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West Asia

Commentary
Negotiating with TTP—A Different Perspective
America's withdrawal and the Taliban's swift return to power in Afghanistan could be a primary force in shaping the trajectory of the continuing armed struggle with Pakistan's Taliban. It may be time for Islamabad to consider whether to renew efforts aimed at reaching a political settlement.
Oct 27, 2021
Commentary
Reconsidering U.S. Decisionmaking Within NATO After the Fall of Kabul
With NATO, the United States often tries to have it all: U.S. leadership of the alliance and increased allied burden-sharing. But the recent experience in Afghanistan shows how the form U.S. leadership takes can frustrate allies. Prioritizing allied preferences would help to preserve alliance unity and maybe even strengthen burden-sharing.
Oct 25, 2021
Journal Article
How We Talk About Migration: The Link Between Migration Narratives, Policy, and Power
This report analyzes how narratives about migration contribute to political discourse in five countries.
Oct 22, 2021
Multimedia
Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis: Forty Years in the Making
RAND senior policy researcher Shelly Culbertson discusses the history and current state of Afghanistan's refugee crisis.
Oct 13, 2021
Blog
Four-Day School Weeks, Domestic Terrorism, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the trade-offs of a four-day school week, how to counter domestic violent extremism, racial disparities in who is convicted of more-serious speeding charges, and more.
Oct 8, 2021
Commentary
The Big Unanswered Question of the Afghanistan War
The United States' war in Afghanistan may be over, but the debate over the legacy of America's longest war has just begun. The U.S. defeat raises many questions. For the future of American defense strategy, one big question perhaps stands out above all: Does the United States still have the grit necessary to fight and win long wars?
Oct 4, 2021
Blog
Supporting Undocumented and Asylum-Seeking Children, L.A. Housing, Veterans: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on educating and supporting undocumented and asylum-seeking children in U.S. schools, what drives America's adversaries to use military forces, and measuring the compounding effects of racism.
Oct 1, 2021
Report
What Drives U.S. Adversaries to Use Military Forces Abroad?
Where, how, and how often have China, Russia, and Iran intervened militarily since 1946? A review of their behavior and that of other U.S. adversaries identifies why they initiated military interventions and why they might do so in the future.
Sep 27, 2021
Report
What Drives Iran's Military Interventions?
Iran has risen as one of the most significant regional challenges faced by the United States. A RAND report identifies key signposts of Iranian military interventions that can be used as early warning indicators for U.S. military planners.
Sep 27, 2021
Report
What Drives Russia's Military Interventions?
Russia has engaged in more interventions than any other U.S. competitor since the end of the Cold War. A RAND report analyzes the 25 interventions that Russia has undertaken since 1991.
Sep 27, 2021
Blog
China-Pakistan Partnership, Media Literacy, Incarcerated Parents: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the China-Pakistan partnership in light of the Taliban's rise to power, media literacy education, parenting from prison, and more.
Sep 24, 2021
Commentary
China and Pakistan See Eye to Eye on the Taliban—Almost
Beijing and Islamabad share a long history of cooperation and have much in common on Afghanistan. Both are poised to benefit strategically from the Taliban's success. But the Taliban's resurrection almost certainly will add some stress to an otherwise positive and productive bilateral partnership.
Sep 21, 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
Blog
Boosting Vaccine Acceptance, Afghanistan's Refugee Crisis, Environmental Racism: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on addressing vaccine hesitancy, preventing an even-bigger humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and how to develop antiracist environmental policies.
Sep 10, 2021
Journal Article
Can a Pragmatic Relationship With the Taliban Help Russia Counter Terrorism?
Neither the United States nor Russia wants to see Afghanistan become a haven for international terrorist groups. For now, Russia is taking a pragmatic approach to the Taliban in that it has a relationship with the group that the United States does not.
Sep 8, 2021
Commentary
With the Evacuation Over, Afghanistan Is Left to Contend with a Worsening Refugee Crisis
The more than 100,000 civilians recently evacuated from Afghanistan are a small fraction of those who have lost their homes and livelihoods due to war. To avoid worsening the existing humanitarian crisis, the global community should take swift action, including close coordination with regional and national players.
Sep 7, 2021
Commentary
Lessons from Afghanistan
The British invaded Afghanistan multiple times from 1839 to 1919. These wars offer wider context for understanding America's intervention in that same nation—and its ultimate failure.
Sep 3, 2021
Blog
U.S. Failure in Afghanistan, Critical Race Theory Bans, Income Inequality: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how early mistakes led to America's failure in Afghanistan, the potential effects of critical race theory bans, an art installation that breaks down RAND data on income inequality, and more.
Sep 3, 2021
Commentary
Reinforcing U.S. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific After the Fall of Afghanistan
China and North Korea are seizing on the U.S. departure from Afghanistan to press their own political warfare messages. What can the United States do to mitigate the impact of the Taliban takeover on America's interests in the Indo-Pacific?
Sep 3, 2021
Commentary
Afghanistan Was Lost Long Ago
The United States failed to build a lasting state in Afghanistan. Although the mission was not doomed from the start, early miscalculations and critical mistakes made success unlikely.
Aug 30, 2021

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Daniel Elinoff

Defense Analyst

Daniel M. Elinoff is a defense and homeland security analyst at the RAND Corporation, where he works in security cooperation, strategic planning, workforce development, disaster recovery, and homeland security policy. He came to RAND from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he…
Charles P. Ries

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Ambassador (Ret.) Charles Ries is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. His research focuses on the economics of development, trade, transatlantic, and Middle East affairs. Previously, Ries served as vice president, International at RAND (2012–2020). Earlier, while on a leave of…

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