December 2014

commentary

Domestic Violence as a Way of Life: The Reality for Papua New Guinea's Women

Violence against women is a persistent problem around the world. That's particularly true of Papua New Guinea, where abuse of women by domestic partners, gang members, and members of law enforcement is widespread, drawing comparisons to conditions in conflict zones.

Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik

commentary

Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System

Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?

Louay Constant, Cathy Stasz, et al.

commentary

Yes, Russia's Military Is Getting More Aggressive

As Russia's relations with the U.S. and Europe have deteriorated following Moscow's aggression in Ukraine, fly-bys of European neighbors by Russian aircraft have taken on new urgency. How should the West think about these provocative flights in light of understanding Russia's nuclear threat?

James T. Quinlivan

commentary

What Have We Learned from the Ebola Outbreak?

For much of 2014, the world has confronted the most deadly Ebola outbreak since the discovery of the disease in 1976. What lessons have emerged? What should the world do to better prepare for transnational outbreaks?

Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

commentary

Rapprochement with Russia?

The ruble's fragility presents an opportunity for American and European diplomats to offer Putin a deal that de-escalates the war in Ukraine, provides Russia sanctions relief, and revitalizes Moscow's economic ties with the West.

Hans Binnendijk, Olga Oliker, et al.

commentary

A New Year's Resolution: Target Practices That Undermine Weight Control

Many will vow to lose weight in the coming year, but most will inevitably fail, not from lack of motivation or knowledge but from insuperable forces undermining their best intentions. America should resolve to address obesity where it begins: the point of purchase.

Deborah A. Cohen

commentary

Gay Marriage Gains Support, but It's Still a Partisan Issue

Survey data provides evidence that the majority of American voters support the legalization of gay marriage and think it should be decided at the federal level. Republicans are substantially less likely to support legalization, and lower income, lower educational attainment, being older, and being non-white are significantly associated with lower levels of support.

Katherine Grace Carman, Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard

commentary

College Ratings and Affordable Education

There are reasons to believe American students from the middle- and lower-income tiers aren't making affordable college choices. Can a new ratings system help them make better, more affordable decisions?

Rafiq Dossani

commentary

How Russia Can Recover from Its Economic and Strategic Decline

Few expect that Moscow will cede Crimea or end its opposition to NATO expansion anytime soon. But Russia can still begin to reverse its strategic decline. Expanding opportunities for Russia's people, reforming the economy, and improving relations with neighbors are the way forward.

Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, et al.

commentary

Is the North Korean Regime Out of Control?

Evidence points to North Korean involvement in the Sony hack. But it's impossible to know if top regime leaders sanctioned the attack or if it was carried out by another part of the government without their knowledge and consent. An unauthorized hack would only add to Kim Jong-un's worry over his regime's instability.

Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett

announcement

Donald B. and Susan F. Rice Support Pardee RAND's 'Be the Answer' Campaign with $1 Million Gift

Longtime RAND supporters Donald B. and Susan F. Rice, for the third time, have established an endowed scholarship at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Their most recent gift of $1 million was generously donated as part of Pardee RAND's Be the Answer campaign, which Don Rice chairs and which has thus far raised in excess of $19 million.

commentary

An Iran Nuclear Deal Is Still Possible, and Here's Why

The United States and other world powers returned to the negotiating table this week to try to finalize a nuclear agreement with Iran after announcing a seven-month extension in late November. How did the parties get this far?

Dalia Dassa Kaye

commentary

A Grim Choice: The Attempted Rescue of Hostages

Many described the attempt to rescue Luke Somers from al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen as 'botched,' suggesting it was badly or carelessly planned or executed. 'Desperate' may be more apt. Such measures aren't undertaken without a grim calculus weighing the chances of success against a range of other outcomes, most of which involve the hostages' doom.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

What Research Says About Profiling

When police take action on the basis of race, creed, or ethnicity it is corrosive, unfair, ineffective, and can stoke the flames of police-community tension. But as we have found from a variety of assessments, law enforcement is best served when it bases its activities on risk, not on personal characteristics.

Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich

blog

Could the Sydney Cafe Siege Happen Elsewhere?

As the world mourns those lost in the Sydney cafe siege, investigations have begun examining the efficacy of Australia's anti-terrorism measures and details about the background and motives of the gunman. At the same time, terrorism experts are reflecting on where else such an attack could emerge.