Religious Fundamentalism

Politics and Government

commentary
U.S. and Israel on Parallel Paths
From the political roles of religious fundamentalism, to the inability of either side to find compromise with the other, to leaders facing legal struggles, the United States and Israel have a lot in common.
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Sep 6, 2023
The Jerusalem Post
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

Counterterrorism

commentary
Counterproductive Counterinsurgency: Is Mozambique Creating the Next Boko Haram?
Despite recent claims of ties to the Islamic State, the threat in Mozambique from the Islamist insurgent group al-Sunnah wa Jamaah appears to be domestic, with scarce evidence of direct ties to international extremist groups. But if the Mozambique government continues to respond in a heavy-handed manner, the threat is likely to grow, with potentially devastating effects for the country and region.
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Sep 3, 2019
Lawfare
Hilary Matfess, Alexander Noyes @alexhnoyes
Terrorist Organizations

commentary
How to Defeat a New Boko Haram in Mali
While there is a need for stepped up military and police efforts against the self-proclaimed Macina Liberation Front, Mali's policymakers and their international partners need to focus on countering revivalist Islam, ideally by promoting Mali's other Islamic traditions, while finding ways to calm the inter-communal competition.
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Sep 8, 2015
Newsweek
Michael Shurkin
Terrorism Threat Assessment

commentary
The Allure of ISIS for Young Recruits
Poverty and oppression may explain why people in some countries embrace violent extremism, but it does not account for the flow of Western volunteers or the dreamy allure of fighting for a faraway cause. Biographies of those who have reached out to participate in jihad suggest a variety of motives, including alienation, personal crises, dissatisfaction with empty spiritual lives, and adolescent rebellion.
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Mar 20, 2015
The Hill
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Counterterrorism

commentary
Tackling Radicalization Before It Begins
Why not turn the question of violent extremism inside out and develop programs that reinforce non-radicalization? That is, rather than eliminating drivers, focus instead on strengthening the factors that inhibit violent extremism.
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Feb 23, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Kim Cragin
Egypt

commentary
What's Next for the Muslim Brotherhood?
Some believe the Muslim Brotherhood should stay in the political game, adopting the role of loyal opposition. The Brotherhood would remain a minority party, but it could continue to hold offices, provide social assistance that the government does not, and demonstrate its continuing strength at the polls.
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Aug 26, 2013
U.S. News & World Report
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Workplace Injury Prevention

commentary
What Bangladesh — and US Retailers — Must Do to Prevent Man-Made Tragedies
Perhaps most tragic of all are the disasters that are wholly preventable: the deaths, maimings, and crushed livelihoods that result from human callousness or indifference, writes Jonah Blank.
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May 17, 2013
Christian Science Monitor
Jonah Blank
Religious Fundamentalism

commentary
Searching for Clues on the Brothers Tsarnaev
One doesn't need a clear link to a global terror group to carry out an attack; one needs only the resources, the means and an Internet connection. But the global nature of these communities and their online links also create openings police can exploit.
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May 6, 2013
Chicago Tribune
Olga Oliker
Global Security

commentary
Is Asia's Forgotten Revolt About to Explode?
This is why teachers are so often the targets of attack. In the rebels' view, schools aren’t neutral places for children to receive an education. They are seen as government-run indoctrination centers, propagating an exclusionary history and an alien language, writes Jonah Blank.
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Feb 25, 2013
CNN
Jonah Blank
Security Cooperation

commentary
The Winners and Losers from the Syria Conflict
Although outside efforts to arm the rebels would help level the playing field in Syria, such a strategy would not ensure victory, and the weapons could fall into the hands of extremists for use against Israel, Jordan and other neighboring countries, writes William Young.
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Jan 31, 2013
CNN
William Young
Terrorism Threat Assessment

commentary
Generations of Terrorism
Whatever its eventual outcome, Syria's civil war has already produced thousands of experienced jihadists who will continue to threaten the region for years to come, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
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Dec 13, 2012
The RAND Blog and GlobalSecurity.org
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Al Qaida

commentary
Difficult Questions on Today's Terrorist Threat
Much like the struggle against the Soviet Union and Communism during the Cold War, it appears increasingly likely that the struggle against radical Islamic groups will last several decades, writes Seth G. Jones.
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Oct 22, 2012
The RAND Blog
Seth G. Jones
commentary
Muslim Brotherhood Failing to Learn from Mistakes
The Muslim Brotherhood is falling into the same trap of overreach exhibited by the Egyptian military when the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) held the reins of authority during the first 16 months of the transition, writes Jeffrey Martini.
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Oct 18, 2012
The RAND Blog and GlobalSecurity.org
Jeffrey Martini
Al Qaida

commentary
Awlaki's Death Hits al-Qaeda's Social Media Strategy
Though Awlaki will be difficult to replace—since he effectively coupled both propaganda and operations—al-Qaeda will continue to plan attacks overseas against Western targets, writes Seth Jones.
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Sep 30, 2011
BBC
Seth G. Jones
Counterterrorism

commentary
Colonel Cardinal's Iceberg Theory
As we continue to pour invaluable resources into our sixth year in Iraq, and the U.S. public and politicians wonder what we should do next, now may be a good time to revisit the overarching theory of our campaign plan in the Pacific: Colonel Cardinal's Iceberg Theory, writes Dick Hoffmann.
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Jul 29, 2008
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Dick Hoffmann
commentary
A War of Nerves in Turkey
A War of Nerves in Turkey in Project Syndicate (an association that distributes commentaries to 291 newspapers in 115 countries)
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May 12, 2007
Project Syndicate
F. Stephen Larrabee
commentary
Cartoons and Terror
Published commentary by RAND staff: Cartoons and Terror, in United Press International.
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Feb 22, 2006
United Press International
Farhana Ali
commentary
A Chance to Overcome Religious Divisions
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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May 27, 2004
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Rollie Lal

Quoted

The COP decisionmaking process reflects its members' consensus views. And therein lies the problem. The Paris Agreement should have achieved the socially better outcomes of binding emissions control to finance and binding each country to its target of emissions and finance.…That it did not do so was because the coalitions' views prevailed rather than the social good.

Rafiq Dossani

Director, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy

Source: United Press International

Women have fought in wars for as long as humans have waged them. Yet that long history has been either lost or purposefully hidden, complicating efforts to expand women's military roles even as we have steadily gained greater equality in other fields.

Kayla M. Williams

Senior Policy Researcher

Source: Association of the U.S. Army

Using AI to Identify Youth Suicide Risk: What Does the Evidence Say?

Disrupting the Chinese Military in Competition and Low-Intensity Conflict

America's Indo-Pacific Alliances Are Astonishingly Strong

Resilient Reconstruction in Ukraine

Preventing Domestic Violent Extremism: Insights from RAND Research

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Religious Fundamentalism

U.S. and Israel on Parallel Paths

Counterproductive Counterinsurgency: Is Mozambique Creating the Next Boko Haram?

How to Defeat a New Boko Haram in Mali

The Allure of ISIS for Young Recruits

Tackling Radicalization Before It Begins

What's Next for the Muslim Brotherhood?

What Bangladesh — and US Retailers — Must Do to Prevent Man-Made Tragedies

Searching for Clues on the Brothers Tsarnaev

Is Asia's Forgotten Revolt About to Explode?

The Winners and Losers from the Syria Conflict

Generations of Terrorism

Difficult Questions on Today's Terrorist Threat

Muslim Brotherhood Failing to Learn from Mistakes

Awlaki's Death Hits al-Qaeda's Social Media Strategy

Colonel Cardinal's Iceberg Theory

A War of Nerves in Turkey

Cartoons and Terror

A Chance to Overcome Religious Divisions

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