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Reports

Labor Markets
Barriers to Entering the U.S. Middle Class
Apr 22, 2021
Melanie A. Zaber, Jeffrey B. Wenger

Achieving and keeping middle-class status has become more difficult. Jobs with good pay for those without a college degree are getting exported or eliminated. Earning educational credentials is costly. Existing jobs are increasing education requirements, providing fewer benefits, and may not lead to longer-term careers.
Low-Intensity Conflict
The Health of U.S. and Partner Deterrence in the Gray Zone
Apr 19, 2021
Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr, Joe Cheravitch, et al.

Gray zone aggression, campaigns to achieve political objectives while remaining below the threshold of outright warfare, is on the rise. U.S. and allied deterrent postures are reasonably strong, though mixed, when it comes to China's aggression in the Senkaku Islands, Russia's in the Baltic states, and North Korea's in South Korea.
Threat Assessment
The State of Deterrence in Korea and the Taiwan Strait
Apr 19, 2021
Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, et al.

The United States and South Korea have a robust military presence on the Korean peninsula that, at a minimum, would make any effort by North Korea to reunify the nations by force extremely costly. In contrast, the state of U.S. deterrence with regard to Chinese aggression against Taiwan is mixed.
Iran
Understanding the Iran Threat Network
Apr 14, 2021
Ariane M. Tabatabai, Jeffrey Martini, et al.

The Iran Threat Network is a formidable force of tens of thousands of fighters from non-Iranian, nonstate proxy and partner groups. How does this network factor into Tehran's political and military strategy?
Nuclear Deterrence
Countering the Risks of North Korean Nuclear Weapons
Apr 12, 2021
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett, Kang Choi, et al.

There is a growing gap between North Korea's nuclear weapon threat and South Korean and U.S. capabilities to defeat it. Because these capabilities will take years to develop, attention should be focused on where the threat could be in the mid to late 2020s and strategy options that could be employed to counter it.
Criminal Justice
Lessons Learned from the Justice System's Pandemic Response
Apr 8, 2021
Brian A. Jackson, Michael J. D. Vermeer @MJDVermeer, et al.

Incarcerated populations, corrections staff, court personnel, and law enforcement were hit hard by COVID-19. At the same time, national protests after the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans increased pressure for criminal justice reform. Insights from this time could help the justice system prepare for future challenges.

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Blog Posts

Military Personnel Retention
How the Military Might Expand Its Cyber Skills
Apr 22, 2021
James Ryseff

The U.S. military will need to improve its software fluency if it wants to remain dominant on the battlefields of the future. Ensuring that future leaders in the military develop cyber skills and the ability to interface with technical experts may be increasingly important to everything the Department of Defense does.
Telemedicine
No Patient Left Behind: Considering Equitable Distribution of Telehealth
Apr 20, 2021
Rama A. Salhi, Mahshid Abir, et al.

The pandemic has revealed telemedicine's potential to improve health care delivery and access. Telemedicine could help reach patients who would normally be excluded or alienated by the traditional structure of the health system.
North Korea
COVID-19 Exacerbates North Korea's Bad Choices
Apr 20, 2021
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett

Recently, Kim Jong-un admitted that North Korea is facing a dire situation. It was surprising that he would admit circumstances which at face value suggest major failures on his part. Why is Kim admitting that such circumstances are developing in the North now?

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Multimedia

The Future of the Special Operations Forces
Apr 19, 2021

An overview of testimony by Linda Robinson presented before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations on March 26, 2021.

View More Multimedia »

Barriers to Entering the U.S. Middle Class

The Health of U.S. and Partner Deterrence in the Gray Zone

How the Military Might Expand Its Cyber Skills

No Patient Left Behind: Considering Equitable Distribution of Telehealth

The Future of the Special Operations Forces

The Policy Currents Podcast

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Latest Insights

Reports

Barriers to Entering the U.S. Middle Class

The Health of U.S. and Partner Deterrence in the Gray Zone

The State of Deterrence in Korea and the Taiwan Strait

Understanding the Iran Threat Network

Countering the Risks of North Korean Nuclear Weapons

Lessons Learned from the Justice System's Pandemic Response

Blog Posts

How the Military Might Expand Its Cyber Skills

No Patient Left Behind: Considering Equitable Distribution of Telehealth

COVID-19 Exacerbates North Korea's Bad Choices

Multimedia

The Future of the Special Operations Forces

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