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West Asia

Blog
Just How Many Lives the Vaccines Have Saved, Afghanistan, Unemployment: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the number of lives saved during the early U.S. vaccination effort, what leaving Afghanistan says about other U.S. commitments, global competition for virtual-reality dominance, and more.
Aug 27, 2021
Commentary
Chinese Recognition of the Taliban Is All but Inevitable
China is likely to recognize and legitimize the new leadership in Afghanistan within the coming weeks or months. Even if China has real concerns about the Taliban's willingness to keep its promises, the potential benefits are simply too great for Beijing to ignore.
Aug 27, 2021
Report
New Solutions Are Urgently Needed for Displaced Populations
There are 30 million refugees around the globe. These people are living in limbo without full citizenship rights. And their host countries are experiencing ever-greater political and economic strains. The need to find both durable and interim solutions is critical.
Aug 26, 2021
Commentary
After Afghanistan, Could Russia Misjudge America?
Over the years, the United States has been humbled abroad more than once but bounced back. Now, as it withdraws from Afghanistan, might Russia see the United States as defeated and vulnerable to pressure? This could be an error.
Aug 26, 2021
Commentary
Afghanistan Withdrawal Says Little About U.S. Commitments Elsewhere
The United States is a nation which sees that it is in its vital interest to deter autocrats from adventurism and challenges to the world order. Drawing lessons from the narrow case of Afghanistan to speak about broad U.S. resolve or credibility comes with an inherent risk that adversaries may choose to ignore at their own peril.
Aug 25, 2021
Blog
Insights on Afghanistan, Back to School, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the collapse in Afghanistan, what parents think about sending kids back to school, insights from game theory on North Korean denuclearization, and more.
Aug 20, 2021
Q&A
Collapse in Afghanistan: Early Insights from RAND Researchers
The sudden end to America's longest war came as the Taliban rolled into Kabul and the government collapsed. RAND researchers share their thoughts on how to help displaced Afghans, whether the country could again become a safe haven for terrorists, and the geopolitical implications of the collapse.
Aug 17, 2021
Commentary
Applying Machiavellian Discourses to the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
After 20 years of war without victory in both Afghanistan and Iraq, it is time to derive key lessons from both conflicts to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Niccolò Machiavelli, whose insights on statecraft have endured for five centuries, is a valuable guide in analyzing those lessons.
Aug 9, 2021
Blog
Historic Lynchings and Voter Registration, China in Space, Firefighters' Mental Health: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the link between historic lynchings and voter registration, Afghanistan in the era of fentanyl, supporting firefighters’ mental health, and more.
Jul 30, 2021
Report
A Targeted Industry Approach for Raising Quality Private-Sector Employment in Saudi Arabia
To help the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia develop its private sector and generate quality employment for Saudi citizens, the authors of this report assess the potential for Saudi Arabia to develop a specific industry: food manufacturing.
Jul 29, 2021
Report
Afghanistan in the Era of Fentanyl
Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are displacing heroin in some major drug markets. What might happen to Afghanistan—the world's largest producer of illegal opium poppy—if demand for its opiates dropped off sharply and permanently?
Jul 26, 2021
Commentary
China and the Taliban Begin Their Romance
China is set to benefit significantly from a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. It's worth following this dynamic closely in the coming weeks and months.
Jul 22, 2021
Blog
Paying College Athletes, Preventing Suicide, Planning for Heatwaves: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on a potential step toward paying college athletes, helping college freshmen overcome COVID-19 learning loss, the effects of U.S. sanctions in Syria, more.
Jul 16, 2021
Commentary
The Power and Limits of Threat: The Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act at One Year
A powerful new U.S. sanctions law on Syria came into effect one year ago, with great notice and speculation regarding its potential effects. Now, one year later, it is apparent that the act's power lies not in who the United States has sanctioned but in who the United States could sanction.
Jul 8, 2021
Commentary
Why Iran May Be in No Hurry to Get Nuclear Weapons Even Without a Nuclear Deal
History shows that many countries with advanced nuclear technologies but without nuclear bombs opt to stay that way. There are reasons to believe that Iran, too, may choose to remain non-nuclear at least in the foreseeable future.
Jun 28, 2021
Commentary
The Real Tragedy of Israel's Wars in Gaza
Israel's strategy in Gaza of repeatedly cutting back Hamas's military capabilities before it gets strong enough to do Israel any serious harm is known as “mowing the grass.” Unfortunately this approach offers no alternative to continued bloodshed.
Jun 22, 2021
Report
Securing Gains in Fragile States: Using U.S. Leverage in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Beyond
This report evaluates U.S. options for stabilizing conflict-affected states by incentivizing governance reforms through military and development assistance in the context of U.S. military interventions.
Jun 15, 2021
Report
Using U.S. Leverage to Limit Instability in Fragile States
The United States can effectively support governance reforms in postconflict states by seizing on opportunities when partner interests align with U.S. interests. And it can use its leverage, including conditions on military and economic assistance, when interests do not align.
Jun 15, 2021
Blog
COVID-19 Disinformation, Biden's Address, Leaving Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Russian and Chinese campaigns to spread malign and subversive information on COVID-19, President Biden's address to Congress, the planned U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and more.
Apr 30, 2021
Blog
Biden's First Address to Congress: Insights from RAND
President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress, summarizing his administration's early COVID-19 response and outlining plans that aim to loosen the pandemic's year-long grip on a weary nation. The speech reflected the fact that the United States faces policy challenges across a wide range of domains.
Apr 29, 2021

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

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…
Dalia Dassa Kaye

Adjunct Political Scientist

Dalia Dassa Kaye is an adjunct political scientist at the RAND Corporation. She is also a senior fellow at UCLA's Burkle Center for International Relations. In 2020–2021 she was a visiting scholar at the Wilson Center. She served as the director of RAND’s Center for Middle East Public Policy…

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