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Commentary
Prospects for Bipartisanship in a Divided Country
Political polarization affects democracy and discourse about public policy. But a series of workshops with diverse stakeholders discussing sensitive policy issues found that Americans from different demographic, economic, political, professional, and social backgrounds can reach consensus.
Jan 19, 2023
Report
The Impact of State Voting Processes in the 2020 Election
To safely conduct the 2020 general election amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many states changed their voting laws by implementing automatic voter registration, removing excuse requirements for absentee ballots, and expanding early voting. How did these changes affect voter turnout and choice of voting method?
Jul 31, 2023

Explore Democracy

Commentary
Cherish Allies While You Can: What Should the U.S. Do To Support the Incoming Polish Government?
Plenty has been said about what lessons Poland's recent elections hold for pro-democracy forces across the wider West, as well as the message this election sends about a feared inevitability of autocracy, and the significance of this opposition win for European security. But what does the election of an opposition alliance mean for U.S. relations with Warsaw?
Nov 14, 2023
Blog
Teacher Pay, the Costs of Insomnia, Wildfire Prevention: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on teachers' dissatisfaction with their pay and work hours, the staggering costs of insomnia, connections between wildfires and food insecurity., and more.
Sep 15, 2023
Commentary
U.S. and Israel on Parallel Paths
From the political roles of religious fundamentalism, to the inability of either side to find compromise with the other, to leaders facing legal struggles, the United States and Israel have a lot in common.
Sep 6, 2023
Blog
The Wagner Revolt, Housing in L.A., Cyberstalking: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the Wagner Group's power play against Russian leadership, how Truth Decay affects national security, why the U.S. legal system is underprepared to handle cyberstalking cases, and more.
Jun 30, 2023
Essay
Truth Decay Is Putting U.S. National Security at Risk
Truth Decay—the diminishing role of facts and analysis in public life—could weaken the U.S. military, costs America credibility with its allies, and calls into question the nation's ability to respond to the next big crisis. How can the United States guard against these risks?
Jun 28, 2023
Multimedia
Big Themes and Geopolitics with Robert B. Zoellick
Robert B. Zoellick shares two complementary perspectives on risks to global democracy, identifying transnational trends and pointing out geopolitical shifts in Eurasia. His message concludes with implications for the future.
Jun 27, 2023
Journal Article
Cultural Evolution and the Economic Wealth of Nations
This chapter reviews research on the cultural evolution of economic development around the globe, including the relationship between development outcomes and linguistic and religious ancestry.
May 25, 2023
Commentary
Upcoming Presidential Election Will Clarify Taiwan's China Policy
Until the Taiwanese presidential election next January, China, the United States, and many other countries will be watching Taiwan with bated breath. Across the Indo-Pacific region and the world, the hope would simply be that no matter who is elected, peace and stability continue to prevail in the Taiwan Strait.
May 19, 2023
Blog
U.S. Gun Laws, China's COVID Outbreak, Space in 2050: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on gun policy in America, the myth of America's “Ukraine fatigue,” the COVID outbreak in China, and more.
Jan 13, 2023
Commentary
Whether Democracy Is Eroding or on the Upswing Depends on What State You Live In
Voter laws, civic education opportunities, and trust in government are all important aspects of democracy that impact individuals' civic participation. If policymakers had better ways to measure and monitor this “civic infrastructure” beyond just voter turnout, a different, more complicated but complete picture of our democracy would likely emerge.
Dec 13, 2022
Report
Defining and Measuring Civic Infrastructure
Is the United States in a civic crisis? Or is American democracy simply evolving? A framework for defining and measuring civic infrastructure can help answer these questions—and preserve a healthy democracy.
Nov 30, 2022
Journal Article
Policymaking to Support Resilience in Democratic Countries: An Examination of Sweden, Israel, and Australia
This article identifies measures that contribute to resilience in democracies. Policymakers in democratic countries should anticipate emerging trends and threats to enhance their resilience in a complex and dangerous security environment.
Nov 8, 2022
Journal Article
Shared Cultural Ancestry Predicts the Global Diffusion of Democracy
Countries with shared linguistic and religious ancestry have similar democracy outcomes.
Nov 4, 2022
Blog
Homelessness in L.A., Russia's Military Woes, Educator Morale: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on breaking the cycle of incarceration and homelessness, Russia’s ongoing military struggles, NATO expansion, and more.
Aug 19, 2022
Report
Securing U.S. Elections
Election systems across U.S. states and jurisdictions are diverse in terms of governance and technology. How can state and local officials effectively assess and prioritize cybersecurity risk in the systems they oversee?
Aug 16, 2022
Essay
'The Future Could Be Brilliant': RAND's CEO Is an 'Apocaloptimist'
Jason Matheny, RAND's new president and CEO, explains why he's cautiously optimistic about the future of humanity, the importance of public service, and RAND's role in shaping policy solutions.
Aug 4, 2022
Commentary
'Truth Decay' in Europe Is Real, but Its Advance Can Be Slowed
Though present in Europe, the evidence suggests that trends of Truth Decay are not as widespread or as pronounced as they are in the United States. There is still time for policymakers to intervene and limit their growth.
May 17, 2022
Multimedia
Expert Insights: Truth Decay in Europe
The role of facts and data in public life in Europe is changing and a new study has found evidence of the signs of Truth Decay. However, there is still time to act and help prevent or slow its growth. Senior researchers Axelle Devaux and Stijn Hoorens discuss the research in the Expert Insights podcast.
May 16, 2022

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