Politics and Government

Middle East
commentary
COVID-19 Impacts on Strategic Dynamics in the Middle East
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Mar 26, 2020
The RAND Blog
The pandemic is sure to have transformational effects everywhere, and the Middle East is no exception. But it's unlikely that the crisis will lead to new regional strategic dynamics. Rather, it's more likely to reinforce existing and largely negative trend lines.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Ties with the West Rhyme
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Mar 23, 2020
The Hill
With Vladimir Putin seeking constitutional changes that could allow him to stay as president until the 2030s, Russia's strained relations with the West may persist. But if it chooses, Russia can chart a more dynamic future with closer Western ties.
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Politics and Government
commentary
'New Zimbabwe' Looks an Awful Lot Like the Old One
Alexander H. Noyes @alexhnoyes
Mar 11, 2020
Vanguard Africa
Zimbabwe's president Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a break from Mugabe's repressive rule and economic decline. To help support Zimbabwe's recovery, international actors would be wise to push the government to respect the country's 2013 constitution and push for genuine political, security, and economic reforms.
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Russia
commentary
Wake-Up Call for Russia
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Mar 9, 2020
The Hill
Deteriorating living standards have put Russians on edge, and fears of economic stagnation have risen. Russia has the capacity to do better. So why is the economy stagnating?
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
commentary
A Coronavirus Election? Look to the Bottom of the Ticket
Patrick Roberts @RamblingRoberts
Mar 9, 2020
The Washington Post
As the coronavirus spreads in communities, it will be mayors, county judges, and school superintendents—not federal officials—who make the tough calls about whether to declare a state of emergency or shutter public schools and other institutions.
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Democracy
commentary
Family Matters: More of the Same in Togo
Alexander H. Noyes @alexhnoyes, Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Mar 6, 2020
World Politics Review
Faure Gnassingbe was reelected in February to a fourth term as president of Togo. The result was no surprise. Due to the stacked system he and his father built, Faure is likely to rule until 2030 or beyond.
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Media Literacy
blog
Panel: How the Media Can Help Fight Truth Decay
Feb 25, 2020
Truth Decay is the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. As part of this phenomenon, Americans are losing faith in once-trusted sources of information, including the news. How might media organizations address this?
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Maternal Health
blog
Infectious Diseases, Zimbabwe, Students with Disabilities: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 14, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the U.S. response to infectious diseases, Zimbabwe after Mugabe, the support for students with disabilities, and more.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Where Does China's 'One Country, Two Systems' Stand in 2020?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Feb 13, 2020
The Diplomat
Hong Kong and Macau live under “one country, two systems,” and China aspires to include Taiwan in the future as well. But President Tsai Ing-wen's landslide re-election in Taiwan on January 11 resoundingly demonstrates that the arrangement is dead on arrival there.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Peace with the Region Is Not a Peace Plan
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Feb 13, 2020
Al-Monitor
Acceptance of Israel from the broader Arab world will not resolve the dilemma of how the Israelis and the Palestinians can agree to live on the same land together. A viable plan for the future, one that is about real peace and not a one-sided political gambit, must recognize these realities.
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Politics and Government
commentary
Little Has Changed in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe
Alexander H. Noyes @alexhnoyes
Feb 7, 2020
Council on Foreign Relations
After decades in power, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was toppled via a military coup in November 2017. His successor Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a break from Mugabe's authoritarian rule and economic mismanagement. After two years in power, to what extent has Mnangagwa delivered on his promises? In short, it's bleak.
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Democracy
blog
Civic Engagement and Health, the State of the Union, Better Sleep: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 7, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the link between civic engagement and health, policy insights from the State of the Union address, what couples can do to improve their sleep, and more.
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Politics and Government
blog
State of the Union 2020: Insights from RAND
Feb 5, 2020
The final State of the Union address of President Trump's four-year term may be viewed through the lens of the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the evening. But the speech touched on a range of policy challenges that will remain, regardless of how politics play out in 2020.
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Social Determinants of Health
commentary
Rx Civic Engagement: Keeping the Public Engaged in Public Health
Christopher Nelson, Anita Chandra
Feb 4, 2020
Las Vegas Sun
Civic engagement—activities like voting and volunteering—is essential for the health of democracy. A turn at the ballot box might also improve physical and mental health.
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Iran
commentary
Iran Claws Back Its Regional Influence
Jordan R. Reimer @Jordan_R_Reimer
Jan 17, 2020
The World Post
Last year, Iran faced protests at home as well as in Iraq and Lebanon, where thousands rallied against Tehran's regional hegemony. But with its recent machinations and the fallout over the killing of Soleimani, Iran has succeeded in changing the regional conversation.
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Iraq
commentary
Iraq at the Crossroads
Linda Robinson @RobinsonL100
Dec 18, 2019
Fox News Channel
The protests gripping Iraq pose an extraordinary challenge to Baghdad's political leadership, which must move the country ahead or step aside. Unless it finds the will to compromise for the common good, the governing class could risk thrusting the country into civil war.
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…

Quoted

If people can come together around COVID-19, and all developments are showing that they can, then perhaps they can be equally innovative in tackling many of the more silent 'COVIDs' of the time—i.e., the less immediately impactful but equally urgent and important challenges associated with aging and frailty, mental health, cancer, comorbidities, and health inequalities as just some examples.

Sonja Marjanovic

Senior Research Leader and Head of THIS Institute-RAND Europe partnership

Source: The RAND Blog

The price to be paid for not doing everything possible to impede the spread of the pandemic in terms of readiness and letting soldiers (along with their families and any other civilians with whom they interact) get sick could be significant.

Michael Shurkin

Senior Political Scientist

Source: War on the Rocks

The Defense Industrial Base Needs a Cyber Protection Program

Supporting Students' College and Career Pathways: Teacher and Principal Perspectives

Online Doesn't Have to Mean Impersonal

Amidst a Pandemic, a Mental Health Crisis May Be Looming

The Economic Impacts of COVID-19

The Policy Currents Podcast

Helping Children Cope with Trauma: A School-Based Intervention

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Addressing the Invisible Wounds of War

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Politics and Government

COVID-19 Impacts on Strategic Dynamics in the Middle East

Russia's Ties with the West Rhyme

'New Zimbabwe' Looks an Awful Lot Like the Old One

Wake-Up Call for Russia

A Coronavirus Election? Look to the Bottom of the Ticket

Family Matters: More of the Same in Togo

Panel: How the Media Can Help Fight Truth Decay

Infectious Diseases, Zimbabwe, Students with Disabilities: RAND Weekly Recap

Where Does China's 'One Country, Two Systems' Stand in 2020?

Peace with the Region Is Not a Peace Plan

Little Has Changed in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe

Civic Engagement and Health, the State of the Union, Better Sleep: RAND Weekly Recap

State of the Union 2020: Insights from RAND

Rx Civic Engagement: Keeping the Public Engaged in Public Health

Iran Claws Back Its Regional Influence

Iraq at the Crossroads

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