2014

Cybercrime
commentary
After a Year of Major Hacks, 2015 Resolutions to Bolster Cyber Security
Lillian Ablon
Dec 31, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
With numerous data breaches and emerging software vulnerabilities, 2014 was the year the hack went viral. But realizing a few New Year's resolutions in 2015 could help defenders make strides in protection, tools, and techniques to gain the edge over cyber attackers in years to come.
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Domestic Violence
commentary
Domestic Violence as a Way of Life: The Reality for Papua New Guinea's Women
Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik
Dec 31, 2014
The RAND Blog
Violence against women is a persistent problem around the world. That's particularly true of Papua New Guinea, where abuse of women by domestic partners, gang members, and members of law enforcement is widespread, drawing comparisons to conditions in conflict zones.
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Vocational Education
commentary
Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Louay Constant @LouayConstant, Cathy Stasz, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Georges Vernez
Dec 31, 2014
EduTech Magazine
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
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Russia
commentary
Yes, Russia's Military Is Getting More Aggressive
James T. Quinlivan
Dec 31, 2014
Foreign Policy
As Russia's relations with the U.S. and Europe have deteriorated following Moscow's aggression in Ukraine, fly-bys of European neighbors by Russian aircraft have taken on new urgency. How should the West think about these provocative flights in light of understanding Russia's nuclear threat?
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Infectious Diseases
commentary
What Have We Learned from the Ebola Outbreak?
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Dec 31, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
For much of 2014, the world has confronted the most deadly Ebola outbreak since the discovery of the disease in 1976. What lessons have emerged? What should the world do to better prepare for transnational outbreaks?
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Russia
commentary
Rapprochement with Russia?
Hans Binnendijk, Olga Oliker, Christopher S. Chivvis
Dec 30, 2014
New York Times
The ruble's fragility presents an opportunity for American and European diplomats to offer Putin a deal that de-escalates the war in Ukraine, provides Russia sanctions relief, and revitalizes Moscow's economic ties with the West.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
A New Year's Resolution: Target Practices That Undermine Weight Control
Deborah A. Cohen
Dec 29, 2014
Newsweek
Many will vow to lose weight in the coming year, but most will inevitably fail, not from lack of motivation or knowledge but from insuperable forces undermining their best intentions. America should resolve to address obesity where it begins: the point of purchase.
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Marriage and Divorce
commentary
Gay Marriage Gains Support, but It's Still a Partisan Issue
Katherine Grace Carman @KGCarman, Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard
Dec 29, 2014
Newsweek
Survey data provides evidence that the majority of American voters support the legalization of gay marriage and think it should be decided at the federal level. Republicans are substantially less likely to support legalization, and lower income, lower educational attainment, being older, and being non-white are significantly associated with lower levels of support.
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College-Bound Students
commentary
College Ratings and Affordable Education
Rafiq Dossani
Dec 24, 2014
The RAND Blog
There are reasons to believe American students from the middle- and lower-income tiers aren't making affordable college choices. Can a new ratings system help them make better, more affordable decisions?
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Russia
commentary
How Russia Can Recover from Its Economic and Strategic Decline
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Dec 24, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
Few expect that Moscow will cede Crimea or end its opposition to NATO expansion anytime soon. But Russia can still begin to reverse its strategic decline. Expanding opportunities for Russia's people, reforming the economy, and improving relations with neighbors are the way forward.
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North Korea
commentary
Is the North Korean Regime Out of Control?
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Dec 23, 2014
Newsweek
Evidence points to North Korean involvement in the Sony hack. But it's impossible to know if top regime leaders sanctioned the attack or if it was carried out by another part of the government without their knowledge and consent. An unauthorized hack would only add to Kim Jong-un's worry over his regime's instability.
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Humanities and the Arts
announcement
Donald B. and Susan F. Rice Support Pardee RAND's 'Be the Answer' Campaign with $1 Million Gift
Dec 19, 2014
Longtime RAND supporters Donald B. and Susan F. Rice, for the third time, have established an endowed scholarship at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Their most recent gift of $1 million was generously donated as part of Pardee RAND's Be the Answer campaign, which Don Rice chairs and which has thus far raised in excess of $19 million.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
An Iran Nuclear Deal Is Still Possible, and Here's Why
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Dec 19, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
The United States and other world powers returned to the negotiating table this week to try to finalize a nuclear agreement with Iran after announcing a seven-month extension in late November. How did the parties get this far?
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Terrorism
commentary
A Grim Choice: The Attempted Rescue of Hostages
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Dec 19, 2014
The Hill
Many described the attempt to rescue Luke Somers from al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen as 'botched,' suggesting it was badly or carelessly planned or executed. 'Desperate' may be more apt. Such measures aren't undertaken without a grim calculus weighing the chances of success against a range of other outcomes, most of which involve the hostages' doom.
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Crime and Violence Prevention
commentary
What Research Says About Profiling
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
Dec 18, 2014
The RAND Blog
When police take action on the basis of race, creed, or ethnicity it is corrosive, unfair, ineffective, and can stoke the flames of police-community tension. But as we have found from a variety of assessments, law enforcement is best served when it bases its activities on risk, not on personal characteristics.
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Australia
blog
Could the Sydney Cafe Siege Happen Elsewhere?
Dec 17, 2014
As the world mourns those lost in the Sydney cafe siege, investigations have begun examining the efficacy of Australia's anti-terrorism measures and details about the background and motives of the gunman. At the same time, terrorism experts are reflecting on where else such an attack could emerge.
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