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Reports

Military Doctrine

The Role of Deterrence in U.S. Defense Policy

Apr 19, 2018

Mazarr

Deterrence is about much more than merely threatening an adversary. It must be conceived primarily as an effort to shape the thinking of a potential aggressor. Any strategy to prevent aggression must begin with an assessment of the potential aggressor's interests, motives, and imperatives.
Transportation Safety

Could U.S. Road Deaths Reach Zero by 2050?

Apr 19, 2018

Ecola, et al.

Motor vehicle crashes kill more than 100 Americans every day and are the leading cause of death for people age 15 to 24. A strategy that includes changes in policy, technology, and social norms could substantially improve road safety and lead to zero roadway deaths by 2050.
Military Tactics

New Challenges in Cross-Domain Deterrence

Apr 12, 2018

Mallory

America's ability to deter aggression in the traditional air, land, and sea domains of warfare has been cast in doubt. And new requirements to deter future aggression in the domains of space and cyberspace have arisen. How can the United States and its allies meet these challenges?
Social Media Analysis

How to Counter Russian Social Media Influence in Eastern Europe

Apr 12, 2018

Helmus @Helmus, et al.

Russia uses social media in the Baltics, Ukraine, and nearby states to sow dissent against neighboring governments as well as NATO. Ways to counter the campaign include tracking and blocking Russian propaganda more quickly, and offering alternative content to help displace the Russian narrative.
United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard Faces Capability Gaps in the Arctic

Apr 11, 2018

Tingstad, et al.

It is becoming more important to determine how to operate in the Arctic, given changing climate conditions and the potential for increased activity that may demand more frequent U.S. government presence. Identifying gaps in capabilities now could help the U.S. Coast Guard mitigate future challenges.
Military Officers

How the U.S. Air Force Could Retain More Female Officers

Apr 10, 2018

Keller, et al.

Women are underrepresented among the Air Force's senior leadership compared with their representation among the lower ranks. Focus groups with female officers identified key retention factors and potential ways to improve Air Force policies and programs to address female officer retention.

Blog Posts

Refugees

Europe's Great Challenge: Integrating Syrian Refugees

Apr 20, 2018

Amaral, et al.

Since March, 2011, close to 1 million Syrian refugees have requested asylum in European countries, with Germany being the primary destination. Social and economic policies to deal with the refugee crisis will require collaborative planning, monitoring, and assessment efforts to be successful.
The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)

Defeating the ISIS Nostalgia Narrative

Apr 19, 2018

Clarke @ColinPClarke, et al.

It is crucial that the United States and its coalition partners take into consideration and preempt the ISIS nostalgia narratives that may seek to define the group's legacy and prepare a foundation for its resurgence throughout the Middle East and beyond. The legacy ISIS should be remembered for is one of misery and despair.
Chemical Terrorism

Arms Control Hostage to Skripal and Syria Attacks

Apr 19, 2018

Courtney @courtneywmh

Two prominent poisoning assassination attempts and Kremlin denials of gas attacks by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raise doubts about Moscow's commitment to the purposes of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Never has the future of negotiated arms control involving Russia been at greater risk.
Chemical Weapons and Warfare

Are Chemical Weapons Becoming a Tacitly Accepted Weapon of War?

Apr 18, 2018

Lander

The international community should consider serious options to hold perpetrators of chemical attacks accountable and stop further attacks. These are not easy choices. But the alternative is accepting that long-held norms are crumbling, and humanity is sliding back to inhumane tools of war.
International Diplomacy

Why the U.S.-Japan Summit Matters

Apr 17, 2018

Hornung

After a year and half of relative stability, the The United States and Japan now must talk about difficult issues in which they have vested interests. As allies, and close friends, they could both benefit from reconfirming common goals and establishing a set of strategies to deal with challenges.
Terrorist Bombings

Austin Bombings Highlight a Potential Vulnerability in the Mail Delivery System

Apr 17, 2018

Davis @LoisMDavis, et al.

USPS is better than private couriers at identifying and detecting suspicious packages. Given that they are increasingly handling "last mile" delivery, how can private mail delivery offices better detect and safely handle suspicious mail?

Multimedia and Infographics

Military Force Planning

Overcoming the Threats of Our Strategic Competitors

Mar 27, 2018

What weapon systems and posture enhancements should Congress and the Defense Department consider in order to ensure that the United States will be prepared for responsive and resilient operations in theaters of potential conflict? In this RAND Congressional Briefing, David Ochmanek discusses findings from his recent report.
North Korea

Understanding and Shaping the Ongoing Korea Crisis

Mar 26, 2018

In this Events @ RAND podcast, Bruce W. Bennett offers RAND alumni and supporters his analysis of recent developments in North Korea and suggests new strategies for putting pressure on Kim Jong-un at the negotiating table.
Cybercrime

Data Thieves: The Motivations of Cyber Threat Actors and Their Use and Monetization of Stolen Data

Mar 15, 2018

An overview of testimony by Lillian Ablon presented before the House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance.
Artificial Intelligence

The Collision of AI and Privacy

Feb 20, 2018

In this Events @ RAND podcast, RAND experts discuss risks to privacy in the age of artificial intelligence.
Autonomous Vehicles

Safety in a World of Driverless Cars

Feb 15, 2018

In this Call with the Experts, senior information scientist Nidhi Kalra discusses a RAND study that shows putting driverless cars on the road before they're nearly perfect could save lives, and also describes new approaches for safety standards.
Call with the Experts Podcast

Feb 1, 2018

Call with the Experts is an audio series that connects journalists and RAND donors with RAND experts working on issues relevant to the current policy debate.