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December 2023

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From Soccer to AI, Saudi Arabia Spends to Win
The Saudis have set their sights on becoming leaders at the cutting edge of technology development in everything from biotechnology to semiconductors and artificial intelligence. And they appear to be prepared to pay top dollar to do it. This complicates U.S. critical technology strategy.
Dec 29, 2023

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Joining NATO Is Not Enough to Defend Ukraine: Allies Must Step Up
Any security pledges for Ukraine may be wanting unless backed up by an allied force presence. An armed peacekeeping force could lack sufficient firepower or robust rules of engagement. A stronger force would be more credible.
Dec 28, 2023
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The Trouble with a Cease-Fire
Given that Hamas promised to repeat the October 7 attack until Israel's annihilation, it is no wonder that Israelis nearly uniformly want, as one Israeli politician put it, to finish the job this time around. To Israelis, the international calls for a cease-fire ring hollow.
Dec 26, 2023
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Ukraine, Gaza, and the U.S. Army's Counterinsurgency Legacy
What insights from Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war might be meaningful to the U.S. Army and the rest of the joint force?
Dec 22, 2023
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Five Potential Next Steps for the Hostage Situation in Gaza
In hostage negotiations, rarely are there good options—just bad and less bad. The case of the remaining hostages held in Gaza offers no easy resolution. Yet history may point to an acceptable way out.
Dec 22, 2023
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This Holiday Season, Don't Skimp On Sleep
By prioritizing sleep, you can improve your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, leading to a more fulfilling and enjoyable holiday season.
Dec 22, 2023
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Philosophical Debates About AI Risks Are a Distraction
Careful, objective study can help policymakers and the public understand how to harness the benefits of AI while also mitigating its risks. But the effective altruism versus effective acceleration debate is not a useful framework for such analyses, because while the two positions may be opposed, both start from assumptions rather than questions.
Dec 22, 2023
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The U.S. Military Needs to Build Arctic Capabilities and Capacity
By making substantial investments in Arctic platforms, equipment, infrastructure, and training, U.S. military forces will be better able to shape the Arctic security environment, helping to deter potential threats and protect U.S. interests in a region that is tightly linked to overall U.S. interests.
Dec 21, 2023
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Elements of an Eventual Russia-Ukraine Armistice and the Prospect for Regional Stability in Europe
There is no going back to normal relations with Russia after its wanton violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. But it is still possible to conceive of managing the competition with Russia and working out regional arrangements that will reduce the possibility of future conflicts and contribute to regional and global stability.
Dec 21, 2023
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Vietnam's Show of Welcome for Xi Reflects Growing Self-Confidence
Chinese leader Xi Jinping's recent visit to Vietnam aimed to reinvigorate bilateral ties, but produced mixed outcomes. Hanoi and Beijing signed a number of substantive bilateral deals, but Vietnam is also strengthening partnerships with other strategically significant nations, complicating any future Chinese aggression.
Dec 20, 2023
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PALM10: Japan's Chance to Engage with Pacific Island Countries
Next year, Japan will host the 10th triennial Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10), the “cornerstone” of Japan's diplomacy toward the Pacific Island countries. As China attempts to increase its influence in the region, Japan must marshal a strategic response that connects these states to its broader objectives in the Indo-Pacific.
Dec 19, 2023
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Deepfakes Aren't the Disinformation Threat They're Made Out to Be
Concerns over generative AI too often stray into alarmism, of hypothetical dystopias where fact is indistinguishable from fiction. That has distorted the picture. To really understand deepfakes, it is better to look at how they are being used today.
Dec 19, 2023
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Learning from the OpenAI Staff Mutiny
As AI and other software-based technologies continue to rise in importance for the government and Department of Defense, its leaders should learn how top technical talent differs from other kinds of workers and how to ensure the military understands how to interact with the best and brightest technical workers America has to offer.
Dec 18, 2023
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Place Matters: Navigating Heart Health Through Place-Based Policy
Unequal allocation of neighborhood resources has been linked to cardiovascular outcomes. Consequently, neighborhood influences on cardiovascular health are multilevel and nuanced. This makes it hard for researchers and practitioners to find ways to modify neighborhoods to support health.
Dec 14, 2023
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Looking Back on the Big Policy Stories of 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, RAND president and CEO Jason Matheny highlights areas where RAND is tackling the most urgent and complex problems we face. Each is a small reminder that where there are thoughtful people working tirelessly to find solutions, there is hope.
Dec 14, 2023
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Three Myths About Hiring People with Convictions
Employers are desperate to recruit hundreds of thousands of workers who seemingly have vanished from the workforce. People with criminal histories represent a large pool of labor that could fill the gap. So why aren't more managers hiring them?
Dec 13, 2023

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