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Religion and Civil Society

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Essay
Faith-Based Organizations Promote Well-Being in Underserved Communities
Kathryn Derose, a senior policy researcher at RAND and an Episcopal deacon, works with Latino and African-American churches to address health issues in their communities. Her research has shown the power of the pulpit to fight health disparities, counter stigma, and encourage healthy living.
Jan 4, 2019
Report
Religion, Conflict, and Stability in the Former Soviet Union
Religion is a visible force in the sociopolitical life of post-Soviet countries. Understanding how religion has contributed to peace or tensions in the region could inform policymakers and others working to bring stability to the former Soviet republics.
Jan 15, 2018

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Commentary
Politics in India—Not Business as Usual
India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has suffered recent, self-inflicted electoral setbacks. But it is still the best-organized and richest political party in the country. Can opposing alliances defeat the BJP?
Jun 19, 2018
Report
The Future of Sectarian Relations in the Middle East
Sectarianism is shaping developments across the Middle East. But sectarianism is only one lens for understanding the region's conflicts, and some of its drivers are amenable to policy interventions.
May 22, 2017
Research Brief
The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing HIV
In a series of collaborative studies, RAND researchers sought to better understand urban congregations' capacity for HIV prevention and care, specifically in the areas of stigma reduction and HIV testing.
Apr 27, 2017
Journal Article
Mutualistic Cooperation — Why Religion Is Common but Saints Are Rare
This commentary on a larger focus article suggests that religion may improve wellness through mutualistic benefits that do not require truly altruistic cooperation and related cultural signaling systems.
Jul 19, 2016
Commentary
Vive France's Defense of Its Jewish Citizens
France is not the problem when it comes to defending Jewish lives and Jewish rights. With a few exceptions, the French state and nation have been stalwart on these issues, if only because the French government has understood that those who strike at Jews usually are striking at values dear to France.
Feb 13, 2015
Report
Building Democracy on the Ashes of Authoritarianism in the Arab World
In April, RAND and the International Strategic Research Organization convened a workshop in Istanbul, where policymakers, opinion leaders, and experts from Arab regions explored practical measures countries can adopt to build enduring democratic institutions and practices.
Jul 29, 2013
Commentary
Obama's Burmese Gamble
A year ago, the United States and Myanmar (Burma) did not even have ambassadors in each other's capitals. In May, President Thein Sein became the first leader from Myanmar to visit the White House in nearly a half-century. Has Obama's administration been too quick to embrace what was one of the world's most repressive regimes?
Jul 10, 2013
Report
Arab Spring Revolutions Have Not Yet Created Democracies, but Democratization Is Possible
The Arab world is the one region that has been left out of the global trend toward greater embrace of democracy, but a successful shift from authoritarian regimes to democratic governments is possible there.
Jul 9, 2013
Report
Democratization in the Arab World: A Summary of Lessons from Around the Globe
This report is an updated version of the summary section of Democratization in the Arab World: Prospects and Lessons from Around the Globe. It is largely the same as the summary published in 2012, but has been modified somewhat to reflect recent events.
Jul 9, 2013
Commentary
Can Catholic Colleges Block Free Condom Distribution?
If this issue were to be decided on the basis of public health benefits, the outcome would be clear: Condoms indisputably prevent both unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, writes Chloe Bird.
Apr 23, 2013
Blog
New RAND Study Examines Voting Patterns in Post-Mubarak Egypt
While much has been written on the electoral strength of Islamists in Egypt, most of the analysis has been done at the national level, ignoring regional divides within the country. A new report identifies the areas where Islamist parties run strongest, and the areas where non-Islamists are most competitive.
Mar 22, 2013
Commentary
Obama and Myanmar (Burma): Four Points About Conflict There
We can expect to see continued jockeying for scarce resources among vulnerable populations around the globe, attempts by majority communities to disenfranchise powerless minority groups, and episodes of extreme weather to blow away any notion that disasters—whether natural, man-made, or both—can't happen here, writes Jonah Blank.
Nov 20, 2012
Commentary
Headscarves on Egyptian Newscasts Are a Victory for Tolerance
Lifting the Egyptian ban on headscarves on TV newscasts can be seen as a positive development. It ends state discrimination against those who wish to show their faith outwardly.
Sep 6, 2012
Research Brief
Prospects for Democratization in the Arab World (Arabic translation)
Daunting challenges lie ahead for countries undergoing political transitions in the Arab world. Researchers identify the challenges these countries face and suggest policy approaches that may help foster enduring democracies.
Aug 20, 2012
Commentary
How Does Arab Spring Compare to Third Wave Transitions?
The changes underway in the Arab world may lead to various possible destinations that differ both from their points of departure and from liberal democracy, write Laurel Miller and Jeffrey Martini.
Aug 17, 2012
Commentary
Victims of Terrorism-by-Mistaken-Identity
Perpetrators of hate-crimes against Sikhs often think they're attacking Muslims. This may not make the slaughter any more or less heinous, but it's another example of hatred flowing from ignorance, writes Jonah Blank.
Aug 8, 2012
Report
Arab Spring Revolutions Have Not Yet Created Democracies, but Democratization Is Possible
The Arab world is the one region that has been left out of the global trend toward greater embrace of democracy, but a successful shift from authoritarian regimes to democratic governments is possible there.
Jul 18, 2012
Research Brief
Prospects for Democratization in the Arab World
Daunting challenges lie ahead for countries undergoing political transitions in the Arab world. Researchers identify the challenges these countries face and suggest policy approaches that may help foster enduring democracies.
Jul 18, 2012
News Release
Arab Spring Revolutions Have Not Yet Created Democracies, but Democratization Is Possible
The Arab world is the one region that has been left out of the global trend toward greater embrace of democracy, but a successful shift from authoritarian regimes to democratic governments is possible there.
Jul 17, 2012

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