The RAND Blog2024-03-19T08:54:10ZCopyright (c) 2024, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttps://www.rand.org/blog.htmlhttps://www.rand.org/pubs/articles/2024/math-teachers-efforts-can-really-add-up.htmlMath Teachers’ Efforts Can Really Add Up2024-03-19T08:31:00Z2024-03-19T08:31:00ZNew RAND research reveals that teachers wield incredible influence in leveling the playing field in math class—and in helping students achieve their full potential.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/help-ukraine-win-or-risk-kicking-off-a-us-losing-streak.htmlHelp Ukraine Win—or Risk Kicking Off a U.S. Losing Streak2024-03-18T20:00:00Z2024-03-18T20:00:00ZContinued assistance to Ukraine is critical if the United States is to retain its position as the world's indispensable nation and the many benefits Americans enjoy as a result. Failing to support Ukraine now might kick off an American losing streak that could take decades to overcome.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/bolstering-ukraines-irregular-war-against-russia.htmlBolstering Ukraine's Irregular War Against Russia2024-03-18T18:45:00Z2024-03-18T18:45:00ZAs Ukrainian forces assume a more defensive posture, Kyiv's irregular warfare behind enemy lines becomes even more important. Ukrainian irregulars are already active, even striking distant targets in Russia. With Western support and technology, these silent warriors could become even more potent.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/how-biden-can-get-tough-on-netanyahu.htmlHow Biden Can Get Tough on Netanyahu2024-03-18T18:00:00Z2024-03-18T18:00:00ZPresident Biden has not yet proved willing to challenge Israel in a meaningful way, but there are signs that he is becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. If the president wants to get tough with Netanyahu, he has an array of options, which could become more feasible as the war's death toll rises and starvation spreads in Gaza.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/relationships-with-netherlands-neighbours-would-set.htmlRelationships with Netherlands Neighbours Would Set the Course of Walrus Replacement2024-03-15T21:00:00Z2024-03-15T21:00:00ZThe Dutch government will soon decide on a replacement for the country's four Walrus submarines. Although it's important for the Netherlands to protect and develop its own industrial and technological base, its relationships with the European Union and NATO are critical, and policy safeguards are in place to ensure that even a non-Dutch bidder will return industrial benefits to the Netherlands.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/community-colleges-need-guidance-and-money-to-meet.htmlCommunity Colleges Need Guidance and Money to Meet Today's Mental Health Challenge2024-03-15T19:30:00Z2024-03-15T19:30:00ZHigher education institutions play a key role in supporting the mental health of college students. But community colleges face significant resource constraints. With little guidance on how to adapt solutions originally developed for universities with more money and infrastructure, community colleges are struggling to find answers.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/we-already-know-who-the-winner-will-be-what-else-does.htmlWe Already Know Who the Winner Will Be. What Else Does the Russian Election Tell Us?2024-03-15T17:00:00Z2024-03-15T17:00:00ZThe outcome of Russia's upcoming election is a foregone conclusion. So why bother? Because Putin's reelection confirms that Russia is Putin. Putin is Russia. And he is in total command. This is the roadmap for the future distilled in his fifth run for the presidency.https://www.rand.org/pubs/articles/2024/how-climate-change-will-affect-conflict-and-us-military.htmlHow Climate Change Will Affect Conflict and U.S. Military Operations2024-03-15T12:15:00Z2024-03-15T12:15:00ZClimate stress will become more intense and frequent throughout CENTCOM's area of operations. It may be called upon less to fight wars and more to airdrop humanitarian supplies or evacuate people from disaster zones. It should also plan to contribute to stability operations in the region.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/the-us-cant-guarantee-armenias-security-despite-azerbaijans.htmlThe U.S. Can't Guarantee Armenia's Security, Despite Azerbaijan's Threats, but It Can Help2024-03-14T19:30:00Z2024-03-14T19:30:00ZThe United States and its European allies cannot be everything Armenia wants and needs from a foreign partner. The West should recognize and accept Armenia's multi-alignment and focus on areas where it is comparatively able and willing to deepen ties and foster stability.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/many-high-schools-across-the-united-states-offer-limited.htmlMany High Schools Across the United States Offer Limited Civics-Focused Extracurricular Activities2024-03-13T18:00:00Z2024-03-13T18:00:00ZStudents cannot participate in civics-focused extracurricular activities if they do not have access to them. Schools can and should do more to support students' civic development, and increasing students' access to civics-focused extracurricular activities might just be one place to start.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/a-new-approach-for-the-us-armed-forces-qa-with-david.htmlA New Approach for the U.S. Armed Forces: Q&A with David Ochmanek2024-03-13T12:15:00Z2024-03-13T12:15:00ZThe United States and its allies have a window of opportunity to bolster their security and prepare for the global challenges to come. But it's closing fast as China and other adversaries build up their own militaries. Business as usual is no longer sufficient.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/the-middle-corridor-a-renaissance-in-global-commerce.htmlThe Middle Corridor: A Renaissance in Global Commerce2024-03-12T18:15:00Z2024-03-12T18:15:00ZAlthough the Middle Corridor offers promise, its journey toward becoming a viable strategic alternative to existing trade routes will be met with tough challenges. With renewed international investment and cooperation, the Middle Corridor could emerge as a cornerstone of 21st-century trade connectivity across the Eurasian landscape and beyond.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/as-europes-peace-unravels-czech-republic-ties-its-defence.htmlAs Europe's Peace Unravels, Czech Republic Ties Its Defence More Tightly to NATO2024-03-11T19:30:00Z2024-03-11T19:30:00ZThe Czech Republic's new defence strategy emphasises its commitment to its allies and Ukraine at a time when the cohesion of the Western Alliance is being challenged by both domestic and external factors.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/vital-yet-vulnerable-undersea-infrastructure-needs.htmlVital Yet Vulnerable: Undersea Infrastructure Needs Better Protection2024-03-11T12:00:00Z2024-03-11T12:00:00ZThe seabed hosts a large number of subsea cables and pipelines that provide communications services and oil, gas, and electricity to our societies. But this critical undersea infrastructure is vulnerable, and much of it has no specific defence mechanisms. What steps can be taken to protect it?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/is-ai-an-existential-risk-qa-with-rand-experts.htmlIs AI an Existential Risk? Q&A with RAND Experts2024-03-11T06:00:00Z2024-03-11T06:00:00ZWhat are the potential risks associated with AI? Might any of these be catastrophic or even existential? And as momentum builds toward boundless applications of this technology, how might humanity reduce AI risk and navigate an uncertain future?https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/tech-national-security-and-china-qa-with-jason-matheny.htmlTech, National Security, and China: Q&A with Jason Matheny2024-03-08T20:15:00Z2024-03-08T20:15:00ZJason Matheny is one of the nation's leading experts on the interplay between technology and national security. In this Q&A, he discusses semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the future of foreign investment in the United States.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/build-a-strong-publicprivate-supply-chain-nexus.htmlBuild a Strong Public–Private Supply Chain Nexus2024-03-08T20:00:00Z2024-03-08T20:00:00ZFor a public-private partnership to work, the individual interests of the private sector must be brought into alignment with the requirements of the collective good perspective and policy goals of the public sector. Both partners have useful tools and working examples to make this vision happen.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/your-body-but-not-your-data.htmlYour Body, but Not Your Data2024-03-07T18:00:00Z2024-03-07T18:00:00ZThe public needs rigorous and thorough health research, but individual patients should have rights over their medical information. Today they have very little.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/under-the-weather-the-national-security-risks-from.htmlUnder the Weather: The National Security Risks from Climate Change Could Go Well Beyond What the U.S. Government Thinks2024-03-07T14:00:00Z2024-03-07T14:00:00ZClimate change has at least two characteristics that are likely to drive second- and third-order political and social reactions whose effects on U.S. strategic interests may be substantially greater than those that occur in direct reaction to individual extreme weather events.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/conflict-in-the-age-of-fractured-publics.htmlConflict in the Age of Fractured Publics2024-03-05T16:45:00Z2024-03-05T16:45:00ZFuture real great power conflict is unlikely to resemble the world wars of the twentieth century. Instead of high-intensity wars, rivals may have little choice but to rely primarily on proxy, information, political, and economic warfare while avoiding large-scale conventional combat.