RAND >

Politics and Government

Pakistan
commentary
New Pakistan, Old Challenges
Rafiq Dossani, Jalal Awan
Oct 17, 2018
The National Interest
While the United States has been voicing concerns about the destabilizing potential of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan needs the economic stability that initiative could bring. As long as Pakistan remains a poor country, its democracy will be at risk.
Read More »

Iran
commentary
America's Indefinite Endgame in Syria
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
Oct 16, 2018
The Atlantic
The Trump administration's position on the Syrian civil war has shifted from countering ISIS to containing Iran. America will remain in Syria as long as Iran does. But an unending timetable for the withdrawal of troops is far more problematic for Washington than it is for Tehran.
Read More »
Politics and Government
commentary
We Asked the British Public What Kind of Brexit They Want—and a Norway-Like Deal Is the Clear Winner
Charlene Rohr, David Howarth, Jonathan Grant
Oct 11, 2018
The Conversation
The Brexit referendum outcome reveals very little about what people actually wanted. But a RAND Europe study of what people value about the EU finds that their priorities map most squarely onto a Norway-style model for future relations between the UK and the EU.
Read More »
Nuclear Disarmament
commentary
North Korean Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Oct 11, 2018
Newsweek
Kim Jong Un has regularly promised to denuclearize, but he's been all talk. And this year, North Korea has probably built five to nine more nuclear weapons. There are steps that could make a difference if taken before the North Korean nuclear weapon threat grows any further.
Read More »
Japan
commentary
Japan's Invisible Hand
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Oct 10, 2018
The Japan Times
Shinzo Abe has cemented his position as Japan's prime minister for the next three years. Now he is expected to make a concerted push for revising the Constitution, which has not been amended since 1947. But the Japanese public is not convinced of the need to revise the Constitution, making his efforts likely to fail.
Read More »
China
commentary
What Does China's Pursuit of a Global Coalition Mean for World Politics?
Timothy R. Heath
Oct 8, 2018
Pacific Forum
As disputes between Beijing and Washington over trade and other issues intensify, analysts have highlighted domestic factors as reasons why President Xi Jinping may resist compromise. However, China's pursuit of a greater international leadership role likely plays an overlooked, but increasingly important role.
Read More »
Russia
commentary
Russia's Neighbors Want Alternatives
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Oct 4, 2018
The National Interest
The longer Russia delays in improving relations with its neighbors, the more likely they will pursue alternative options. It is also likely that tensions will persist between those neighbors and Russia—and in Russia's relationship with the West. Efforts to ease that tension should be high on the list of Western priorities with Russia.
Read More »
Civic Education
blog
Conversation at RAND: Truth Decay
Oct 2, 2018
The recent erosion of public trust in facts and institutions is not the first period of truth decay in U.S. history. What's different this time is the increasing disagreement about objective facts. Jennifer Kavanagh and William “Pat” Getty discussed the trend and how to stop it.
Read More »
Politics and Government
commentary
Reforming Security Assistance: Why the State Department Can't Lead from Behind
Michael J. McNerney, Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney
Sep 5, 2018
The Hill
The reforms in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act are driving the Department of Defense to improve security cooperation planning. Similar reforms for the State Department could help leaders there more effectively communicate the value of security assistance and maintain their traditional leadership role.
Read More »
Politics and Government
commentary
Taking Stock of a Shifting World Order
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Aug 31, 2018
Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte
The postwar order seems poised to continue eroding, without a clear alternative in the offing. It has often taken cataclysmic events to inaugurate new eras of geopolitical order, but one hopes that the postwar order will instead be reinvigorated through farsighted statecraft.
Read More »
Politics and Government
commentary
McCain's Heroism
Phillip Carter @Carter_PE
Aug 27, 2018
Slate
John McCain's heroism will forever punctuate America's memory of the Vietnam War, reminding us both of the horrors of war and the human potential to transcend them. His heroism also stands out because of how it empowered him as a congressman and senator to do things others could not.
Read More »
Information Operations
commentary
Iran's Disinformation Campaigns
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
Aug 24, 2018
Foreign Affairs
New reports suggest that the Kremlin may have company in its efforts to shape the United States' domestic information landscape: Iran. As Americans prepare to return to the voting booths this fall, Washington would be well advised to look into Iran's disinformation capabilities and intentions.
Read More »
Globalization
commentary
The Global Order Will Outlast U.S. Leadership
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 23, 2018
The Wall Street Journal
Even if America bails on the international order there is plenty of evidence that Europe, China, Japan, and the rest of the developed world will maintain existing multilateral structures and build new ones. The order will survive but may become less liberal, less democratic, and perhaps less peaceful.
Read More »
Information Operations
commentary
Here's How Russia Will Try to Interfere in the 2018 Elections
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Aug 14, 2018
Fox News Channel
Russia will threaten U.S. midterm elections in November, although by how much is unclear. Moscow might be more restrained this year, but it could be wilier.
Read More »
Democracy
commentary
Freedom of the Internet 'Press'
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 10, 2018
The Hill
The First Amendment protects the rights of companies such as Facebook and YouTube to publish what they choose. Arguing against this right could lead to government regulation over digital media. It could also further degrade the reliability of online information.
Read More »
International Diplomacy
commentary
The Roots—and Purpose—of the Post-War Order
Michael J. Mazarr
Aug 7, 2018
Foreign Affairs
As the world enters an era of greater international competition, U.S. policymakers should take care not to underestimate the importance of the postwar system. The order is far from a myth; it is the United States' most important competitive advantage.
Read More »

Page 1 of 32

…

Politics and Government

New Pakistan, Old Challenges

America's Indefinite Endgame in Syria

We Asked the British Public What Kind of Brexit They Want—and a Norway-Like Deal Is the Clear Winner

North Korean Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words

Japan's Invisible Hand

What Does China's Pursuit of a Global Coalition Mean for World Politics?

Russia's Neighbors Want Alternatives

Conversation at RAND: Truth Decay

Reforming Security Assistance: Why the State Department Can't Lead from Behind

Taking Stock of a Shifting World Order

McCain's Heroism

Iran's Disinformation Campaigns

The Global Order Will Outlast U.S. Leadership

Here's How Russia Will Try to Interfere in the 2018 Elections

Freedom of the Internet 'Press'

The Roots—and Purpose—of the Post-War Order

Contact Us

Follow