News Archive - Latin America and Africa in the News

RAND researchers often write commentaries for publications on a variety of topics. This page lists commentaries and op-eds about or related to Latin America and Africa. For a complete list of commentaries and op-eds by RAND staff, visit the RAND Newsroom.

A New Book from Brian Michael Jenkins: When Armies Divide
Apr 11, 2013

In 1961, four French generals launched a coup against the government of President Charles de Gaulle and conceivably might have ended up with a nuclear device. In When Armies Divide, RAND's Brian Michael Jenkins uses this unusual chapter in history to discuss what can happen when nuclear states are threatened by revolts, coups, and civil wars.
Increase Funds for Quality
Apr 11, 2013

In India, perhaps if the funds that are needed are put in with the help of philanthropists like Shiv Nadar, Azim Premji or Rajendra Pawar, it may be possible to build world class universities, writes Rafiq Dossani.
Special Ops Global Whack-a-Mole
Apr 8, 2013

A new model for our nation's special forces could follow the approach used in Colombia and the Philippines, where special forces planned ongoing campaigns that use numerous advisory, civil affairs, and informational activities to address those governments' weaknesses in providing security and ending conflicts.
The Benefits of U.S. Drones in West Africa
Apr 5, 2013

The establishment of a U.S. base in Niger is intended to facilitate intelligence collection and will provide a more complete picture of militant movements in Niger, Mali, and other countries in the Sahel, writes Seth Jones. The United States will share this intelligence with Malian and French forces.
Voting Patterns in Post-Mubarak Egypt
Mar 22, 2013

While much has been written on the electoral strength of Islamists in Egypt, most of the analysis has been done at the national level, ignoring regional divides within the country. A new report identifies the areas where Islamist parties run strongest, and the areas where non-Islamists are most competitive.
Mapping Egyptian Politics
Mar 22, 2013

Despite widespread unrest, Egypt is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in the coming months. Three Egypt watchers will discuss what past electoral performance and the current political context say about the Islamists' strength in Egypt and what it means for the U.S.
Discounts on Healthy Foods Can Improve Diet Quality; First Result from a National Program
Mar 19, 2013

Lowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods.
Incentives, Labor Markets, and the Challenge of Universal Social Protection in Latin America
Mar 15, 2013

PRGS alum David Robalino returns to RAND on March 15 to discuss his World Bank research on social security, labor markets, and fiscal policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of the International Development Speaker Series.
Unlearning the Lessons of Iraq
Mar 14, 2013

Trepidation about boots-on-the-ground engagement has unnecessarily forestalled even small-scale efforts to repair Libya's fractured security environment....Meanwhile, in Syria, the over-learned lessons of Iraq are taking an even more serious toll, writes Christopher Chivvis.
Europe and African Defense
Feb 28, 2013

A successful partnership within Europe, as well as between Europe and the US, to overcome extremism and terrorism in North and North Central Africa could provide allies with a sense of common purpose and a model of unified effort, writes Harold Brown.
Al Qaeda Is Weak and Bungling—but Still Dangerous
Feb 25, 2013

The swift march into Mali by a band of Islamist thugs demonstrates an efficient, opportunistic filling of a security vacuum more than an increase in jihadist power or influence, writes Andy Liepman.
NATO, US Must Shore Up Libya
Feb 15, 2013

A smaller-scale training mission to help the Libyan government build reliable forces that will answer to the country's elected leadership would do much to help the Libyan state get control over its own territory, writes Christopher Chivvis.
The Benefits of Nation-Building Interventions Have Exceeded the Costs
Feb 4, 2013

Most interventions in the past 25 years have been followed by improved security, some degree of democratization, and significant economic growth—with only a modest commitment of international military and civilian manpower and economic assistance.
What Is the Price of Prevention?
Jan 31, 2013

The potential for treatment costs can discourage screening in developing countries. A field experiment in Nigeria offered cervical cancer screening to women at randomly chosen prices, as well as a chance for treatment subsidies. Findings indicate that preventive efforts in developing countries should subsidize both testing and treatment costs.
What Does the Amenas Attack Mean for U.S. Policy in Africa?
Jan 31, 2013

Coinciding with continuing, contentious hearings on the U.S. response to last September's terrorist attack in Benghazi, the attack on the Amenas natural gas facility in Algeria has elevated a more general debate about the war on terrorism and U.S. policy in Africa, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.