October 2019

commentary

Outputs of the Future

Are all types of research outputs of equal value? How do different outputs serve different purposes? Exploring these questions could benefit not only funders and universities, but also result in overall better use of research resources.

Catriona Manville, Steven Hill

commentary

Stop Calling Us 'Women Experts'

To get to a place where a woman's expertise is valued as implicitly as a man's, women must be freed of the baggage of being “women scholars” and “women policymakers.” Instead, women must be given that most significant form of respect: Just call us experts.

Caroline Baxter, Elizabeth Bodine-Baron @bodinebaron

commentary

Click and Exercise! Amazon, Netflix, Hulu—Are You Listening?

Most Americans spend their daily leisure time watching screens, devoting only a small fraction to physical activity. The explosion of streaming apps is likely contributing to this problem. Streaming services could consider adding a pop-up at the end of each episode that encourages viewers to get up and move.

Deborah A. Cohen

blog

Virtual Societal Warfare, Iran, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the risk of virtual societal welfare, Iran's domestic debates, federal policy options for supervised consumption sites, and more.

commentary

Early Childhood Education and Care Services Across the European Union Member States Still Fall Short of the Mark

Children's access to education and care from a young age is vital. Large differences exist between EU countries in access to those services and the quality of child care. Bridging the gap would require more efforts at the EU and national levels to guarantee that each child has access to services that will have lasting effects on their development.

Barbara Janta, Carlijn Straathof

commentary

The Realities of Civil War

Civil war is not a pretty thing to see or be a part of. Those understandably engaged with the intense debate over whether or not the president should be impeached should not suggest that impeachment would result in civil war in our country. There are peaceful means available for us as Americans to follow in order to solve the problems at hand.

Gian Gentile

commentary

The Emerging U.S.–China Strategic Competition and the Role of Trans-Atlantic Cooperation

When competing with China, what role should U.S. alliances, especially the transatlantic relationships the United States has with its European partners, play? This question is potentially decisive for whether or not any strategy adopted by the U.S. to compete with China will succeed or fail.

Scott W. Harold

commentary

What Translation Troubles Can Tell Us About Russian Information Warfare

Moscow's form of information warfare targeting the West has attracted significant international attention since 2014, especially through its reinvigorated military intelligence branch. Nonetheless, little research has focused on these campaigns' apparent shortcomings. Most notable among operational errors are the confusing translation mistakes that undermine attempts at covert influence efforts.

Joe Cheravitch

blog

China's 70th Anniversary, Wargaming, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the future holds for China, the importance of gender diversity in wargaming, how Army families address life's challenges, and more.

commentary

China Will Struggle to Shut Taiwan Out of the Pacific

With the decisions of the Solomon Islands and Kiribati to recognize Beijing over Taipei, the list of Taiwan's official diplomatic partners has decreased to 15. But China is likely to have a difficult time eliminating Taiwan's presence diplomatically in the Pacific.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Nuclear Subs Idea Worth Floating

Whether Australia should operate and maintain nuclear-propelled attack submarines has been debated for years. While controversial to some, the option of nuclear subs in Australia's future fleet may be a useful alternative given trends in the country's security environment.

John Birkler, Robert Murphy

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The China Dream: Never Closer, yet Never More Elusive

To achieve its goals of national rejuvenation, China needs to become a true world power. But a softening economy and political gridlock make it seem less and less likely that Beijing will realize all of its objectives.

Timothy R. Heath