This week we discuss the challenges of planning for U.S. elections in the face of COVID-19; why artists need more support right now; how the pandemic complicates hurricane recovery; North Korea's conventional artillery; how wargaming can help guide defense policy; and what it will mean if the Quad becomes openly anti-China.
Photo by Cavin Mattheis/News Sentinel
Preparing for a COVID-19 Election
To hold elections safely during the pandemic, states need registration and voting options that minimize personal contact, reduce crowds, and limit common access to high-touch surfaces, such as voting machines.
Do states' current voting processes support these safety measures? And if not, then what changes could they make between now and November? New RAND research aims to answer these questions—and to help state officials understand how new voting policies might affect public health and safety, as well as election integrity, access, and logistics.
Photo by vgajic/Getty Images
The Pandemic Is a Disaster for Artists
As the pandemic continues to surge, the vast majority of artists have likely lost some or all of their income. And while some businesses—restaurants and gyms, for example—are reopening, the arts are likely to be shut down for the foreseeable future. This could lead to millions of working artists and performers running out of unemployment benefits, losing their insurance, and possibly giving up on their arts careers altogether, say RAND experts. The CARES Act has provided some critical support, but more could be done.
A levee gives way to high water in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina struck on August 31, 2005
Photo by Marc Serota/Reuters
COVID-19 Complicates Hurricane Response
Strengthening back into a hurricane after being downgraded to a tropical storm, Isaias lashed the Atlantic Coast this week, leaving destruction in its wake. With hurricane season in full swing, there may be more powerful storms on the way. Earlier this summer, RAND experts wrote about how to prepare for hurricane response and recovery during a pandemic. There are many issues to consider, including the fact that response systems are already overwhelmed; the complications of evacuating and sheltering; and how to safely deploy emergency workers.
A crowded street in Seoul, South Korea
Photo by AlxeyPnferov/Getty Images
North Korea's Threat Goes Beyond Its Nukes
North Korea maintains nearly 6,000 artillery systems within range of major South Korean population centers. According to estimates from a new RAND report, Pyongyang could use these conventional weapons to kill many thousands of people in just an hour. The authors conclude that, because so much harm could be done so quickly, it's important to avoid any situation where the North might feel compelled to initiate such a strike. So if a “provocation cycle” starts between North Korea and the United States, it's in everyone's interest to deescalate the situation as swiftly as possible.
Naval War College President Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, left, views the wargaming hub at the college's Naval Postgraduate School program in Monterey, CA, January 29, 2020
Photo by Javier Chagoya/U.S. Navy
How Wargames Could Help Guide Defense Policymaking
Wargames are typically used to understand how a conflict or crisis might play out on the battlefield. But according to RAND's Elizabeth Bartels, the U.S. Department of Defense could also use games to better understand the effects of its policies. The focus of such a game would be bureaucratic competition, rather than military competition. Gaming out policy changes could offer valuable insights before costly decisions about defense acquisition, personnel, and management are made, she says.
India's prime minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, during a bilateral meeting in Osaka, June 27, 2019
Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Reuters
The Quad Will Soon Become Openly Anti-China
The Quad—a partnership comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—is poised to become openly anti-China, says RAND's Derek Grossman. This anticipated shift may have significant implications. Most importantly, it would mean that the Quad's resolve to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific would be concrete, rather than symbolic. This may enhance the deterrence value of the group toward China.
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