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.

Improving Mass Delivery of Antiretroviral Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jun 15, 2009

A more thorough understanding of how to make ART scale-up more cost-effective and efficient, while still providing quality care, is critical to program administrators, government officials, and funding agencies that are aiming to make ART access widespread and sustainable in sub-Saharan Africa.
Economic Costs of Major Oil Supply Disruption Pose Risk to U.S. National Security
May 11, 2009

While on a net basis the United States imports nearly 60 percent of the oil it consumes, this reliance on imported oil is not by itself a major national security threat. The study finds that the economic costs of a major disruption in global oil supplies—including higher prices for American consumers—pose the greatest risk to the United States.
Opposing View: Keep Arms Off Ships
May 4, 2009

Does the provision of private security contractors provide a viable solution to the growing problem of piracy off the Horn of Africa? Quite apart from the high cost — a robust security operation can run as much as $21,000 a day — employing security contractors poses problems on several fronts, writes Peter Chalk.
Justification and Options for Creating A U.S. Stability Police Force
May 4, 2009

Establishing security is the sine qua non of stability operations, since it is a prerequisite for reconstruction and development. Security requires a mix of military and police forces to deal with a range of threats from insurgents to criminal organizations. This research examines the creation of a high-end police force, which the authors call a Stability Police Force.
Estimating the Size of the Global Drug Market: A Demand-Side Approach
Apr 21, 2009

Global retail expenditures on cannabis range from €40B-€120B. Our best estimate is close to half of the previous global estimate of approximately €125B.
Who Has the Will to Fight Piracy?
Apr 21, 2009

The recent French and American rescues of hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia were necessary and proper. No one believes these actions will end piracy. But unless we impose risks on the pirates—which means taking some risks ourselves—piracy will certainly flourish, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
Piracy Still Threatens the Freedom of the Seas
Apr 6, 2009

As recent events off the Horn of Africa have demonstrated, armed violence at sea is emerging as a growing threat. Piracy threatens the freedom of the seas, increases the cost of international business, endangers political security through corruption, and could trigger a major environmental disaster, write Peter Chalk and Laurence Smallman.
Organized Crime Is Increasingly Active in Film Piracy; Three Cases Link Terrorists to Piracy Profits
Mar 3, 2009

Organized crime increasingly is involved in the piracy of feature films, with syndicates active along the entire supply chain from manufacture to street sales. While crime syndicates have added piracy to their criminal portfolios, the profits from film piracy also have been used on occasion to support the activities of terrorist groups.
U.S.-Mexico Strategic Partnership Needed to Help Mexico Improve Its Security Institutions
Feb 9, 2009

Lawlessness in Mexico is approaching terrorism and becoming a U.S. security issue along the border according to this commentary by Brian Michael Jenkins for Homeland Security Today.
United States, East Africa Allies Must Overcome Radical Islam to Reshape the Region' Security
Feb 4, 2009

While al Qaeda is the primary terrorist/extremist threat in East Africa, the region suffers more broadly from a danger of radical Islamist groups and organizations that the United States and its allies must address to reshape the region's security environment.
Reasons Why Hispanics Remain Underrepresented in Military, Despite Interest
Jan 12, 2009

Lower high school graduation rates and higher rates of obesity are two of the reasons that many Hispanics are denied entry into the U.S. military. Although Hispanics do well once in the military, they are underrepresented in all branches of the nation's armed forces, primarily because they often fail to meet eligibility requirements.
Piracy Needs Regional Answer
Nov 25, 2008

The international community is at something of a loss as to how to respond to the increasingly audacious nature of piracy off the Horn of Africa.... What's needed is a less dramatic and more nuanced approach, one with a greater focus on the land-based violence in Somalia, home of the pirates, writes Peter Chalk.
Vicente Fox Center and RAND Launch Joint Program to Combat Poverty
Aug 2, 2007

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox and RAND Corporation Executive Vice President Michael Rich signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint research program that will study ways to fight poverty and aid vulnerable groups in Mexico and Latin America.
Policy Insight, Volume 1, Issue 3, June 2007 - Making Liberia Safe through Comprehensive Security-Sector Reform
Jun 26, 2007

For some 15 years, Liberia was wracked by unprecedented levels of brutality, corruption, incompetence, intrigue, and foreign adventures that engulfed the entire region in intertwined conflicts. This Policy Insight, based on work the RAND Corporation conducted at the request of President Johnson-Sirleaf, offers an architecture and strategy to give Liberians the security sector and the peace they need and deserve.
Terrorist Groups Teach Each Other Deadly Skills
May 9, 2007

Terrorist groups around the world with different ideologies and from different religious and ethnic backgrounds have improved their effectiveness by teaching each other deadly skills such as bomb-making and guerilla warfare techniques.