Skip to page content

Foreign Affairs

Featured

RAND's international affairs research comprises a range of cross-cutting issues, including global economies and trade, space and maritime security, diplomacy, global health and education, nation building, and regional security and stability. RAND also analyzes the policies and effectiveness of international organizations such as the UN, NATO, European Union, and ASEAN.

Commentary

U.S. Policy Options for Hong Kong

Dec 2, 2019

After six months of escalating police violence and protester resistance, matters in Hong Kong have come to a head. What steps could the United States consider to reduce the prospect of a resurgence in violence?
Commentary

With Chaos in the Streets of Iran, Here’s How the United States Could Help the Iranian People

Dec 3, 2019

The Iranian people deserve American support. But current U.S. policies are hurting the cause that Iranians are fighting for while failing to achieve any strategic objectives.

Topics in Focus:

Explore International Affairs

Report

New Perils for Global Health Security

There are two main threats to global health security. The first is the presence of slow-burn problems that may not receive enough attention—until it's too late. The second: emerging technologies that have beneficial uses but can also be weaponized.

Dec 13, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Trade Relations Between Taiwan and South Asia Under the New Southbound Policy

This paper provides an assessment of Taiwan's global status as an economy, to discover where its global comparative advantages lie, then assesses its economic relations with South Asia.

Dec 13, 2019
Commentary

Can Anything Stop the Flow of Advanced Weapons into Libya?

Weapons proliferation has been a security concern for Libya and its neighbors since the revolution of 2011. If foreign arms transfers into Libya aren't reduced, the country's security situation will continue to deteriorate, giving militant groups a chance to increase their lethality and further destabilize the region.

Dec 13, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Measuring Labour Mobility and Migration Using Big Data: Exploring the Potential of Social-Media Data for Measuring EU Mobility Flows and Stocks of EU Movers

Researchers investigated the use of social media data to offer real-time estimates that will serve as early warnings about changes in EU mobility. The team successfully used the data to apply a working model for measuring stocks of EU migrants.

Dec 12, 2019
Commentary

Return of Nuclear Doomsday

Elder statesmen are again warning of nuclear dangers. But have they risen? Maybe, but they remain only faint echoes of Cold War era risks, creating an opportunity to deliberately and carefully take steps to avoid future risks.

Dec 12, 2019
Commentary

Understanding Iran's Nuclear Escalation Strategy

Throughout 2019, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. What are its goals in doing this? Why has it adopted this strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how far does Iran intend to go?

Dec 12, 2019
Report

How to Counter Russia's Gray Zone Tactics

Russia uses gray zone tactics—ambiguous actions that target domestic or international public opinion—across Europe. Wargames found that vulnerability to these tactics varies. And they can be countered by hardening Western societies against Russian propaganda and attempts to undermine democracy.

Dec 11, 2019
Report

Report

Gaming Gray Zone Tactics: Design Considerations for a Structured Strategic Game

The RAND Arroyo Center developed a strategic-level structured card game examining a gray zone competition between Russia and the West in the Balkans to better understand the nature of a gray zone competition with Russia.

Dec 11, 2019
Commentary

Don't Expect a Thaw in Iran

Iran's recent protests could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Iran's domestic politics. Whatever happens inside the country, though, it will not likely change Iran's foreign policy.

Dec 11, 2019
Report

Envisioning a Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Afghanistan

Throughout years of attempts to negotiate an end to the war in Afghanistan, the conflict parties articulated only the barest outlines of envisioned outcomes. A new detailed picture of a political settlement includes options for realistic compromises. It is presented in the format of a peace accord to show what the outcome of negotiations could look like.

Dec 10, 2019
Commentary

What Does Beijing Want from the Pacific Islands?

China's recent activities in Oceania highlight a formidable two-pronged strategy of diplomatic and economic engagement that Washington and its allies and partners will have to vigorously compete against to maintain their preeminence in the Pacific.

Dec 9, 2019
Blog

Hong Kong, Reducing Crime, Medical Marijuana: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the U.S. can do about Hong Kong, reducing crime in Chicago, medical marijuana, and more.

Dec 6, 2019
Brochure

Brochure

RAND Arroyo Center Annual Report 2018-2019

This Annual Report illustrates the depth and breadth of the research conducted for the Army in fiscal year 2019.

Dec 4, 2019
Commentary

Is NATO Brain Dead?

French President Macron's remark about the brain death of NATO was provoked by President Trump's October 6 decision, since modified, to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria. Macron is right to wonder how Trump would respond to any threat to European security. But he is wrong to attribute this uncertainty to diminishing support for the alliance among all Americans.

Dec 3, 2019
Blog

Artificial Intelligence Bias, Russia, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on bias in algorithms, Russia's limits in the Middle East, understanding the fentanyl crisis, and more.

Nov 29, 2019
Report

Russian Strategy in the Middle East Is Limited

The unrest in Syria and the Arab Spring gave Russia the opportunity to increase its economic and political activities across the Middle East. But the strengths of Moscow's strategy in the short term—its transactionalism, its balancing of multiple partners—may turn out to be its undoing in the long term.

Nov 26, 2019
Commentary

Celebrating Children's Rights Is Important, but More Progress Is Needed

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which set a legal framework and put children's rights firmly on the international policy agenda, was adopted 30 years ago November 20th. While there are a number of initiatives in place, more work could be done to maximize children's involvement in policy and decision-making on issues that affect their lives.

Nov 25, 2019
Commentary

City Diplomacy Has Been on the Rise. Policies Are Finally Catching Up

Cities are not signing international treaties, nor do they have embassies around the world. But they can engage in all kinds of negotiations, reach agreements, and influence world politics. The State Department could tap into this power to enhance U.S. diplomacy, global image, and influence.

Nov 22, 2019

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next

RAND Topic:
International Affairs

Research conducted by