International Affairs

Russia
commentary
Russia's Great Wall
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Jan 25, 2021
The Hill
China built a wall to protect against foreign invaders, but Russia is erecting a barrier that could weaken its position. Moscow's pressure on neighbors has spurred NATO to bolster its presence in Russia's immediate vicinity.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Welcoming a Stronger European Defense
Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Jan 22, 2021
RealClearWorld
Washington has bristled at the notion of a Europe capable of strategic autonomy in the past. But the Biden administration might do better to take seriously the prospect of Europe as a (potentially great) power, and welcome it.
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Return-to-Work Programs and Policies
commentary
Helping Mothers Return to Work Is a Gender Equality Issue
Michaela Bruckmayer, Joanna Hofman @JoannaBHofman
Jan 21, 2021
Open Access Government
Employers and policymakers play a crucial role in ensuring that women are not unnecessarily disadvantaged when they have children. Policies such as access to family leave, job protection, and childcare options can play a large role.
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Politics and Government
commentary
For Joe Biden, an Experienced Foreign Policy Team
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Jan 19, 2021
The Hill
As President-elect Biden fills out his foreign policy team he might wish to reach out to a few foreign affairs professionals who sat out the Trump administration in order to fill positions in fields where some degree of bipartisanship remains a possibility. These areas might include relations with allies and with the two major U.S. competitors, Russia and China.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
How Joe Biden Can Galvanize Space Diplomacy
Stephen J. Flanagan, Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock
Jan 15, 2021
Politico
The potential for conflicts to originate in outer space, or for terrestrial conflicts to extend there, has grown with the development of counterspace weapons and the explosion of commercial space activity. But previous efforts to establish norms have had limited results. The Biden administration has an opportunity, working with like-minded allies and partners, to galvanize nascent international efforts.
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Domestic Terrorism
blog
Political Violence, COVID-19 Vaccine Questions, Mental Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 15, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on why we need to brace for more political violence after the Capitol attack, COVID-19 vaccine questions and answers, how to reform the U.S. mental health system, and more.
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Base Realignment and Closure
commentary
Why Overseas Military Bases Continue to Make Sense for the United States
Raphael S. Cohen
Jan 14, 2021
War on the Rocks
Voices on the left and right have proposed downsizing America's overseas military footprint. While the merits of basing in a particular location should be open to debate, the underlying twin logics of deterrence and reassurance behind permanently stationing American forces overseas remain operationally, economically, and strategically as sound as ever.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Biden Will Inherit Healthy Indo-Pacific Alliances
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jan 11, 2021
Nikkei Asia
Certainly there is much work ahead as the United States embarks on the next chapter of competition against China throughout the Indo-Pacific. But U.S. alliances and partnerships are in good shape—the result of a growing Indo-Pacific consensus on the existential economic and security threat China poses.
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Disaster Recovery Operations
commentary
Previous Disasters Provide Important Lessons for Central America's Recovery from Hurricanes
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, David G. Groves
Jan 11, 2021
The National Interest
As the global community works together to assist Central America in recovering from the disastrous 2020 hurricane season, experiences from other recent disaster recovery efforts offer some helpful lessons, both for the governments of the region as well as outsiders providing resources and support.
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Vietnam
commentary
What Does Vietnam Want from the United States in the South China Sea?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jan 4, 2021
The Diplomat
Over the last few years, tensions between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea have remained high. While the Biden administration is likely to continue positive momentum in bilateral ties, it is less clear what specifically Hanoi seeks from Washington to help it effectively deter Beijing.
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Economic Development
commentary
Why We 'Send Them Money'
Raphael S. Cohen
Dec 30, 2020
The Hill
Why does the United States send foreign countries American taxpayer money? The answer, in short, is because it serves U.S. self-interest to do so. Aid is not some act of charity at the American taxpayers' expense; it can help keep Americans safer, more prosperous, and secure.
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Vaccination
commentary
Vaccine Nationalism May Seem Inevitable, but There Are Real Economic Consequences
Marco Hafner
Dec 30, 2020
Business Insider
Vaccine nationalism, in which countries prioritize their domestic needs at the expense of others, will have significant global economic consequences. Major economies actually have more to gain by helping to make an effective COVID-19 vaccine widely available globally.
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India
commentary
China Isn't Backing Down in South Asia
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Dec 30, 2020
Observer Research Foundation
Much to India's frustration, China's influence is on the rise across South Asia. India will probably have to work overtime, and in concert with like-minded partners such as Australia, Japan, and the United States to complicate and rein in China's successes in the region.
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Arms Proliferation and Control
commentary
Arms Control Held Hostage
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Dec 28, 2020
The Hill
President-elect Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have wisely promised to extend the 2010 New START Treaty, which cuts long-range nuclear arms. The two leaders may also pursue a broader follow-on accord, but frigid U.S.-Russian relations could put this out of reach. Progress on arms control often comes when political winds are warmer.
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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations
commentary
What the First-Ever EU LGBTIQ Strategy Means for Rainbow Families with Children
Natalie Picken
Dec 21, 2020
EU Observer
Rainbow families can face challenges because of ongoing discrimination against LGBTIQ people. The first-ever EU strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, intersex, and queer equality unveiled in November sets out actions and initiatives to ensure the safety and equal rights of LGBTIQ people in the EU.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
The Most Popular RAND Research of 2020
Dec 21, 2020
Here are the RAND research projects that resonated most in 2020, a year unlike any in living memory. Topics include remote learning, election disinformation, income inequality, and more.
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Page 1 of 137

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Quoted

China built a wall to protect against foreign invaders, but Russia is erecting a barrier that could weaken its position. On its western border from Finland in the north to Georgia in the south, Russia has pressured neighbors and caused NATO to deploy more military force close to Russia. The Kremlin probably did not intend to hand NATO this opportunity.

William Courtney

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Source: The Hill

Europeans already spend a lot on defense, but that spending is undercut by the redundancies and inefficiencies associated with so many countries building separate forces to serve separate political ends and nurture separate defense industries. The best remedy for that could be collectivization, or at the very least significantly greater coordination.

Michael Shurkin

Senior Political Scientist

Source: RealClearWorld

Most Attacks on Western Diplomatic Facilities Culminate in Two Hours or Less

What Role Will Telehealth Play After COVID-19?

Russia's Great Wall

Keeping COVID-19 Vaccines Moving, the Capitol Attack, Media Literacy: RAND Weekly Recap

Overcoming Hurdles to Herd Immunity

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Lightening Body Armor

International Affairs

Russia's Great Wall

Welcoming a Stronger European Defense

Helping Mothers Return to Work Is a Gender Equality Issue

For Joe Biden, an Experienced Foreign Policy Team

How Joe Biden Can Galvanize Space Diplomacy

Political Violence, COVID-19 Vaccine Questions, Mental Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap

Why Overseas Military Bases Continue to Make Sense for the United States

Biden Will Inherit Healthy Indo-Pacific Alliances

Previous Disasters Provide Important Lessons for Central America's Recovery from Hurricanes

What Does Vietnam Want from the United States in the South China Sea?

Why We 'Send Them Money'

Vaccine Nationalism May Seem Inevitable, but There Are Real Economic Consequences

China Isn't Backing Down in South Asia

Arms Control Held Hostage

What the First-Ever EU LGBTIQ Strategy Means for Rainbow Families with Children

The Most Popular RAND Research of 2020

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