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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
From the Ashes of Hamas-Israel War, Can Economics Drive Peace?
The economic costs of the violence in Gaza threaten Israel's economic future. For the Palestinians, the costs may be so large that they undermine the possibility of an independent Palestinian state. But the magnitude of these economic losses may, paradoxically, forge a new pathway toward peace once the fighting stops.
Nov 28, 2023
Report
National Identity and the Origins of the War in Ukraine
From the 1990s to the 2022 invasion, Russia's manipulation of Ukraine was based on a post-Soviet Russian identity that was hostile to the European project. Meanwhile, Ukraine formed a national identity that was at odds with Russia's, and it grew stronger and more resistant to Russian influence.
Nov 29, 2023

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Commentary
China's Bullying Proves South Korea's Yoon Is on the Right Track
An escalating war of words between Beijing and Seoul is raising pressure on South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to take a softer line with China. Instead, the Yoon administration should see Beijing's threats of punishment as vindication for further strengthening and expanding Seoul's alliance with the United States.
Jul 5, 2023
Report
Overcoming Barriers to Working with Highly Capable Allies and Partners in the Air, Space, and Cyber Domains: An Exploratory Analysis
In this report, the authors consider how the United States can enhance engagement with highly capable allies and partners to improve interoperability by identifying some of the main barriers to security cooperation with these countries.
Jul 5, 2023
Announcement
James Dobbins, Diplomat and Nation-Building Expert, Dies at 81; Directed RAND's International Security and Defense Policy Center
James Dobbins, a veteran diplomat called “one of the leading practitioners of the art” of nation-building by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and who directed RAND's International Security and Defense Policy Center for more than a decade, died July 3. He was 81.
Jul 5, 2023
Commentary
The Arctic Is Our Last Global Commons—Let's Manage Its Fisheries Properly
It is time to create a multilateral Arctic fisheries management plan before a moratorium on fishing in Arctic high seas sunsets in 2037. Agreements can lead to economic and food security for partners; a lack of coordination will lead to conflict, environmental degradation, and overfishing. The clock is ticking.
Jun 30, 2023
Report
The BHP Foundation's Education Equity Program: Midterm Evaluation Findings (2018–2022)
In this midterm evaluation of the BHP Foundation's Education Equity program, the authors assess the program's impacts, share insights to inform its improvement, and provide recommendations for its strategy and theory of change.
Jun 29, 2023
Report
Exploring How Teach for All's Networks Connect Local Educational Organizations: A Case Study of Alumni Professional Connections in Peru
Using data from Enseña Perú, the Peru chapter of the global Teach for All network, the authors evaluated alumni professional interactions with each other and the extent to which these collaborations span organizations, sectors, and regions in Peru.
Jun 29, 2023
Report
How Violent Extremists Behave Online
Exploitation of the internet by violent extremists is as old as the technology itself. But ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE) actors generally, and especially in online spaces, have been adapting to and adopting the evolving technological landscape in more sophisticated ways.
Jun 28, 2023
Commentary
Taiwan's Will to Fight May Be Stronger Than You Think
Should China mount an invasion, Taiwan's political leadership and degree of social cohesion will be the most important factors in its defense.
Jun 27, 2023
Report
Assessing the Impact of Diverse Intermediate Force Capabilities and Integrating Them into Wargames for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO
The authors of this report describe how to measure the impact of intermediate force capabilities (IFCs), which cause less-than-lethal effects, and how to better integrate them into wargaming, modeling, and simulation for U.S. and NATO-wide forces.
Jun 27, 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
Commentary
Understanding America's Technological Tit for Tat with China
China and the United States appear to be barreling towards a path that risks further ratcheting up the ongoing economic war. More-evolved strategies are needed beyond simple retaliatory spirals, to find peaceful equilibria and ensure technoeconomic competition does not spill over into military conflict.
Jun 26, 2023
Q&A
Keeping America Safe in an Age of Danger: Q&A with Andrew Hoehn and Thom Shanker
In their new book, Andrew Hoehn and Thom Shanker argue that America has entered an age of danger that may come to rival anything in its history. They explain why the national security system needs an overhaul as we face a growing array of threats, from cyber attacks to climate change.
Jun 26, 2023
Announcement
Amb. John F. Tefft to Receive Top Honor for Career Diplomats
Ambassador John F. Tefft will receive the American Foreign Service Association's 2023 Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy in recognition of his outstanding Foreign Service career, his lifelong commitment to public service, and his exemplary contributions to U.S. foreign policy.
Jun 26, 2023
Blog
Teacher Well-Being, Russian PMCs, AI Conspiracy Theories: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how America's teachers are doing, the proliferation of Russian private military companies, preparing for conspiracy theories about artificial intelligence, and more.
Jun 23, 2023
Commentary
Six Different Ways: Ukraine Lessons for Japanese Defense Planners
Japanese leaders have already begun internalizing key lessons from Ukraine. But Japanese officials are silent on whether they are preparing for a short conflict or a long one. This matters because, as the Ukrainian war demonstrates, a protracted struggle could require different plans from the ones Japan is possibly making.
Jun 23, 2023
Report
Simulating Chinese Gray Zone Coercion of Taiwan: Identifying Redlines and Escalation Pathways
This paper shares the results of an exercise hosted by the RAND Corporation to explore the risk of escalation from Chinese activities in the gray zone to conventional war. The results showed an overall low risk of Taiwanese escalation.
Jun 22, 2023
Commentary
How to Reform and Reconstruct Ukraine After the War
Hostilities in Ukraine are ongoing, but it is not too early to consider post-war reconstruction. Indeed, the United States and Europe have already begun planning what will probably be the most ambitious post-war rebuilding effort in modern history.
Jun 21, 2023
Report
Great-Power Competition and Conflict in Latin America
This report explores the potential for competition and conflict among the United States, China, and Russia in Latin America; where competition might turn into conflict; what form that conflict might take; and the implications for the United States.
Jun 20, 2023
Commentary
How Not to Help Ukraine
Good strategy involves clearly defining your objectives (ends), developing practical methods to accomplish them (ways), and then allocating sufficient resources (means) to turn these objectives and methods into reality. The debate over congressional support for Ukraine aid largely revolves around means. But what of the other two legs of the strategic triad?
Jun 17, 2023
Report
Scientific and Technological Flows Between the United States and China
Leaders from both the United States and China have recognized scientific and technological dominance as a national priority. But what are the potential benefits and risks of U.S.-Chinese scientific research collaboration?
Jun 15, 2023

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International Affairs

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Researcher Spotlight

Elina Treyger

Senior Political Scientist

Elina Treyger is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and is also a lawyer. Her work at RAND spans topics in three areas of research: (1) homeland security (with a focus on migration, immigration enforcement, and dis- & misinformation); (2) national security and defense (with a…
Cortez A. Cooper III

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Cortez A. Cooper III is a senior international/defense researcher at the RAND Corporation and an affiliate faculty member at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He provides assessments of security challenges across political, military, economic, cultural, and informational arenas for a broad range…

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