June 2017

Counterterrorism

commentary
Can the Islamic State Survive If Baghdadi Is Dead?
If and when self-declared Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is killed, it will have little effect on the threat posed by the Islamic State to global security. The far more important objective is to continue dismantling the organization as a whole, including its affiliates in Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.
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Jun 30, 2017
Foreign Policy
Colin P. Clarke

Global Security

q&a
Global Risks in 2040: Q&A with Andrew Parasiliti
Andrew Parasiliti discusses how the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security is envisioning the world in 2040, and the security challenges that will shape it.
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Jun 30, 2017
Engineers and Engineering

blog
How the Drinking Bird Foiled a Spruce Goose Engineer
The famous drinking bird toy gave RAND's Dick Murrow an idea that might help Egyptian farmers. But Murrow, who previously led Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose design team, couldn't secure funding to get the concept off the ground.
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Jun 29, 2017
commentary
Northern Ireland Is Now at the Forefront of Brexit
After Prime Minister Theresa May's unexpected failure to win a majority in June's snap election, she is now reliant on Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to shore up a minority Conservative government. As Brexit negotiations begin, European politicians should refresh their knowledge of Northern Irish politics.
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Jun 29, 2017
HuffPost UK
James Black
commentary
California's Tourism Industry: A Launching Pad for New Careers
Travel and tourism jobs in California often serve as an entry point for those outside the paid labor force. Nearly 55 percent leave the industry within a few years, some of whom move to another industry but keep the same occupation. Others change occupations as they change industries.
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Jun 29, 2017
The RAND Blog
Matthew D. Baird
Refugees

commentary
How Innovation Can Assist the Refugee 'Pathway'
New ways to collaborate and coordinate humanitarian actions are needed so that refugees, host communities, and other stakeholders are empowered to create and spread innovative solutions. These efforts should consider the entire refugee pathway, not only emergency and arrival assistance.
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Jun 27, 2017
The RAND Blog
Jennie Corbett, Corinna Frey, et al.
European Union

commentary
The European Commission Is Struggling to Demonstrate 'Value for Money'
Great work is happening as a result of EU spending and programmes, particularly around democracy, rule of law and human rights. To make sure the trend continues, it is important for the populace to understand the value for money of this work.
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Jun 26, 2017
New Europe
Ben Baruch @Ben_Baruch_, Tom Ling
Counterterrorism

commentary
It's Difficult to Know If Counter-Extremism Programmes in Europe Are Working
The benefits of a stronger evaluation culture for counter-extremism and radicalization programs are clear. Evaluation can provide an evidence-based judgement as to whether a program is working, delivering expected results, and providing value for the cost.
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Jun 26, 2017
E!Sharp
Jacopo Bellasio
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

commentary
Raising Awareness of the Need for Collaborative Care to Treat PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 percent of American adults from all walks of life. Research suggests that more work is needed to improve and adapt models of care for PTSD.
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Jun 23, 2017
The RAND Blog
Lisa S. Meredith
Afghanistan

commentary
Trump's Options for Afghanistan: Losing or Not Losing
The Trump administration faces the choice of losing quickly by withdrawing from Afghanistan; losing slowly by maintaining America's current, inadequate commitment; or not losing by increasing that commitment enough to maintain a stalemate on the battlefield.
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Jun 23, 2017
The Cipher Brief
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Security Cooperation

commentary
The U.S.-France Dustup Over Counterterrorism in the Sahel
It's time for Paris and Washington to get together with the G5 nations of the Sahel and draft a strategy for achieving shared objectives. The French cannot do it alone or even with the support of the G5 nations. The U.S. would be penny wise but pound foolish to stay aloof or even just uphold the status quo.
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Jun 23, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Michael Shurkin
The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)

commentary
Is ISIS Leader Baghdadi Still Alive?
The Russian military announced that it might have killed the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in an airstrike in Raqqa. Would his death weaken the group or will ISIS continue to adapt, evolve, and expand like al Qaeda did?
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Jun 22, 2017
Foreign Affairs
Colin P. Clarke
Program Evaluation

commentary
Imagine You Have to Start All Over Again Every 12 Months: The Case for Multi-Annual Core Funding in Grant-Making
Multi-annual core funding might allow grantees to grow and mature, and develop or change their ways of doing business. But unlimited renewal of funding is unfeasible as funding priorities change. Providers of multi-annual core funding could develop long-term strategies to prepare for challenges when a funding stream ends.
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Jun 20, 2017
Grant Solutions
Daniel Schweppenstedde
The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)

commentary
The Islamic State's Disposable Army
To leaders of the Islamic State group, murder of its own and collective suicide are keys to its defense strategy. The group targets malcontents and the most suggestible, knowing they are desperate to belong to something and willing to die for it.
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Jun 20, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
International Diplomacy

commentary
How China Could Truly Rein in North Korea
China has key pressure points at its disposal to help deter North Korea from nuclear activities. It could cut off oil supplies or limit other trade, or crack down on illicit finance networks as many of the banks laundering money for the regime are in China. It could also stop shielding Pyongyang at the UN.
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Jun 20, 2017
The Cipher Brief
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Japan

commentary
Giving Japan a Military
After 70 years, Japan may finally be on the cusp of acquiring its own military. Legally, that is. Prime Minister Abe has proposed a change to Japan's constitution to give legal standing to the Self-Defense Forces, and it's long overdue.
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Jun 20, 2017
The Japan Times
Jeffrey W. Hornung