The RAND Blog

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
commentary
A New Era? NATO's Prioritisation of Human Security in an Insecure World
Kaleigh Heard
Aug 10, 2022
The RAND Blog
Human security and NATO's role and responsibility to protect civilians during conflict saw new prioritization in the alliance's 2022 Strategic Concept. While much progress has been made, more could be done to ensure the alliance can deliver on these commitments.
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Ukraine
commentary
The Case for Cautious Optimism in Ukraine
Raphael S. Cohen, Gian Gentile
Aug 9, 2022
Foreign Policy
While the outcome of the war in Ukraine is by no means clear, the balance of materiel, manpower, and willpower all seem to make the case for cautious optimism. Although Ukraine is unlikely to throw Russia back to its borders any time soon, the war will likely trend in Ukraine's favor in the coming months. But only if the West does not blink first.
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Military Strategy
commentary
Is the Virtue in the Weapon or the Cause?
David E. Johnson @DaveJohnsonDC
Aug 5, 2022
Lawfire
The Biden administration's recent announcement of its intention to adhere to the provisions of the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel landmines has real consequences. This decision is the latest in the long controversy over the use of anti-personnel landmines and, more broadly, what means are moral in war.
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Organizational Leadership
blog
Our New CEO, Algorithmic Bias, Equity in the Workplace: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 5, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on what RAND’s new president and CEO envisions for the future, addressing bias in health care algorithms, creating equitable change in the workplace, and more.
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Space Science and Technology
commentary
Russia's Withdrawal from the ISS, Another Sign of Its Space Decline?
Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock, Jan Osburg
Aug 4, 2022
United Press International
Russia's threatened exit from the International Space Station could simply be more bluster from Moscow at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But it also appears to be another signal that Russia's profile in space is in decline, a trend that is likely to continue and that the United States could be preparing for now.
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Organizational Leadership
essay
'The Future Could Be Brilliant': RAND's CEO Is an 'Apocaloptimist'
Aug 4, 2022
Jason Matheny, RAND's new president and CEO, explains why he's cautiously optimistic about the future of humanity, the importance of public service, and RAND's role in shaping policy solutions.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
After the al-Zawahiri Strike, the U.S. May Lack Capabilities in Afghanistan
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 3, 2022
Newsweek
The U.S. drone strike that killed Al Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan took out one of the last remaining key figures behind the 9/11 terror attacks. But it also highlighted how little the United States got out of its 2020 bargain with the Taliban, and raised questions about the U.S. ability to adequately monitor the developing threat from this quarter going forward.
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Pregnancy
commentary
How Policies That Punish Pregnant Women Backfire
Rachel Landis, Laura J. Faherty @LauraFahertyMD, Mishka Terplan
Aug 2, 2022
Santa Monica Daily Press
There is overwhelming evidence and consensus from the medical and public health communities that supportive approaches are what help pregnant women with substance use disorders. Unfortunately, the overturning of Roe v. Wade has opened the door for more policies that police and punish women rather than evidence-based solutions that we know can, do, and will save lives.
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Labor Markets
commentary
Got a Labor Shortage? Make It Easier to Work
Kathryn A. Edwards @keds_economist
Aug 2, 2022
Bloomberg
If the United States wants to avoid a long-term worker shortage, it should look to what policy can—but has failed to—fully address. We have a long history using carrots and sticks, but this is a problem we may not be able to cajole or punish our way out of. Finding workers can be as simple as giving more people a chance to work.
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Workforce Diversity
commentary
Seven Ways to Build a Truly Equitable DEI Strategy
Rhianna C. Rogers
Aug 1, 2022
Fast Company
Despite growth in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles worldwide, not much has changed with the power structure in DEI spaces, which still center on the C-suite and tend to be populated with groups that are less knowledgeable on research in DEI. Here are seven strategies for building a more-equitable DEI program.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Could U.S. Weapons Assistance to Ukraine Lead to Russian Escalation?
Samuel Charap @scharap, Jeremy Shapiro
Aug 1, 2022
New York Times
The United States and its allies should certainly continue providing Ukraine with the matériel it needs, but they should also—in close consultation with Kyiv—begin opening channels of communication with Russia. An eventual cease-fire should be the goal, even as the path to it remains uncertain.
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Military Strategy
commentary
Might Russia Turn to Terror Bombing Civilians in Ukraine?
Karl P. Mueller
Jul 29, 2022
The RAND Blog
Recent Russian missile attacks against civilian targets in cities far away from the front lines have killed scores of Ukrainians, leading to widespread outrage. These events raise the question of whether the war in Ukraine is entering a new phase in which terror attacks might become common.
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Russia
blog
Talking to Russia, Racial Bias, Mine-Hunting Dolphins: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 29, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on preventing escalation of the war in Ukraine, how racial bias compounds over time, why the Navy should stick with its mine-hunting dolphins, and more.
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Cybersecurity
commentary
Hack Post-Quantum Cryptography Now So That Bad Actors Don't Do It Later
Edward Parker, Michael J. D. Vermeer @MJDVermeer
Jul 28, 2022
Lawfare
The U.S. government should consider offering a public cash bounty to anyone who can crack the new forms of encryption that are being rolled out to defend against quantum computers. If a bounty helps catch a vulnerability before it's deployed, then the modest cost of the bounty could prevent much higher costs down the line.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Another 'Hotline' with China Isn't the Answer
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris, Kyle Marcrum
Jul 27, 2022
Pacific Forum
While well-intentioned, another U.S.-PRC hotline would give false hope that the two countries would resolve disputes more rapidly during a crisis. The United States is better off changing its expectations, understanding how the PRC views crisis communications, and shifting the focus to the internal, inter-agency process by which U.S. policymakers would coordinate in a crisis with Beijing.
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Oceania
commentary
China's Pacific Push Is Backfiring
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 26, 2022
Foreign Policy
Beijing has had only limited success in spreading its influence in the Pacific, with the notable exceptions of the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. To be sure, other victories should be expected to follow. The overall picture, however, is far more challenging for China.
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…

Quoted

While new commitments see NATO furthering its human security efforts across alliance activities and mainstreaming these approaches, the reality remains that these commitments can appear vague and open ended, suggesting there is much to be desired in terms of specific direction that NATO forces are required to operationalise and implement.

Kaleigh Heard

Senior Analyst

Source: The RAND Blog

The presence of the Al Qaida leader in Kabul does show that the United States got little in the way of anti-terror benefits in exchange for its agreement to leave Afghanistan. That the Taliban would agree to host al-Zawahiri also enhances the credibility of numerous reports of other terrorist groups taking up residence there, suggesting the opening of a virtual Star Wars cafe of violent extremist movements in Afghanistan.

James Dobbins

Senior Fellow

Source: Newsweek

Hypothetical Scenarios of U.S.-China Conflict

Educators' Views on Politicized Topics in School

A New Era? NATO's Prioritisation of Human Security in an Insecure World

The Case for Cautious Optimism in Ukraine

Three Steps to Protect Communities from Climate Change

The Policy Currents Podcast

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

The RAND Blog

A New Era? NATO's Prioritisation of Human Security in an Insecure World

The Case for Cautious Optimism in Ukraine

Is the Virtue in the Weapon or the Cause?

Our New CEO, Algorithmic Bias, Equity in the Workplace: RAND Weekly Recap

Russia's Withdrawal from the ISS, Another Sign of Its Space Decline?

'The Future Could Be Brilliant': RAND's CEO Is an 'Apocaloptimist'

After the al-Zawahiri Strike, the U.S. May Lack Capabilities in Afghanistan

How Policies That Punish Pregnant Women Backfire

Got a Labor Shortage? Make It Easier to Work

Seven Ways to Build a Truly Equitable DEI Strategy

Could U.S. Weapons Assistance to Ukraine Lead to Russian Escalation?

Might Russia Turn to Terror Bombing Civilians in Ukraine?

Talking to Russia, Racial Bias, Mine-Hunting Dolphins: RAND Weekly Recap

Hack Post-Quantum Cryptography Now So That Bad Actors Don't Do It Later

Another 'Hotline' with China Isn't the Answer

China's Pacific Push Is Backfiring

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