Politics and Government

Iran
commentary
The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Jun 17, 2019
The Hill
Even if the United States and Iran avoid a direct military clash, the escalation and the U.S. maximum pressure campaign are exacting long-term costs for U.S. interests and regional stability in ways that may be difficult if not impossible to reverse.
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Democracy
commentary
A Democratic Spring Could Be Stirring in Eurasia. The West's Quiet Support Can Help
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jun 13, 2019
Newsweek
An incipient Eurasian “democratic spring” may not yet be on the horizon, but political awareness and civil society are gaining ground. The West could contribute by continuing to help to fill information vacuums, and by offering training and support for nurturing civil society, conducting free and fair elections, and developing competitive politics.
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India
commentary
Modi Fans Nationalist Flames, Cruises to Victory in Indian Elections
Rafiq Dossani
Jun 3, 2019
The Hill
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2019 victory was a much greater achievement than his equally unexpected victory five years ago. Recognizing his weak position on economic and social issues, Modi shifted his campaign to a nationalist plank, and his party won overwhelmingly even in states where it lost elections just six months prior.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
This Is Not a Great-Power Competition
Michael J. Mazarr
May 29, 2019
Foreign Affairs
The emerging conventional wisdom among foreign policy analysts in Washington is that a new era of great-power competition is upon us. But does that phrase really capture today's reality?
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United Kingdom
commentary
The End of May: Another Brexit Victim
Charles P. Ries @charles_ries
May 27, 2019
The Hill
What brought down British Prime Minister Theresa May? The essential contradictions of Brexit and a British public that cannot muster a majority for any Brexit outcome.
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Iran
commentary
The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
May 17, 2019
Haaretz
Since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, tensions between the two countries have increased. Washington has stepped up pressure on Tehran in the hopes of reopening negotiations or ushering in the regime's collapse, while inside Iran, President Rouhani is facing pressure to retaliate.
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The Internet
blog
RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age: Three Takeaways
May 13, 2019
How has the rise of digital technology shaped the way that news is presented? RAND researchers conducted an empirical study to find out. Here's what you need to know from their findings.
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Japan
commentary
With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military
Jeffrey W. Hornung
May 3, 2019
Foreign Policy
In early April, Japan deployed its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad to join a multinational force not connected to the United Nations. This is the first time that SDF personnel will participate in overseas peacekeeping operations not under UN control. The difference may not seem important, but it is.
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United Kingdom
commentary
Finding the Real Will of the People
Charlene Rohr, Jonathan Grant
Apr 30, 2019
The New European
It's not surprising that the British Parliament is struggling to find a solution to the Brexit impasse. That's because the 2016 vote revealed nothing about the sort of Brexit people actually wanted. When researchers asked Brits to choose between four options in 2017, there was no obvious winner.
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Indonesia
commentary
What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia
Jonah Blank
Apr 25, 2019
Foreign Affairs
On April 17, Indonesia conducted the largest single-day vote in any nation's history. President Joko Widodo has likely netted a second term. What does that mean for his nation and its place in the world?
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Warfare and Military Operations
commentary
Yes, the U.S. Could Be Drawn Into Yet Another Big War
Michael J. Mazarr
Apr 19, 2019
The Wall Street Journal
The outcome of the Iraq invasion has done little to alter the factors that have led American leaders and the public into unwise military adventures. Today's big idea of America's mission is not so different from what it was in 2003. Any number of events could spark a new moral imperative to act.
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Syria
commentary
Economic Sanctions and Carpet Bombing Are Similarly Ruinous
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Apr 15, 2019
The Hill
For American policymakers, economic sanctions are too often the soft choice between doing nothing and taking effective but risky or expensive action. Yet, before they inflict years, perhaps decades of impoverishment and worse on entire populations, they should ask if their efforts are likely to succeed and are worth punishing an entire people.
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Law of War
commentary
'Game of Thrones' Reflections on International Relations
Rebecca Jensen, Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Apr 11, 2019
The RAND Blog
As two RAND researchers join millions of others in eagerly awaiting the final season of Game of Thrones, they reflect on one of the show's central themes: rival views of the nature of power and justice.
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Taiwan
commentary
A Taiwan Diplomatic Victory Over China Could Be Inevitable
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Mar 21, 2019
The National Interest
It is likely that Taipei will lose diplomatic allies unless a cross-Strait agreement is reached on the 1992 Consensus. But it is perhaps equally inevitable that Taiwan will convince at least one or more states to recognize Taiwan over China. Such a development would help counter the narrative that Taiwan sovereignty is doomed.
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Terrorism
commentary
The Christchurch Massacre Was Another Internet-Enabled Atrocity
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 20, 2019
The Hill
Terrorism has become an internet-enabled abuse—incited, propagated, and sometimes organized and concealed by online activity. Who should be held accountable for abusive content, the author or the publisher? And what role should the government play in regulating it?
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Capacity Building
commentary
Building a Capacity Framework for U.S. City Diplomacy
Jay Wang, Sohaela Amiri
Mar 11, 2019
USC Center on Public Diplomacy
As U.S. cities are home to two thirds of the population, the practice of city diplomacy has become essential for local communities to thrive in a globalized society. What are the necessary skills, capabilities, and resources required to craft an effective global engagement strategy?
Read More »

Page 1 of 35

…

The Nature and Potential of Community Citizen Science

The Outlook for Russia's Growing Military Power

Waking Up to the Costs of Nocturia

The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting

The Leonard Schaeffer Medals

The Policy Currents Podcast

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Politics and Government

The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting

A Democratic Spring Could Be Stirring in Eurasia. The West's Quiet Support Can Help

Modi Fans Nationalist Flames, Cruises to Victory in Indian Elections

This Is Not a Great-Power Competition

The End of May: Another Brexit Victim

The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric

RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age: Three Takeaways

With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military

Finding the Real Will of the People

What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia

Yes, the U.S. Could Be Drawn Into Yet Another Big War

Economic Sanctions and Carpet Bombing Are Similarly Ruinous

'Game of Thrones' Reflections on International Relations

A Taiwan Diplomatic Victory Over China Could Be Inevitable

The Christchurch Massacre Was Another Internet-Enabled Atrocity

Building a Capacity Framework for U.S. City Diplomacy

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