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April 2019

commentary

The Right Kind of Incentive Can Help People to Stay Active
Having the motivation to keep exercising regularly can be challenging for many of us. So what will motivate people to keep heading out the door, whether it's for a swim or to the gym, for some much-needed activity?
Apr 30, 2019

commentary

Finding the Real Will of the People
It's not surprising that the British Parliament is struggling to find a solution to the Brexit impasse. That's because the 2016 vote revealed nothing about the sort of Brexit people actually wanted. When researchers asked Brits to choose between four options in 2017, there was no obvious winner.
Apr 30, 2019
commentary

What the Baghdadi Video Means
For the first time in five years, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the reclusive leader of ISIS, appeared on video. Why did he suddenly feel the need to show his face and speak to his followers? The answer concerns how recent events intersect with ISIS's long-term needs.
Apr 30, 2019
q&a

A Champion for Children and Practitioners: Q&A with Dionne Barnes-Proby
Dionne Barnes-Proby started her career as a child welfare social worker and is now a social policy researcher at RAND. She brings the voices of clients and practitioners to the conversation, so that policies will reflect an understanding of the needs of the populations they're intended to improve.
Apr 29, 2019
commentary

Mueller Report May Result in Russian Sanctions but Not Better Behavior
The Mueller report could help mobilize political pressure in the United States for a stronger posture toward Russian activities that harm American and allied interests. But the Kremlin will likely still see propaganda, disinformation, and subterfuge as useful tools to undermine America's values and cohesion.
Apr 26, 2019
commentary

What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia
On April 17, Indonesia conducted the largest single-day vote in any nation's history. President Joko Widodo has likely netted a second term. What does that mean for his nation and its place in the world?
Apr 25, 2019
essay

Childhood Trauma Is More Common Than You Think. This School-Based Intervention Can Help
A program developed at RAND helps children exposed to trauma confront and subdue their stress and anxiety. The program grew out of the 1990s street violence of South Los Angeles and has since helped kids from Newtown to Fukushima. Researchers are tailoring this intervention for children in Puerto Rico whose lives were upended by hurricanes.
Apr 23, 2019
commentary

Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon
Active fighting in Syria is dwindling. But Syria remains divided in a frozen conflict and empty peace, unstable and unlikely to attract the investment in reconstruction, public institutions, job creation, and local reconciliation efforts needed to motivate Syrians in large numbers to return home.
Apr 19, 2019
commentary

Yes, the U.S. Could Be Drawn Into Yet Another Big War
The outcome of the Iraq invasion has done little to alter the factors that have led American leaders and the public into unwise military adventures. Today's big idea of America's mission is not so different from what it was in 2003. Any number of events could spark a new moral imperative to act.
Apr 19, 2019
commentary

Book Review: 'Unrivaled' by Michael Beckley
In Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower Michael Beckley argues not only that U.S. preeminence is safer than most contemporary commentary would have one believe, but also that it is more resilient.
Apr 18, 2019
commentary

A Warming Trend in China–Russia Relations
The China–Russia relationship is indeed growing across military, economic, and political dimensions. But it is still more anchored in shared grievances than in common visions. Both countries contest U.S. interests, but in different ways. Washington should treat them as separate strategic challenges.
Apr 18, 2019
commentary

Why Women Belong in Coast Guard Crews
The Coast Guard benefits from the heightened respect that colleagues show each other in mixed-gender units, allowing personnel to focus and excel at their tasks at hand. When the Coast Guard zeroes in on evidence-based and appropriate accommodations for women and their physical capacities, as well as with parenting and family life, it will benefit everyone in uniform.
Apr 18, 2019
commentary

What Two New Studies Reveal About Restorative Justice in Middle School and How It Can Be Done Better
There are many nuances to the implementation and impact of restorative practices. This suggests that continued experimentation could allow school districts to realize the benefits of instituting these practices and reduce the cost of doing so.
Apr 17, 2019
commentary

Book Review: Ukraine and the Art of Strategy by Lawrence Freedman
The crisis in Ukraine has proved a watershed moment for Russia's relations with the West. In Ukraine and the Art of Strategy, Lawrence Freedman presents a brief history of the conflict and analyzes it in the context of strategic theory.
Apr 16, 2019
commentary

Space Safety Coordination: A Norm for All Nations
As space becomes more congested with satellites, the need for every nation to actively participate in the space safety coordination system grows. Most spacefaring countries participate, but a few countries do not—notably, Russia and China. That creates greater potential for collisions and hazards from debris.
Apr 16, 2019
commentary

Overdue Overhaul: Security Clearance Reform in a Decade of Leakers, Spies, and Insider Threats
With the legislative and executive branches seemingly on the same page regarding the need for changes to the security clearance and vetting system, long overdue reform appears to be within reach.
Apr 15, 2019

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