March 2016

commentary

Inciting Peace

Malicious ideas, ideologies, and narratives (such as those promoted by ISIS) cannot just be eliminated — they need to be replaced.

Michael A. Brown, Christopher Paul

blog

Tunisia's Role in Fight Against Terrorism Discussed at RAND Conference

The fight against terrorism in Tunisia is a shared priority and responsibility with the U.S. and Europe but will also depend greatly on solving the security issues in neighboring Libya, according to participants at a March 23 conference at RAND.

commentary

Beijing Ups the Ante in South China Sea Dispute with HQ-9 Deployment

China's recent deployment of HQ-9 missiles to the Paracel Islands signals its determination to consolidate its gains in the South China Sea, regardless of criticism by the United States and its allies.

Timothy R. Heath

commentary

Women in Special Security Forces: What the U.S. Can Learn from the Afghans

The contributions of the women in Afghanistan's special security forces demonstrate the unique value that women can bring to special operations forces in socially conservative societies. They are successful in tactical roles and in operations requiring interaction with the community.

Whitney Dudley, Robert Stewart

commentary

The Democratization of Space

A new economic model for outer space must account for lower barriers to entry and the involvement of more and more stakeholders, such as developing countries and start-ups.

William Welser IV

commentary

What It Was Like Being in Brussels During the Terrorist Attacks

Bearing witness to a terrorist attack was a startling and surreal experience, one that tragically drove home the need for an expanded knowledge base on terrorism and radicalization.

Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens

commentary

Terror Attacks in Brussels: Insights from RAND Experts

RAND experts weigh in on the timing of the deadly bombings in Brussels, why the attack was inevitable, Salah Abdeslam's arrest, and more.

commentary

The True Economic Cost of Corruption in Europe: Up to €990 Billion Annually

Corruption costs Europe up to €990 billion in GDP annually, according to a new study. That's more than eight times previous estimates.

Marco Hafner, Jirka Taylor

commentary

Time for Washington to Amp Up the Power to Coerce

The U.S. government should start preparing systematically for the use of coercion as it does for military warfare, including analyzing options, assessing requirements and capabilities, conducting war games to refine these capabilities, and planning with allies.

David C. Gompert, Hans Binnendijk

commentary

Europe's Terror Fight Far from Over

Salah Abdeslam is suspected of being the logistics man for the November terrorist attacks in Paris. His capture may provide authorities with a window into the ISIS network in Europe.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins, Jean-Francois Clair

commentary

Russia's Great Power Future

A penchant for zero-sum statecraft and coercing neighbors lessens Russia's stature. By cooperating more in the international arena, Russia could become a greater power.

William Courtney @courtneywmh, Donald Jensen

commentary

The False Choice at the Core of the Apple-FBI Standoff

The Apple-FBI case should spark a broader debate among technology companies concerning their role in maintaining the privacy and security balance. A starting point should be to recognize that the majority of cyberattacks are related to phishing—and a user's action—not to whether a device can be secured.

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

commentary

How the 'Wonks' of Public Policy and the 'Geeks' of Tech Can Get Together

Conventional wisdom says that technology innovates and disrupts, while public policy regulates and controls. What might a better integration of the commercial tech sector with the policy community look like?

Lillian Ablon, Andrea M. Abler

commentary

New Depression-Screening Guidelines Could Help Both Mother and Child

Behavioral health professionals and community agencies often do not consider the impact of parental depression on young children or focus on the adult's role as a parent. New guidelines recommending depression screening during primary care visits for pregnant women and new mothers are a critical first step.

Dana Schultz

commentary

How Real Is the ISIS Threat?

In less than two years, ISIS's black flag has flown in a dozen countries outside of Syria and Iraq. And terrorist attacks have been carried out in its name in the West, including in America. But how serious is the threat that ISIS's brand of jihad will spread on a global scale?

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins