Charles P. Ries

Overview

Commentary

• 
  Ukraine

  How to Reform and Reconstruct Ukraine After the War

  Hostilities in Ukraine are ongoing, but it is not too early to consider post-war reconstruction. Indeed, the United States and Europe have already begun planning what will probably be the most ambitious post-war rebuilding effort in modern history.

  Jun 21, 2023

  Defense News

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  Iraq

  Twenty Years After the Iraq War, a Q&A with RAND Experts

  On the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq, RAND experts discussed what the war means for the people of Iraq and the veterans who fought there, what lessons the U.S. military learned (or did not learn), and what effect it has had on the balance of power in the Middle East and the global reputation of the United States.

  Mar 21, 2023

  The RAND Blog

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  Ukraine

  One Year After Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Experts React

  We asked nearly 30 RAND experts to highlight takeaways from the first year of Russia's all-out war—and share what they're watching as the conflict in Ukraine grinds on. Here's what they said.

  Feb 20, 2023

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  International Diplomacy

  Do Americans Know Who Their Diplomats Are? Or What They Do?

  Americans have a limited understanding of how diplomats are selected and how diplomacy interacts with other elements of the U.S. national security establishment. Efforts to better inform and engage the American public about the work of diplomacy and who American diplomats are would lead to a greater understanding of the job and its people.

  Jun 20, 2022

  The Hill

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  Ukraine

  Ukraine Invasion Could Spark a Massive Refugee Crisis

  One fallout of a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be a massive refugee or migration crisis. If that happened, there would be significant humanitarian, political, and economic implications for both the Ukrainians who flee and for the European nations they go to.

  Feb 16, 2022

  Newsweek

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  International Economic Relations

  A Free Trade Agreement Still Comes with Costs

  Major issues must be resolved before any UK-EU agreement on post-Brexit trade and economic relations is completed. There will be substantial costs associated with even a zero-tariff trade deal.

  Oct 23, 2020

  UK in a Changing Europe

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  Vaccination

  Once a COVID-19 Vaccine Is Ready, Getting People to Take It May Be a Bigger Challenge

  With COVID-19 vaccine development well underway, implementation of a vaccination program warrants attention. Vaccine effectiveness demands a certain percentage uptake. But since health care delivery in the United States is fragmented, a coherent federal intervention may be necessary.

  Jun 9, 2020

  United Press International

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  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

  Global Challenges to Maintaining a Healthy Workforce During a Pandemic: Views from RAND Experts

  As nations across the globe remain in lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about the future of employment and workforce productivity emerge. During a recent webinar, RAND experts discussed how to get people back to work and improve productivity post COVID-19.

  May 15, 2020

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  International Diplomacy

  How the Global Community Can Cooperate to Defeat COVID-19 and Recover

  The G20 met in an extraordinary virtual summit March 26 to discuss the shared global challenge of COVID-19. G20 countries could show the way for the rest of the world to cooperate on present challenges and prepare for public policy challenges moving forward.

  Apr 28, 2020

  The Wall Street Journal

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  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

  Economic Consequences of COVID-19 in the Middle East: Implications for U.S. National Security

  The global COVID-19 pandemic will have a dramatic effect on economies across the globe. But the Middle East may be particularly affected, given the simultaneous fall in oil prices. The economic consequences of this pandemic are also likely to affect U.S. interests in the region.

  Apr 1, 2020

  The RAND Blog

• 
  United Kingdom

  The Costs of Brexit Uncertainty

  It may be tempting to think that Brexit is now done. But the UK's formal departure from the EU in late January was only the end of the beginning. And uncertainty is likely to affect the UK's economic performance moving forward.

  Mar 3, 2020

  Encompass

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  Trump's Tariffs Against China Aren't Working. And There's No Quick Resolution in Sight

  Washington's go-it-alone approach to its trade disputes with China is imposing a high and growing cost on the U.S. economy. It could even threaten global prosperity. What's more, there's no quick resolution in sight.

  Aug 20, 2019

  Los Angeles Times

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  United Kingdom

  A Challenging Moment for Boris Johnson

  As Britain's next prime minister, Boris Johnson will bring advantages, and disadvantages, in seeking to lead the United Kingdom through a period as challenging as the Suez Crisis or (perhaps) the darkest days of World War II.

  Jul 23, 2019

  The Hill

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  Palestinian Territories

  Development with No Political Framework Is a Car Without an Engine

  Pushing an economic development plan for the Middle East without addressing the political issues specific to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is like trying to sell a car without an engine. Why? Because an economic strategy that doesn't address core political issues would have no governing entity to put it into effect.

  Jul 9, 2019

  RealClearWorld

• 
  United Kingdom

  The End of May: Another Brexit Victim

  What brought down British Prime Minister Theresa May? The essential contradictions of Brexit and a British public that cannot muster a majority for any Brexit outcome.

  May 27, 2019

  The Hill

• 
  International Diplomacy

  Economic Officers for the Future

  Economic officers must be, first of all, accomplished political officers. They should also have all the reporting, public speaking, and representational skills of any political or public diplomacy officer, coupled with a strong understanding of economic issues.

  Jan 7, 2019

  Foreign Service Journal

• 
  United Kingdom

  The UK Can't Have Its Brexit Cake and Eat It Too

  If the UK wishes to negotiate free-trade deals around the world, it has to either rebuild a border in Ireland or put up a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. If it crashes out of the EU with no agreement, the economic costs are the highest and border chaos is likely.

  Dec 11, 2018

  The Hill

• 
  Displaced Persons

  Europe's Five Strategies for Coping with Migration Pressure

  Migration will likely continue to be a long-term challenge for European politics, institutions, governments, and values. Even with a drop in numbers and the development of institutional capabilities to manage migration, the European Union still has important tasks ahead of it.

  Dec 3, 2018

  The National Interest

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  For the UK's Post-Brexit Economy, No Deal Is the Worst Deal

  Brexit negotiations around trade are likely to be complicated for the UK and EU, particularly as a common position between all the parties could be difficult to achieve. Trying to avoid the worst-case economic option of 'no deal' is likely to be at the top of the agendas for both the UK and EU as trade talks begin.

  Jan 9, 2018

  EurActiv

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  The Burdens of Brexit

  The economic consequences of Brexit are likely to be negative across a wide range of scenarios, including the most likely outcomes that the UK now faces. If the UK leaves the EU with no trade deal it could lose 4.9 percent of GDP, or $140 billion, after 10 years.

  Dec 12, 2017

  Newsweek

• 

  The Snap Election, What's in It for Theresa May?

  Why would Theresa May take the risk of a national election, which otherwise wouldn't be needed until 2020, and what does she expect to gain from it? Calling an election now enables May to take decisive control of her party and should strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.

  Apr 23, 2017

  U.S. News & World Report

• 
  United Kingdom

  Brexit and the Politics of Raising Barriers

  A lot is known about bringing new members into alliances and trade relationships. Not much is known about dismantling these bonds peaceably. Since Brexit will be more about adding barriers than taking them down, it will be a leap into the dark.

  Mar 29, 2017

  Newsweek

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  International Economic Relations

  Politics Across the Pond

  Donald Trump and Theresa May can't actually get much done on U.S.-U.K. trade in the short term. Whatever Trump and May say or agree to during this visit will be for political effect. Any real bargaining on the economics will take place years in the future.

  Jan 31, 2017

  U.S. News & World Report

• 
  Greece

  The Greek Tragedy's Next Act Unfolds

  On regaining the mantle of prime minister, Tsipras should expect little, if any, honeymoon from the Greek electorate, as he faces not just the implementation of austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund and the EU: He must also cope with Greece's part of a European migration crisis of historic proportions.

  Sep 27, 2015

  Newsweek

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  Greece

  The Political Solution to the Greek Financial Crisis

  The outcome of Greece's financial crisis will have broad consequences for its already-devastated economy and, to a considerable extent, for the rest of Europe. The core problem is less about economics than about politics.

  Jun 30, 2015

  FOX News Channel

• 
  Greece

  Greek Financial Crisis: All You Need to Know

  Europeans should not rush to eject the Greeks from either the euro or the E.U. They should have the patience to let Greek politics run its course.

  Jun 21, 2015

  Newsweek

• 
  Low-Intensity Conflict

  War or Peace? Putting a Price on the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse

  Today, more than 90 percent of Israelis and Palestinians were born after 1948 and have known nothing other than some version of the impasse. Both sides could be better off with a stable two-state solution. Prolonging the impasse for another generation would have real costs.

  Jun 9, 2015

  Newsweek

• 
  European Union

  TAFTA: SMEs Would Benefit Greatly

  Is the time really ripe for a free trade treaty (TAFTA) between the US and Europe? A TAFTA would liberate small and medium size businesses from a painful cost burden, writes Charles Ries in a guest editorial for International Trade News.

  Feb 6, 2013

  International Trade News

• 
  European Union

  Abandoning the Euro Would Devastate Greece

  Greece is best off doing whatever it takes to remain on the rescue program prescribed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, while tackling on its own the structural constraints to growth, writes Charles Ries.

  Aug 17, 2012

  U.S. News & World Report

• 
  Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

  Auditing U.S. Security Force and Economic Assistance Spending in Iraq

  A new audit of Iraq reconstruction spending underlines the fact that effective help for a nation in conflict, or a conflict winding down, isn't merely a question of resources. It also requires a deployable infrastructure to manage the spending, writes Charles Ries.

  Jul 19, 2012

  The RAND Blog

• 
  Nation Building

  The Year of the Arab Spring

  The Arab Spring demonstrated that leaderless revolutions are difficult to repress or co-opt. Unfortunately, it is also true that leaderless revolts find it difficult to make transition to authority, writes Charles Ries.

  Dec 20, 2011

  GlobalSecurity.org and The RAND Blog

• 
  International Diplomacy

  Building on Greek-Turkish Detente

  Greece's high defense spending has contributed to its economic woes. Improvement in relations with Turkey could enable Greece to cut defense spending and make it easier to rescue an economy on the brink of bankruptcy, write F. Stephen Larrabee and Charles Ries.

  May 10, 2010

  Project Syndicate

• 
  Global Climate Change

  Green Buildings, Jobs and Summits

  If the United States is to be a global competitor in green building technology, it needs to learn from some of the countries that are at the table in Pittsburgh this week, writes Charles Ries.

  Sep 25, 2009

  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Publications

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  Report

  Reconstructing Ukraine: Creating a Freer, More Prosperous, and Secure Future

  The authors of this analysis draw on lessons from relevant historical examples of post-war and post–natural disaster reconstruction to provide insights on how to organize, finance, and provide security for Ukraine's reform and reconstruction.

  Jun 14, 2023

• 

  Report

  The Foreign Service and American Public Opinion: Dynamics and Prospects

  The authors surveyed members of the American public in 2020 and 2021 to understand public opinion related to diplomacy, diplomats, and the U.S. Foreign Service.

  Jun 8, 2022

• 

  Report

  Alternatives in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  RAND researchers used a novel focus group approach to assess which, if any, of five possible alternative futures in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be supported by Israelis and Palestinians.

  Feb 10, 2021

• 

  Infographic

  Estimating the Economic Benefits of Levant Integration: A Look at the Numbers

  This infographic helps users assess values of economic integration in the Levant in a variety of ways.

  Feb 24, 2020

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  Report

  The End of the Beginning: Assessing the potential economic implications of prolonged UK–EU trade policy uncertainty

  This report examines the potential economic implications of prolonged trade policy uncertainty associated with the renegotiation period between the UK and EU after Brexit. The report focuses on the effects on UK trade and foreign direct investment.

  Jan 28, 2020

• 

  Report

  Estimating the Economic Benefits of Levant Integration

  This report describes how a comprehensive free trade agreement among the economies of the Levant could increase the average gross domestic product by 3-7 percent, and reduce regional unemployment rates by 8-18 percent.

  Sep 16, 2019

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  Journal Article

  Saving Transatlantic Cooperation and the Iran Nuclear Deal: A View from Europe and the United States

  Strong transatlantic cooperation holds the best prospects for achieving the core common objective of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.

  Feb 16, 2018

• 

  Report

  After Brexit: Alternate forms of Brexit and their implications for the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States

  RAND explored eight plausible post-Brexit trade scenarios involving the UK, EU and U.S. after Brexit. Game theory insights were also used to create a better understanding of how a variety of factors might affect the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

  Dec 11, 2017

• 

  Tool

  Potential Economic Effects of Brexit: Implications for the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States

  This online calculator lets users explore five plausible post-Brexit trade scenarios involving the UK, EU and U.S. after Brexit and develop a custom scenario by modifying underlying economic assumptions.

  Dec 11, 2017

• 

  Report

  Investing in the Fight: Assessing the Use of the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Afghanistan

  This report examines the use of the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) in Afghanistan. It explores the effectiveness of CERP in supporting tactical operations in Afghanistan during the counterinsurgency-focused 2010--2013 time frame.

  Oct 13, 2016

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  Report

  Improving Decisionmaking in a Turbulent World

  This Perspective analyzes a range of management challenges in the national security system and presents recommendations for strengthening U.S. decisionmaking and oversight of policy implementation.

  Apr 5, 2016

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  Report

  The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary: (Arabic translation)

  An Arabic translation of a study‘s executive summary estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.

  Nov 23, 2015

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  Report

  The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary: (Hebrew translation)

  A Hebrew translation of an executive summary of a study estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.

  Nov 23, 2015

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  Report

  The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  This study estimates the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other possible trajectories that the conflict could take.

  Sep 8, 2015

• 

  Report

  The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary

  This executive summary shares findings from a study that estimates the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.

  Jun 18, 2015

• 

  Tool

  Costs of the Conflict Calculator

  The RAND Costs of Conflict study estimates the net costs and benefits of five alternative trajectories -- a two-state solution, coordinated unilateral withdrawal, uncoordinated unilateral withdrawal, nonviolent resistance, and violent uprising.

  Jun 8, 2015

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  Report

  Ending the U.S. War in Iraq: The Final Transition, Operational Maneuver, and Disestablishment of United States Forces-Iraq

  This book looks at the planning and execution of the U.S. military's exit from Iraq and the transition of responsibilities to the Iraqi government, U.S. embassy, Office of Security Cooperation, USCENTCOM, and other U.S. departments and agencies.

  Nov 5, 2013

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  Research Brief

  Smooth Transitions? Lessons Learned from Transferring U.S. Military Responsibilities to Civilian Authorities in Iraq

  This brief outlines policy and planning lessons that have been encapsulated in a study of the U.S. military's transition out of Iraq at the end of 2011 and the handover of property and responsibilities to Embassy Baghdad and the government of Iraq.

  Nov 5, 2013

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  Report

  Building a More Resilient Haitian State: French translation of summary

  Ce rapport passe en revue les défis auxquels est confrontée la République d'Haïti, ainsi que les projets de réforme envisagés, afin d'identifier les priorités les plus nécessaires, réalisables et durables dans le domaine de la construction étatique.

  Aug 24, 2010

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  Research Brief

  Building a More Resilient Haitian State: Key Recommendations and Priorities

  Haiti's future prosperity and peace require building a more effective, resilient state. RAND researchers identified Haiti's main challenges and recommended a set of state-building priorities that are necessary, feasible, and sustainable.

  Aug 12, 2010

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  Report

  Building a More Resilient Haitian State

  Haiti's future prosperity and peace require building a more effective, resilient state. This report sifts through Haiti's many challenges and reform plans to identify the state-building priorities that are most necessary, feasible, and sustainable.

  Aug 6, 2010

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  Report

  Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning from the European Union and Australia

  A review of recent European and Australian experience in the design and implementation of policies to improve energy efficiency of buildings and insights to aid U.S. designers of analogous policies.

  Sep 4, 2009

Multimedia

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  29:35

  What Are the Potential Economic Implications of Prolonged UK–EU Trade Policy Uncertainty?

  Jan 24, 2020

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  4:37

  Preventing a Syrian Lost Generation: RAND's Work on Refugees

  Jun 7, 2017

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  38:48

  Understanding Brexit

  Jul 6, 2016

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  1:00:20

  U.S. International Economic Policies That Can Expand Strategic Options

  Jun 21, 2016

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  36:38

  RAND Experts Discuss the Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Study

  Jun 18, 2015

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  55:55

  Potential Hazards in Middle East from the Crisis in Iraq

  Jun 25, 2014

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  51:15

  Media Conference Call on Russia, Ukraine, and NATO’s Challenges

  May 1, 2014

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  01:02:47

  After the Arab Spring: Turmoil and Change in the Middle East

  Nov 16, 2012

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  20:00

  Beyond the Arab Spring

  Sep 13, 2012

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  01:02:34

  Green Buildings, Green Jobs

  Feb 17, 2010