The RAND Blog

Iran
commentary
The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
May 17, 2019
Haaretz
Since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, tensions between the two countries have increased. The United States has increased pressure on Iran in the hopes of reopening negotiations or ushering in the regime's collapse, while inside Iran, President Rouhani is facing pressure on how to respond.
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China
commentary
Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 15, 2019
The Diplomat
China's last major war experience gave it virtually zero lessons to apply to future armed conflict. At some point the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will need to test its new capabilities and the training it has honed over time. There are at least three reasons why Vietnam is likely in the PLA's crosshairs.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
We're Just Beginning to Grasp the Toll of the Islamic State's Archaeological Looting in Syria
Fiona Greenland, Oya Topçuoğlu, Tasha Vorderstrasse, James V. Marrone
May 15, 2019
The Conversation
During the Islamic State's rise, looted artifacts were said to be a significant source of income for the group. But no one had identified the value, using empirical data and systematic calculations, of the artifacts that were known to exist in Syria's archaeological sites. Until now.
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The Internet
blog
RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age: Three Takeaways
May 14, 2019
How has the rise of digital technology shaped the way that news is reported? RAND researchers conducted an empirical study to find out. Here's what you need to know from their findings.
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China
commentary
Getting to Know the Competition
Cortez A. Cooper III
May 13, 2019
RealClearDefense
Americans are facing a new reality in global great power relations that will define the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy for the foreseeable future. Understanding China's threat perceptions, while remaining clear-eyed regarding differences in objectives, is essential to developing strategies to deter conflict.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
What Ronald Reagan Can Teach Us About Dealing with Contemporary Russia
Raphael S. Cohen, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
May 13, 2019
Lawfare
Politics loves its historical analogies and today, perhaps, there is no more common a comparison to the Trump presidency than the Reagan administration. Reagan's tenure was marked by his successful competition with the Soviet Union. Does Reagan provide a blueprint for triumphing over modern Russia?
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The Internet
commentary
Three 'New Rules' Worth Considering for the Internet
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
May 10, 2019
TechCrunch
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has called for new internet regulation starting in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy, and data portability. His new rules could be expanded, as part of the follow-on discussion he calls for, to include several other necessary areas: security-by-design, net worthiness and updated internet business models.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
May 10, 2019
New York Times
Europe faces mounting pressure from both Tehran and Washington regarding the Iran nuclear deal. European countries could take steps to signal their commitment to upholding the deal, but doing so may alienate the United States.
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Iran
commentary
U.S., Iran Must Both Tread Lightly with Tensions Running So High
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai, Becca Wasser @Becca_Wasser
May 9, 2019
The Hill
Tensions between the United States and Iran have increased, raising concerns that they may be headed for war. But conflict is not inevitable. The United States and Iran could seek to re-establish communications channels, as well as look for available off-ramps to de-escalate tensions and keep the slightest misstep from spiraling into an all-out conflict.
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Postsecondary Education
commentary
Addressing the College Completion Problem
Lindsay Daugherty
May 9, 2019
The RAND Blog
More than half of students who enter college end up dropping out without ever completing a degree or certificate. Time and money are wasted without the benefits of a degree. While colleges are experimenting with novel techniques to boost completion rates, strategic support from the federal government could further these efforts.
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Urban Warfare
commentary
Urban Legend: Is Combat in Cities Really Inevitable?
David E. Johnson @DaveJohnsonDC
May 7, 2019
War on the Rocks
Future combat will take place in dense urban areas and likely in megacities. These are the new “truths” that are taking hold in the U.S. military. But before going all-in on optimizing for urban operations, the U.S. military should take a deep breath and think carefully about future operations within the context of the National Defense Strategy.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Baghdadi Resurfaces: What It Means for ISIS's Global Terror Campaign
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
May 6, 2019
Los Angeles Times
With last week's release of a video of Abu Bakr Baghdadi, ISIS showed that it's still got some life left—literally. The most important message to take away from the Baghdadi video may be that the Islamic State does not need territory to survive and even thrive.
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Terrorist Bombings
commentary
Sri Lanka's Easter Attacks: Dismantling Myths to Prevent the Next Attack
Jonah Blank
May 6, 2019
Fox News Channel
On Easter Sunday, suicide bombers hit six locations across Sri Lanka, killing more than 250 people. Even before ISIS claimed responsibility, there was no obvious connection to the quarter-century of violence that afflicted the nation until 2009. It is worth dismantling a few myths that might prevent better preparation for future attacks.
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Japan
commentary
With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military
Jeffrey W. Hornung
May 3, 2019
Foreign Policy
In early April, Japan deployed its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad to join a multinational force not connected to the United Nations. This is the first time that SDF personnel will participate in overseas peacekeeping operations not under UN control. The difference may not seem important, but it is.
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Pharmaceutical Drugs
blog
Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?
May 3, 2019
Ezekiel J. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. In 2018, he delivered the Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy at RAND, where he offered a framework for thinking about drug pricing.
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Migrants
commentary
Common Sense Solutions to the Border Crisis
Blas Nunez-Neto
May 2, 2019
The Hill
After years of declines, apprehensions of undocumented immigrants at the U.S.–Mexico border are set for their largest year-on-year increase in history. There is, in fact, a humanitarian crisis on the border. How did this come about? More importantly, what can be done to address it?
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260

Fostering Skills and Creating New Pipelines for Military Service

Principals Are More Optimistic Than Teachers About School Improvement Plans

The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric

Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight

The United States and Europe Since World War II: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership

The Policy Currents Podcast

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Impact Dashboard Helps Local Regulatory Services Deliver Value

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Addressing the Invisible Wounds of War

The RAND Blog

The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric

Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight

We're Just Beginning to Grasp the Toll of the Islamic State's Archaeological Looting in Syria

RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age: Three Takeaways

Getting to Know the Competition

What Ronald Reagan Can Teach Us About Dealing with Contemporary Russia

Three 'New Rules' Worth Considering for the Internet

Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?

U.S., Iran Must Both Tread Lightly with Tensions Running So High

Addressing the College Completion Problem

Urban Legend: Is Combat in Cities Really Inevitable?

Baghdadi Resurfaces: What It Means for ISIS's Global Terror Campaign

Sri Lanka's Easter Attacks: Dismantling Myths to Prevent the Next Attack

With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military

Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?

Common Sense Solutions to the Border Crisis

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