Civil Defense

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Civil defense comprises activities designed to minimize the effects of war on the civilian population, deal with immediate emergency conditions, and quickly restore vital utilities and facilities damaged in an attack. RAND research assists national, state, and local agencies in preventing and mitigating terrorist activities; improving civil defense preparedness, response, and recovery actions; and understanding critical infrastructure needs.

  • Numerous square concrete blocks are stacked on top of each other underwater to create an artificial reef, photo by Placebo365/Getty Images

    Commentary

    Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs

    Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is arguably the most important defense problem of the next few decades. Artificial reefs could help to deter China simply by waiting to impale any potential invasion force.

    May 10, 2023

  • Local residents make anti-tank obstacles to defend the city after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, February 27, 2022, photo by Serhii Hudak/Reuters

    Report

    Ukrainian Civilians' Contributions to Resisting Russia

    Civilian-based resistance in Ukraine began in the first hours of Russia's 2022 invasion. Civilians' actions have potential value in helping ensure victory by regaining territorial integrity and maintaining political sovereignty. And this war offers insight into what civilian contributions in future wars could look like.

    Aug 15, 2023

Explore Civil Defense

  • Report

    Report

    Computer security in civil government and industry

    In 1970, a task force organized for the Defense Science Board examined the problem of computer security in the defense establishment and published a report, [Security Controls for Computer Systems] (R-609-1). The insights and views of the task force ...

    Jan 1, 1979

  • Report

    Report

    Soviet Civil Defense Revisited, 1966-1969.

    Initiated in the 1950s and upgraded in 1961, the Soviet civil defense program has increased in scope and intensity since 1966. The system is considered vital to the maintenance of crucial military, industrial, and political capabilities in the event...

    Jan 1, 1969

  • Report

    Report

    Soviet Emergency Planning.

    A review of the Soviet civil defense system, prepared for publication in NATO--Fifteen Nations. Considerable effort and investment apparently have been expended in the long-standing Soviet civil defense program in progressive recognition of the char...

    Jan 1, 1969

  • Report

    Report

    Active and Passive Defense.

    A chapter in a forthcoming study of civil defense (Professor Eugene Wigner, editor), which will deal primarily with blast shelters--a passive form of defense. Because passive defense cannot be discussed meaningfully without an understanding of its r...

    Jan 1, 1968

  • Report

    Report

    The Chinese Nuclear Explosion, N-Nation Development and Civil Defense

    A discussion of the implications for civil defense of nuclear proliferation.

    Jan 1, 1965

  • Report

    Report

    The role of civil defense in Soviet strategy

    A description of the Soviet military's views on the importance of civil defense in a future war. These views derive from an image of war in which the opponent's will to resist and economic capability to continue the struggle are primary targets for a...

    Jan 1, 1963

  • Report

    Report

    Recent developments in the Soviet civil defense program

    A survey of recent Soviet activities in civil defense. The information comes mainly from open Soviet publications and from the author's personal observations in 1960. The program is far from complete and suffers from a variety of shortcomings. In the...

    Jan 1, 1963

  • Report

    Report

    Civil defense revisited

    A review of the current state of civil defense. Suggestions for the use of existing protection are given and a pattern of organization before and during crisis is outlined....

    Jan 1, 1963

  • Report

    Report

    The resolution of the Soviet controversy over civil defense

    A discussion of some recent developments in the Soviet civil defense program. The differences between foreign and domestic Soviet propaganda on covel defense are shown. A debate among the Soviet leaders on the value of civil defense is also described...

    Jan 1, 1962

  • Report

    Report

    The Soviet civil defense program.

    A description of the key features of the Soviet civil defense program and especially of those aspects that deal with defense against radioactive, chemical, and bacteriological agents. The reasons for the long-standing Soviet interest in civil defense...

    Jan 1, 1962

  • Report

    Report

    Civil Defense Training in Russia

    A discussion of Soviet efforts, especially since 1955, to develop a large civil defense organization and to train the majority of its population in civil defense.

    Jan 1, 1961

  • Report

    Report

    Ecological problems and postwar recuperation : a preliminary survey from the civil defense viewpoint

    A discussion of the disruption, which may occur following a nuclear attack, by fire and nuclear radiation, of the biological community. The direct result of the widespread fires will be the destruction of crops, timber, livestock, and wild life. The ...

    Jan 1, 1961

  • Report

    Report

    Soviet Civil Defense

    A description of the Soviet civil-defense program, based on the many Soviet publications issued in connection with the program.

    Jan 1, 1960

  • Report

    Report

    Time and civil defense

    A discussion of the importance of civil defense, which is examined from the viewpoint of historical time, present time, clock time, and calendar time. Such aspects of civil defense are considered as the preparations to limit the extent of damage the ...

    Jan 1, 1960

  • Report

    Report

    Lecture on civil defense

    A talk presented before the Staff College of the New York State Civil Defense Commission at West Point, New York, February 9, 1960. Such aspects of civil defense are stressed as its effect on alleviating the catastrophe of a nuclear attack on the Uni...

    Jan 1, 1960

  • People

    People

    Edward Geist

  • People

    People

    Daria Goriacheva

  • People

    People

    Marta Kepe

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