Skip to page content

Civil-Military Relations

RAND research on civil-military relations includes studies of how a military employs civilian contractors, how military bases interact with their neighbors, and how a nation's military affects its politics—and vice versa.

Report
Underkill: Scalable Capabilities for Military Operations amid Populations
The U.S. military is ill-equipped to fight extremists who hide in populations. The use of deadly force can harm and alienate the people whose cooperation U.S. forces need. To solve this problem, a new RAND study proposes a ''continuum of force.''
Mar 10, 2009
Report
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Plays Complex Role in Iran's Political, Economic, Cultural Scene
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has evolved to take on a greater role in the nation's political, economic and cultural arenas in addition to serving as a major military force.
Jan 1, 2009
News Release
Changes Needed in Way the United States Conducts Military Interventions
In preparing for possible future military interventions, the United States needs to shift substantial resources to the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, and military-civilian efforts must be integrated from top to bottom.
Oct 2, 2008
Commercial Book
After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan
As the Bush administration's first special envoy to Afghanistan, Ambassador Dobbins helped the Afghans assemble a successor government to the Taliban. His memoir explains why the United States has failed to stabilize either Afghanistan or Iraq.
Aug 3, 2008
Commentary
Give Them Sabbaticals
In academia and, increasingly, corporate America, sabbaticals are a time-honored way to step aside from the daily grind and intellectually reboot. The U.S. Army should embrace something similar, writes Laura Miller.
May 7, 2008
Report
United States Lacks the Capability to Counter Insurgency in the Muslim World
Iraq and Afghanistan have revealed serious shortfalls in the capabilities of the U.S. to counter insurgency in the Muslim world. Instead of relying predominantly on military occupation, the U.S. must become more able to bolster the ability of threatened states to win the contest for the support of their people.
Jan 25, 2008
Report
Is There a Civil-Military Gap in the United States?
Concerns about a civil-military gap and possible erosion of the principle of civilian control of the military appear to be overstated. The groups do not differ greatly on the questions that are most pertinent to military effectiveness.
Aug 22, 2007
Research Brief
Applying Madison Avenue Principles and Recent Operational Experience to Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations
This research brief summarizes a study that examined successes from the commercial marketing industry and how those lessons might assist U.S. and coalition forces to improve shaping campaigns during stability operations.
Jul 11, 2007
News Release
Addressing Sprawl Issues and Protecting Biodiversity Can Benefit Military Bases, RAND Study Finds
Addressing Sprawl Issues and Protecting Biodiversity Can Benefit Military Bases, RAND Study Finds.
Jun 28, 2007
News Release
RAND Report Examines Need to Hold Down Civilian Deaths in U.S. Military Operations
February 15, 2007 News Release: RAND Report Examines Need to Hold Down Civilian Deaths in U.S. Military Operations.
Feb 15, 2007
Commentary
Coordination Could Breed Control in Iraq
Published commentary by RAND staff: Coordination Could Breed Control in Iraq, in Washingtonpost.com.
Jan 24, 2007
Report
Misfortunes of War: Press and Public Reactions to Civilian Deaths in Wartime
Analyzes U.S. and foreign press, public, and leadership reactions to four civilian casualty incidents and how these incidents affect media reporting or public support for military operations.
Dec 21, 2006
Research Brief
Fear Cannot Counter Terror
This research brief summarizes an assessment of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, proposes strategic principles for defeating the enemy and for strengthening America, and emphasizes the need to maintain American values in the war on terror.
Aug 8, 2006
Report
Brian Michael Jenkins Proposes Anti-Terrorism Strategy, Defends Civil Liberties
In his 2006 book titled Unconquerable Nation, world-renowned terrorism expert Brian Michael Jenkins assesses the state of U.S. counterterrorism efforts. He argues that the
Jul 14, 2006
Report
Demographics and Security: The Contrasting Cases of Pakistan and Bangladesh
This paper argues that many of the observed dissimilarities between Pakistan and Bangladesh stem, at least in part, from demographic differences, some of which can be attributed to the two countries' diverse human development policies.
Nov 28, 2005
Research Brief
What Have We Learned About Establishing Internal Security in Nation-Building?
Comparing nine nation-building efforts in terms of how successful they were at establishing internal security, we found that, with two exceptions, most efforts were either unsuccessful or mixed. These findings were driven by differences in initial co...
Nov 25, 2005
Commentary
NATO Peacekeepers Need a Partner
Published commentary by RAND staff: NATO Peacekeepers Need a Partner in the International Herald Tribune.
Sep 30, 2005
Report
American Public Support for U.S. Military Operations from Mogadishu to Baghdad
Describes American public opinion toward wars and other large military operations over the last decade.
Mar 15, 2005
Report
Urban Battle Command in the Twenty-First Century
Describes the operational challenges posed by the urban environment and proposes several recommendations to surmount them.
Jan 13, 2005
Report
Aid During Conflict: Interaction Between Military and Civilian Assistance Providers in Afghanistan, September 2001-June 2002
An assessment of humanitarian-assistance efforts by and interaction between civilian and military providers in the early phases of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Oct 28, 2004

Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next

RAND Topic:
Civil-Military Relations

Topic Synonyms:
Civil Affairs Activities;
CMR

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Timothy R. Heath

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Timothy R. Heath is a senior international defense researcher at the RAND Corporation. Prior to joining RAND, Heath had over fifteen years of experience in the U.S. government researching and analyzing military and political topics related to China.
Eric V. Larson

Senior Policy Researcher

Eric V. Larson is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation with government and research experience in national security and defense analysis and strategic planning; public opinion on security and other policy issues; terrorist, extremist, and conspiracy movements; influence operations;…

Explore Our People »