RAND Research Topic: Low-intensity Conflict

Lessons from Russia's Operations in Ukraine

May 9, 2017

Russia's annexation of Crimea was a decisive use of military force toward political ends. But Russia benefited from favorable circumstances that make this hard to replicate. Moscow likely considers its campaign in Eastern Ukraine a strategic success but an unsuccessful operation.

The Potential for Russian Hybrid Warfare in the Baltics

Feb 23, 2017

Russia would likely have trouble using nonviolent tactics to destabilize the Baltics. Covert violent action is also unlikely to succeed on its own. Thus, the Baltics' main vulnerability is Russia's local superiority in conventional forces.

Russia, China and Iran Use Measures Short of War to Further Strategic Ends Against the U.S.

May 31, 2016

The United States will have to address the problems of foreign intervention and threats short of war if it is to prevent further erosion of its global influence by its competitors.

Russia, China, and Iran Use Measures Short of War to Further Strategic Ends Against the U.S.

May 31, 2016

The United States will have to address the problems of foreign intervention and threats short of war if it is to prevent further erosion of its global influence by its competitors. Policymakers and the military services should consider ways to better identify, forestall, and counteract the use of measures short of war against U.S. and allied interests.

Toward Operational Art in Special Warfare

Feb 23, 2016

Hybrid irregular and conventional military operations are playing an increasingly prominent role in international conflict. To counter this trend, the United States should adopt a new form of operational art for special warfare.

A Counterinsurgency Win in Afghanistan?

Feb 4, 2016

The 2015 counterinsurgency (COIN) effort in Afghanistan ranks among the low end of historical COIN winners. The Afghan government and security forces are capable of maintaining the current stalemate with the Taliban. This is the first step on the most promising path to peace: a negotiated settlement.

The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary

Nov 23, 2015

An Arabic translation of a study‘s executive summary estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.

The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary

Nov 23, 2015

A Hebrew translation of an executive summary of a study estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.

Conditional Cash Transfers, Civil Conflict and Insurgent Influence

Nov 18, 2015

This study estimates the effect of conditional cash transfers on civil conflict in the Philippines by exploiting an experiment that randomly assigned eligibility for a CCT program at the village level.

The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Oct 29, 2015

In an effort to understand the economic price of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, RAND assessed the costs and benefits of alternatives to the current impasse. The authors of the study present their findings to RAND Policy Circle members.

RAND Experts Discuss the Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Study

Jun 18, 2015

RAND experts discuss their recent study, The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Media relations director Jeffrey Hiday moderated the call.

Press Conference at the Wilson Center: Calculating the Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Jun 15, 2015

At the U.S. launch of The Costs of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Study held at the Wilson Center on June 15, 2015, RAND senior researchers Charles P. Ries and C. Ross Anthony discussed the economic and non-economic factors surrounding the conflict and the long-term implications for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and the international community.

Author Presentation: Calculating the Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Jun 15, 2015

C. Ross Anthony and Charles P. Ries will present findings from their research on The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The study explores both the economic and non-economic factors that might influence the parties' decisions—and have long-term implications in the region and beyond.

Analyzing the Economic Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Jun 8, 2015

When examining the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the economic costs are often overlooked. Recently, RAND experts analyzed how both economies are harmed by the lack of a two-state solution and found that a significant peace dividend could be achieved if the conflict could be resolved.

A Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Provides the Best Economic Outcomes

Jun 8, 2015

The Israeli economy stands to gain more than $120 billion over the next decade in a two-state solution, a possible resolution of the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinians would gain $50 billion, with average per-capita income rising by about 36 percent.

The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary

Jun 8, 2015

For much of the past century, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been a defining feature of the Middle East. Depending on its trajectory, what are the conflict's net costs and benefits to both parties over the next ten years?

Calculating the Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Jun 8, 2015

With this interactive calculator, explore how modifying key assumptions from the RAND Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict study affects direct costs, opportunity costs, and total change in GDP.

Special Warfare

Jan 27, 2015

RAND authors analyze the options for using special warfare to fill the gap in coercive strategies between the costly commitment of conventional forces and the limits of precision-strike campaigns, including its characteristics, advantages, and risks.

Special Warfare

Dec 8, 2014

In the face of adversaries exploiting regional social divisions by using special operations forces and intelligence services, and dwindling American appetite for intervention, the United States needs to employ a more sophisticated form of special warfare to secure its interests.

Best Practices for Assessing Locally Focused Stability Operations

Aug 21, 2014

Locally focused stability operations (LFSO) to build security, development, and governance are difficult to assess because of the complexity of operational environments. This brief outlines creation of an assessment plan for a notional LFSO scenario.