International Diplomacy

Russia
commentary
Russia Chooses Paupers as Partners, with Questionable Benefit
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Feb 14, 2019
Newsweek
By leveraging the efficiencies of globalization and cultivating ties with prosperous partners, Russia could increase its economic potential and improve living standards for its people. And by engaging more positively with the world, it could gain influence in the forums that matter, such as the G20 and multilateral institutions.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
The Warsaw Summit Is No Madrid
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Feb 13, 2019
New Republic
The peace process begun in Madrid nearly 30 years ago showed promise, but ultimately stalled, and will need rethinking to adapt to today's Middle East. The world could use a worthy successor. The Warsaw summit probably isn't it.
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Iran
commentary
The Islamic Republic's Foreign Policy at Forty
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
Feb 8, 2019
Atlantic Council
Forty years have passed since the Islamic Revolution. While Iran hasn't departed from its revolutionary roots, its foreign policy today is largely shaped by threat perceptions and interests, not ideology.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
How the U.S. Is Thinking About the Quad
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Feb 7, 2019
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
The United States has been consistent in discussing the security objectives it seeks to promote through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. But U.S. interactions with other Quad partners have likely convinced Washington to repackage public presentation of the dialogue proceedings and manage its expectations of what the Quad can realistically achieve.
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Nuclear Disarmament
commentary
Hard to Predict Outcome of Second Trump-Kim Summit
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Feb 6, 2019
The National Interest
It is difficult to predict the outcome of the second summit between Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump. In September, 2018, Kim offered to fully denuclearize during President Trump's first term. But despite Kim's offer, he continued building nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, according to multiple reports. If Kim decides to keep stalling, serious tensions could follow.
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United States
blog
State of the Union 2019: Insights from RAND
Feb 6, 2019
To shed light on a wide range of topics that figured in President Trump's second State of the Union address, we've rounded up insights from some of RAND's objective and nonpartisan research, analysis, and expertise.
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Democracy
commentary
Democratic Bright Spots in the South Caucasus
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jan 23, 2019
The National Interest
Democratic bright spots are emerging in Armenia and Georgia despite their being wedged between less-than-democratic regional powers. Both countries seek to consolidate democratic gains and overcome poverty while managing daunting challenges from Russia and separatist conflicts. While pursuing these priorities, the countries deserve continued, strong Western support.
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Vietnam
commentary
Vietnam's Defense Policy of 'No' Quietly Saves Room for 'Yes'
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman, Dung Huynh
Jan 21, 2019
The Diplomat
U.S.-China tensions are rising in the South China Sea. Washington should take solace in the fact that Vietnam's “Three Nos” policy actually offers significant breathing room for defense cooperation.
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Globalization
commentary
Questioning the Presumption of a U.S.-China Power Transition
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Jan 9, 2019
The Diplomat
The United States occupies the central role in a world order that, while under growing duress, remains a central organizing framework in world affairs. There are many trajectories along which U.S.-China relations might evolve if China aims to displace the United States for global pre-eminence.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
The End of the End of History?
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Jan 8, 2019
The Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration has taken steps that represent a significant retreat from the norm-based, world order that the United States has championed since 1945. If this shift continues, what might be the impact?
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Economic Officers for the Future
Charles P. Ries @charles_ries
Jan 7, 2019
Foreign Service Journal
Economic officers must be, first of all, accomplished political officers. They should also have all the reporting, public speaking, and representational skills of any political or public diplomacy officer, coupled with a strong understanding of economic issues.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
The Good and Bad of the Trump Administration's New Africa Strategy
Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Dec 20, 2018
The Hill
The Trump administration's Africa strategy combines a turn away from counterterrorism as a priority, emphasis on trade, and working to help Africans solve their own problems, all of which could be opportunities for a more positive relationship. The implied prioritization of great power competition, however, suggests the real risk of a return to Cold War-era approach.
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Globalization
blog
Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2018
Dec 20, 2018
RAND experts publish hundreds of pieces of RAND Blog commentary every year, weighing in on pressing policy questions, breaking down current events, and untangling complex trends. To look back on some of the policy stories that defined the year, we've rounded up the RAND Blog pieces that resonated most with rand.org visitors.
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International Economic Relations
commentary
The Trump-Xi Meeting at G-20: Kicking the Can Down the Road
Rafiq Dossani
Dec 14, 2018
RealClearWorld
Much was expected of the discussion at the 2018 G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires between the United States and China on their ongoing trade war. However, nothing of significance emerged. With signs of a global economic slowdown surfacing earlier than expected, the failed outcomes of this meeting could come back to haunt world leaders.
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China
commentary
Is This the Beginning of a New Cold War?
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Dec 12, 2018
ChinaFile
It has become increasingly common for observers of world affairs to contend that the United States and China have either entered into or are poised to embark on a new Cold War. While the contours of a long-term contest between Washington and Beijing are undoubtedly forming, especially in the economic realm, the analogy is problematic.
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Russia
commentary
No Russian Let-Up on Ukraine
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Bradley Martin
Dec 7, 2018
Fox News Channel
Moscow's seizure of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine have led the West to sanction Russians and expand aid to Ukraine, and NATO to shift land and air forces eastward. Expanded Russian coercion may draw more NATO naval power closer to Russia’s shores and lead to tougher sanctions.
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International Diplomacy

Russia Chooses Paupers as Partners, with Questionable Benefit

The Warsaw Summit Is No Madrid

The Islamic Republic's Foreign Policy at Forty

How the U.S. Is Thinking About the Quad

Hard to Predict Outcome of Second Trump-Kim Summit

State of the Union 2019: Insights from RAND

Democratic Bright Spots in the South Caucasus

Vietnam's Defense Policy of 'No' Quietly Saves Room for 'Yes'

Questioning the Presumption of a U.S.-China Power Transition

The End of the End of History?

Economic Officers for the Future

The Good and Bad of the Trump Administration's New Africa Strategy

Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2018

The Trump-Xi Meeting at G-20: Kicking the Can Down the Road

Is This the Beginning of a New Cold War?

No Russian Let-Up on Ukraine

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