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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
The Day Before the Revolution
April 19 is synonymous in Korea with democracy. Mass demonstrations that day in 1960 led to the collapse of the increasingly corrupt Syngman Rhee government. Today, histories of Korea's democratization movement commemorate the April Revolution as the nation's first mass struggle for democracy.
Apr 26, 2022
Commentary
Will South Korea's New President Reshape Regional Dynamics?
Yoon Suk-yeol has been elected president of South Korea. With a tall order to fill at home and abroad, the Yoon administration has the potential to reshape South Korea's future and relationships in the region. The path that he carves for Seoul in the coming weeks and months will be watched with keen interest marked by hopes and apprehension by his neighbors.
Mar 15, 2022
Commentary
What the Media Might Have Missed About South Korea's Elections
The toxicity of the anti-feminist discourse in South Korea does not accurately reflect the gender-related tensions and problems that most Koreans currently face. The obstacles to improving gender equity are more mundane and more ubiquitous than the hyperbole of anti-feminism suggests.
Mar 10, 2022
Report
Truth Decay in Europe
Truth Decay, the diminishing role of facts in public life, is less prevalent across Europe than it is in the United States. What actions can be taken now to stop Truth Decay from spreading further—and potentially prevent its serious consequences?
Feb 23, 2022
Commentary
South Korea's Presidential Election: Beyond Mudslinging, What Gives?
The 2022 South Korean presidential campaign has focused largely on personal attacks and allegations of corruption with little attention being paid to pressing issues facing the nation. The absence of meaningful policy debate and clarity on policy deliverables will continue to leave the South Korean electorate largely uninformed about what may be the most important decision they will make in 2022.
Jan 3, 2022
Blog
Russia and Ukraine, Climate Migration, Democracy in Asia: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Russia and Ukraine, planning for climate migration, the state of democracy in Asia, and more.
Dec 10, 2021
Report
Democracy Remains Fragile in the Asia-Pacific
In Asia, there has been a reduction in the number of autocracies over time but also a rise in the number of partial democracies. What makes some Asian states slide toward authoritarianism? What policies can support democratization, and how can external actors help?
Dec 6, 2021
Commentary
Politicians Face Violence and Threats from Voters—and Each Other. Are We Nearing a Civil War?
Does America's increasingly uncivil behavior mean we are heading toward civil war? The historical record seems to indicate that the country has a high tolerance for violence without breaking apart. But the threat of civil wars cannot be dismissed.
Nov 15, 2021
Commentary
Summit Gives Biden Chance to Nudge Post-Soviet States Toward Democracy
President Biden may invite Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to his “summit for democracy” in December. By both praising and nudging these imperfect democracies to do more to achieve their democratic potential, Biden could give his agenda more meaning.
Sep 20, 2021
Multimedia
Historic Lynchings and Present-Day Voting: What’s the Connection?
RAND associate economist Jhacova Williams shares the motivation behind her recent study examining to what extent historic lynchings could be linked to the contemporary voting behavior of Black Americans who live in the South.
Aug 20, 2021
News Release
Historic Lynchings in the U.S. South Are Linked to Lower Levels of Voter Registration Among Black People
Black Americans who reside in counties in the South where there was a higher number of lynchings from 1882 to 1930 have lower voter registration today, a likely sign of the lasting effects of historical racial animus.
Jul 27, 2021
Commentary
'Joe-Yoshi' Spirit Buoys Japan-U.S. Alliance in Turbulent Seas
President Biden and Prime Minister Suga appear to have established a warm, personal rapport while communicating a clear vision of the importance of working together to end the pandemic, combat climate change, preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, and defend democracy.
Apr 20, 2021
Report
PSAs Might Prevent Foreign Disinformation from Taking Hold
Tests with focus groups suggest that Americans are vulnerable to Russian-made memes. The participants responded positively to a public service announcement about foreign election interference, especially after they learned that they had just viewed content from Russia designed to breed dissension.
Mar 29, 2021
Commentary
Book Review: 'Liberalism, the Blob, and American Foreign Policy: Evidence and Methodology' by Robert Jervis
Robert Jervis' “Liberalism, the Blob, and American Foreign Policy: Evidence and Methodology” is a thoughtful review of two books written by prominent international relations theorists John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt. Jervis focuses his critique primarily on methodology and argues that the actual historical record is more complicated than either Mearsheimer or Walt suggests.
Mar 12, 2021
Journal Article
Study on Child Participation in EU Political and Democratic Life: Final Report
RAND Europe and Eurochild were contracted by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers to support this study. This Final Report summarises the findings from all research methodologies applied in this study.
Feb 23, 2021
Commentary
Myanmar's Coup and Its Recent Elections: Institutions Matter
What was the Myanmar military's calculus in deciding to stage a coup against the civilian-led government? The history of coups and elections provides some insights.
Feb 15, 2021
Commentary
Myanmar Coup: First Foreign Policy Test for President Biden
Shortly after dawn on February 1, Myanmar's military staged a coup against the nation's fledgling civilian government. There are no easy solutions, and how the Biden administration responds will be widely seen as a template for other thorny situations in the future.
Feb 9, 2021
Brochure
Spotlight 2020–2021
Spotlight 2020-2021 features examples of our research that helped to improve people's lives during a turbulent year. It also highlights a selection of research initiatives on the horizon for 2021.
Jan 26, 2021
Commentary
Why We Need a January 6 Commission to Investigate the Attack on the Capitol
The history of politically charged violence in and against the United States can be read in the reports of its national commissions. The takeover of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 demands such an inquiry.
Jan 20, 2021
Multimedia
The Likelihood of Violence Following the U.S. Presidential Inauguration
Brian Michael Jenkins, senior adviser to the RAND president, discusses the likelihood of violence that could occur following Inauguration Day in response to election results.
Jan 15, 2021

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