2022

Violent Extremism
blog
Extremism Online, Russia's Military, Preventing Police Killings: RAND Weekly Recap
May 20, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on the internet's role in stoking extremism and hate, how Russia has failed its military personnel, a research roadmap to help prevent police killings in the United States, and more.
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Military Technology
commentary
Beware the Allure of Training Technology
Timothy Marler
May 18, 2022
Defense News
In addition to focusing on acquiring technology that helps retain a competitive advantage, the U.S. Department of Defense could also focus on codifying processes that align technology with user needs and that adapt as technology, military operations, and needs change. Considering context when planning the development and use of training technology could be crucial.
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Military Personnel
commentary
The Russian Military Has Failed Its Sons
Dara Massicot @MassDara
May 18, 2022
Foreign Affairs
The Russian military has a long history of mistreating its personnel and their frightened families. The military's culture of disregard for the lives and well-being of its personnel has done more than undermine their combat performance; it has also tanked their morale and will to fight.
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Civic Education
commentary
'Truth Decay' in Europe Is Real, but Its Advance Can Be Slowed
Axelle Devaux @AxelleDevaux, Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens
May 17, 2022
Encompass
Though present in Europe, the evidence suggests that trends of Truth Decay are not as widespread or as pronounced as they are in the United States. There is still time for policymakers to intervene and limit their growth.
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Taiwan
commentary
Ukraine War Is Motivating Taiwan to Better Secure Its Own Future
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 13, 2022
Nikkei Asia
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is probably motivating Taiwan to better secure its own future versus China. But many of the challenges currently facing Taiwan, such as shortcomings in reservist training or lingering confusion over its military strategy, are difficult to fix, assuming they are even fixable.
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Media Literacy
blog
Truth Decay, School Lunch Nutrition, Regulating Space: RAND Weekly Recap
May 13, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on tackling Truth Decay, how tech experts view the military's use of artificial intelligence, a new approach to regulating outer space, and more.
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Housing Markets
commentary
California Needs 1.2 Million New Homes. How Will It Get There?
Jason M. Ward @jason_m_ward
May 13, 2022
CalMatters
Voluntary incentives foster increased production of affordable housing, while mandates alone increase the cost of producing housing, dampening both market-rate and affordable housing production. It is well past time to acknowledge the evidence and focus on the adoption of voluntary programs that incentivize the rapid creation of dense, infill housing available at both affordable and market rents.
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Environmental and Natural Resource Management
commentary
How Could the United States Incentivize Investors to Decarbonize the Economy?
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Nihar Chhatiawala, Mark Stalczynski
May 12, 2022
The Hill
While mandatory climate-related disclosure may improve information and decisionmaking for investors, it alone is unlikely to accelerate investment in decarbonization at the rate needed. To motivate private investment in climate mitigation, policymakers could explore additional policies.
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Philippines
commentary
New Philippine President Marcos Jr. Likely Won't Repeat Duterte's Foreign Policy Mistakes
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 10, 2022
Foreign Policy
Monday's all-but-official election of Bongbong Marcos as the next president of the Philippines will hold significant implications for Manila's foreign policy. He is likely to be influenced by the policies of both his father, former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, yielding a new government interested in engaging China while keeping the United States close by.
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Space Exploration
commentary
Outer Space and the Veil of Ignorance: An Alternative Way to Think About Space Regulation
Douglas C. Ligor @DougLigor, Luke J. Matthews
May 9, 2022
Fast Company
There are currently no international binding rules that would address growing threats in space. Without more-defined and enforceable rules of war regarding space and space assets, the danger of a destructive conflict in space grows significantly.
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Lebanon
commentary
Lebanon: Challenges and Successes in COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Nasma Berri, Mahshid Abir
May 6, 2022
The RAND Blog
In Lebanon, COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and daily deaths continue to decline. This is an accomplishment worthy of celebration in the midst of hyperinflation, all-time high unemployment, nadir purchasing power, and a health sector on the verge of collapse.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
The Escalation Fixation
Raphael S. Cohen
May 6, 2022
The Hill
Fears of global nuclear annihilation should have produced a concerted effort by all sides to keep the Ukraine conflict limited. But the focus on escalation—rather than ensuring Russia's defeat—has instead made the international security picture more precarious.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
How to Save the Postwar Order
Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr
May 6, 2022
Foreign Affairs
For the last decade or so, debate has raged among scholars and policymakers about the significance of the post–World War II, rules-based international order. Is it a feeble myth, or is it a powerful influence on state behavior? Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the global response to it has put these competing claims into sharp relief.
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Migration
blog
How Data Can Help Refugees, Homelessness in L.A., Harm Reduction: RAND Weekly Recap
May 6, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on tapping into Facebook data to help refugees, addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, understanding burnout among health care providers, and more.
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Violent Extremism
essay
How to Avoid Extremism on Social Media
May 3, 2022
Extremist groups have been trolling the internet for decades, and they have learned to temper their words and disguise their intentions. A new scorecard can help users—or parents, or advertisers, or the social media companies themselves—understand when they might be interacting with extremist content.
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Substance Use Harm Reduction
commentary
Fentanyl Makes an Already Dangerous Drug Market Deadlier Than Ever
Bryce Pardo @brycepardo, David Luckey
May 2, 2022
The Ripon Forum
Failure to recognize and respond to how rapidly illegal drug markets have changed with the arrival of illegally manufactured synthetic opioids will continue to put many Americans at risk of exposure to fentanyl, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands more for years to come.
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