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.

How Does Arab Spring Compare to Third Wave Transitions?
Jul 18, 2012

The changes underway in the Arab world may lead to various possible destinations that differ both from their points of departure and from liberal democracy, write Laurel Miller and Jeffrey Martini.
Mentorship for Publishing African Health Research
Jul 12, 2012

Mentorship at various levels could help overcome barriers to joining the access loop of international health research publishing, while also fostering greater communication and stimulating innovative, collaborative international research, writes Janice S. Pedersen.
A Remedy for Africa's Private Health Care Sector
May 29, 2012

Private health facilities provide much of the care in developing countries, but are often poorly integrated into the health system. Barriers, especially financial ones, increase costs and impact patient care. Research indicates that improving facilities' business needs would improve growth and overall success.
Al Qaeda Is Far from Defeated
Apr 29, 2012

As the administration looks eastward—a strategy that incorporates China's rise—underestimating al Qaeda would be a dangerous mistake, writes Seth G. Jones.
Book Review: 'Why Nations Fail' by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
Apr 20, 2012

"Why Nations Fail" is a sweeping attempt to explain the gut-wrenching poverty that leaves 1.29 billion people in the developing world struggling to live on less than $1.25 a day. You might expect it to be a bleak, numbing read. It's not. It's bracing, garrulous, wildly ambitious and ultimately hopeful, writes Warren Bass.
Cairo's Candidate Shuffle
Apr 19, 2012

Just as before the disqualifications, the fundamental decision voters face is about the scope and nature of the change Egypt will undergo in the coming years. And there are still candidates representing almost every position on that spectrum, writes Jeffrey Martini.
Using Health IT to Improve HIV/AIDS Care in Uganda
Mar 24, 2012

Missed appointments compromise the ability to plan for and deliver quality care. By implementing Electronic Medical Records and same day patient tracing, researchers were able to reduce missed appointments and increase efficiency in an community-based care clinic.
Bringing Libya Under Control
Feb 24, 2012

While NATO countries and allies like Jordan and Qatar have started to train and equip the security forces, there is more that outsiders can do to help, writes Frederic Wehrey.
Conference Call on Syria and Egypt
Feb 22, 2012

A panel of RAND experts to discuss the latest developments in Egypt and Syria. Highlights include Julie Taylor on Turkey and Iran's opposing position over Syria and stability in the region, Fred Wehrey on violence in Syria, and Jeffrey Martini on the issue of potential cuts to U.S. aid.
Syria is Trending Toward the Libya Model
Feb 14, 2012

If the Syrian opposition clearly asks for American help, if the rest of the Arab world supports such a military intervention, and if America's European allies prove ready to join in—and indeed lead—such an effort, the United States should contribute those military assets which only it can provide, writes James Dobbins.
Colleges Cultivate Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Writing, and Interpersonal Skills
Dec 23, 2011

An assessment of skills test score differentials between the first and last year of college shows the degree to which college enrollment and education add to students' critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
Mapping Pathways Project Reaches International Audience at ICASA 2011
Dec 23, 2011

RAND Europe staff presented the Mapping Pathways project, which focuses on antiretroviral-based HIV/AIDS prevention, at the biennial International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) 2011.
The Year of the Arab Spring
Dec 20, 2011

The Arab Spring demonstrated that leaderless revolutions are difficult to repress or co-opt. Unfortunately, it is also true that leaderless revolts find it difficult to make transition to authority, writes Charles Ries.
Latin American Social Policy Research
Dec 19, 2011

RAND conducts research throughout Latin America and the Latin American population in the United States in the areas of aging, social determinants and consequences of health, saving for retirement, social security coverage, labor market dynamics, and migration.
Understanding the Impact of ICTs in the Middle East and North Africa
Nov 30, 2011

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) help to empower citizens and transform economic life. An important policy challenge is to identify and harness the benefits while mitigating the risks created by the new technologies. At the World Bank's request, RAND Europe helped develop a framework for thinking about ICT use in MENA. The report builds on an earlier research which benchmarked indicators for the knowledge economy in the region, analysing associations between indicators of ICT diffusion and development.