lightly with Tensions Running So High

Tensions between the United States and Iran have increased, raising concerns that they may be headed for war. But conflict is not inevitable. The United States and Iran could seek to re-establish communications channels, as well as look for available off-ramps to de-escalate tensions and keep the slightest misstep from spiraling into an all-out conflict.

Ariane M. Tabatabai, Becca Wasser

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Addressing the College Completion Problem

More than half of students who enter college end up dropping out without ever completing a degree or certificate. Time and money are wasted without the benefits of a degree. While colleges are experimenting with novel techniques to boost completion rates, strategic support from the federal government could further these efforts.

Lindsay Daugherty

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Urban Legend: Is Combat in Cities Really Inevitable?

Future combat will take place in dense urban areas and likely in megacities. These are the new “truths” that are taking hold in the U.S. military. But before going all-in on optimizing for urban operations, the U.S. military should take a deep breath and think carefully about future operations within the context of the National Defense Strategy.

David E. Johnson @DaveJohnsonDC

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Baghdadi Resurfaces: What It Means for ISIS's Global Terror Campaign

With last week's release of a video of Abu Bakr Baghdadi, ISIS showed that it's still got some life left—literally. The most important message to take away from the Baghdadi video may be that the Islamic State does not need territory to survive and even thrive.

Colin P. Clarke

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Sri Lanka's Easter Attacks: Dismantling Myths to Prevent the Next Attack

On Easter Sunday, suicide bombers hit six locations across Sri Lanka, killing more than 250 people. Even before ISIS claimed responsibility, there was no obvious connection to the quarter-century of violence that afflicted the nation until 2009. It is worth dismantling a few myths that might prevent better preparation for future attacks.

Jonah Blank

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With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military

In early April, Japan deployed its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad to join a multinational force not connected to the United Nations. This is the first time that SDF personnel will participate in overseas peacekeeping operations not under UN control. The difference may not seem important, but it is.

Jeffrey W. Hornung

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Mueller Report, ISIS Leader, Brexit: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how the Mueller report might affect Russia, the emergence of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, uncertainty over Brexit, and more.