Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Schools and COVID-19, Health Care Resources, Leaving Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 20, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on allocating scarce but lifesaving resources during a pandemic, insights from America’s educators, the lopsided telework revolution, and more.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
How to Build Better Militaries in Africa: Lessons from Niger
Alexander H. Noyes @alexhnoyes, Ashley Bybee, Paul Clarke
Oct 2, 2020
Council on Foreign Relations
To help counter the threat of terrorism and build the capacity of African militaries, the U.S. government spends over $1.5 billion a year on security assistance to the African continent. Does this support work?
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Competition in Iraq
Ben Connable, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Jun 5, 2020
Rudaw
Tensions between the United States and Iran reached a boiling point in January 2020, when Iranian-backed forces attacked U.S. military and diplomatic facilities on Iraqi soil, and the United States retaliated. Policymakers and experts again asked: Why are we in Iraq? What would happen if we left, and why would it matter?
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Iran
commentary
Does the U.S. Deal with the Taliban Present Opportunities for Iran in Afghanistan?
Colin P. Clarke, Ariane M. Tabatabai
Apr 6, 2020
Defense One
Iran is watching closely as the United States and the Taliban negotiate an end to America's operations in Afghanistan. If the expected withdrawal of significant U.S. forces destabilizes Afghanistan, how much will Tehran assert its influence over its neighbor to the east?
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Afghanistan
commentary
Peace Hasn't Broken Out in Afghanistan
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 16, 2020
Foreign Affairs
The United States and the Taliban signed a preliminary peace deal in February, aimed at ending nearly 19 years of war in Afghanistan and calling for the United States to gradually withdraw its troops. But talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government called for in the agreement and scheduled to begin on March 10 did not happen. What happens now?
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Russia
blog
Russian Subversion, Truth Decay, Supervised Drug Consumption Sites: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 28, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on responding to Russian subversion, how the media can help fight Truth Decay, the first supervised drug consumption site in the United States, artificial intelligence, and more.
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Afghanistan
commentary
The First Step on a Long Path to Peace in Afghanistan
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Feb 27, 2020
The Hill
It has taken 10 years to reach the brink of a first substantial step in toward peace in Afghanistan. Much could still go wrong. Can the Taliban and the Afghan government come together to jointly govern the country?
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Russia
blog
New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 21, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on why the United States should extend the New START agreement, Trump's Middle East peace plan, new tobacco products, and more.
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Syria
blog
The Syria Withdrawal, Climate Policy, Drones: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 25, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on the effects of the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, one expert's take on climate policy, how drones could help get blood to soldiers who need it, and more.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
The Syrian Withdrawal: Where Things Stand
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Oct 21, 2019
Fox News
Without an orderly process for its national security decisions, the Trump administration has defaulted to the worst option regarding Syria. The sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces has left an opening for Russia to exploit. It also left the Kurds, a U.S. partner, to fend off a Turkish assault.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Indecision in Washington Compounded the Kurds' Dilemma
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Oct 18, 2019
The Hill
Core qualities of statesmanship and statecraft have been notably lacking in charting the U.S. administration's Syria end game. This has compounded the unavoidable costs of withdrawal with charges of betrayal and a retreat under fire.
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Counterinsurgency
commentary
Making Headway Against the Sinai Insurgency
David E. Thaler, Yousuf Abdelfatah
Aug 12, 2019
Small Wars Journal
Since 2013, Egypt has been engaged in the Sinai Peninsula against a deadly ISIS-affiliated insurgency. To make headway, the Egyptian government could focus on providing services in the region and repairing its relationship with citizens.
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United States
blog
RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 5, 2019
For busy staff, August's respite from back-to-back meetings, hearing preparation, and late votes is hard-earned. The summer recess also provides an opportunity to get ahead of issues that will resurface in the fall. To that end, we have compiled recent RAND research on topics likely to top the congressional agenda come September.
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Refugees
commentary
Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Apr 19, 2019
The National Interest
Active fighting in Syria is dwindling. But Syria remains divided in a frozen conflict and empty peace, unstable and unlikely to attract the investment in reconstruction, public institutions, job creation, and local reconciliation efforts needed to motivate Syrians in large numbers to return home.
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Syria
commentary
The Syrian Civil War Is Coming to an End
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Apr 8, 2019
Newsweek
Coalition forces have driven ISIS from its final patch of territory in Syria. But the bigger challenge will be ending the ongoing civil war and rebuilding Syria to bring home millions of refugees and internally displaced people. This means creating a state that can provide safety, security, and opportunity that forestalls further rebellion and devastation.
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Libya
commentary
Is an Escalation Imminent in Western Libya?
Nathan Vest
Mar 27, 2019
RealClearWorld
The Libyan Civil War has largely been contained to pockets of violence. Prolonged battles decimated cities such as Benghazi, Derna, and Sirte, but the majority of the country has been spared large-scale destruction. However, that could change soon.
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…

Quoted

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

Insulated from the partisan passions that sunder our politics and our society, a January 6 Commission created by Congress or the Biden administration could analyze whether this was an isolated uprising or the harbinger of more to come. It could make recommendations to prevent such attacks in the future in Washington or at statehouses throughout the country.

Brian Michael Jenkins

Senior Adviser to the RAND President

Source: Los Angeles Times

What Role Will Telehealth Play After COVID-19?

Rethinking the U.S. Approach to the World

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

Welcoming a Stronger European Defense

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

Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Schools and COVID-19, Health Care Resources, Leaving Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap

How to Build Better Militaries in Africa: Lessons from Niger

Competition in Iraq

Does the U.S. Deal with the Taliban Present Opportunities for Iran in Afghanistan?

Peace Hasn't Broken Out in Afghanistan

Russian Subversion, Truth Decay, Supervised Drug Consumption Sites: RAND Weekly Recap

The First Step on a Long Path to Peace in Afghanistan

New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap

The Syria Withdrawal, Climate Policy, Drones: RAND Weekly Recap

The Syrian Withdrawal: Where Things Stand

Indecision in Washington Compounded the Kurds' Dilemma

Making Headway Against the Sinai Insurgency

RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress

Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon

The Syrian Civil War Is Coming to an End

Is an Escalation Imminent in Western Libya?

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