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RAND's international affairs research comprises a range of cross-cutting issues, including global economies and trade, space and maritime security, diplomacy, global health and education, nation building, and regional security and stability. RAND also analyzes the policies and effectiveness of international organizations such as the UN, NATO, European Union, and ASEAN.

Commentary
Finland Joins NATO, Sweden's Accession Remains Uncertain
Finland is at long last joining NATO, having applied together with Sweden last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland's accession represents a boon to NATO, a radical change in Finnish foreign and security policy, and another unplanned setback for Russia.
Apr 4, 2023
Report
What Taiwan's Dominance in Semiconductor Production Means for the U.S.
Semiconductors have become an integral part of nearly every industry. Production of the highest-end semiconductors exists almost entirely in Taiwan. If China were to unify with Taiwan, there are no good short-term options for responding to the disruption that would cause to the global semiconductor supply chain.
Mar 13, 2023

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Commentary
Countering Russia's Nuclear Threat in Europe
President Vladimir Putin's announced plan to put nuclear arms in Belarus may pose risks to NATO's nuclear posture. Three decades after the Soviet collapse, some allies might be uneasy about re-energizing NATO's nuclear mission. But others might argue that not responding to Russia's moving forward its nuclear arms could cause the Kremlin to doubt NATO's nuclear credibility.
Apr 20, 2023
Commentary
Stick with Europe
The United States' chief competitive advantage in the contest with China is its dominant global network of friends and allies. Now is the time to strengthen those coveted ties—in Europe and elsewhere.
Apr 17, 2023
Commentary
Stalled in Ukraine, Kremlin Increasingly Turns to Political Theater
Stymied in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has amped up the political theater to achieve his objectives. How do we interpret Putin's statements? While no nuclear threat should be ignored, Putin's pronouncements remain in the realm of propaganda.
Apr 17, 2023
Commentary
Why China Should Worry About Asia's Reaction to AUKUS
If most Indo-Pacific nations support AUKUS—or refuse to condemn it—then Beijing will have more geostrategic and military implications to worry about than AUKUS itself. As long as AUKUS continues to assuage nuclear proliferation concerns it will be viewed in the region as a legitimate counter to Chinese military excesses.
Apr 15, 2023
Report
Economic Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Addressing a Changed World and Evolved Threat Landscape
This Perspective describes the evolving strategic environment for and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's critical role in economic security.
Apr 13, 2023
Report
Truth Decay and National Security
Truth Decay—the declining role of facts in American public life—creates national security vulnerabilities, including by making the United States more susceptible to foreign influence. What can be done to mitigate such risks?
Apr 12, 2023
Journal Article
How the Ukraine War Accelerates the Defense Strategy
This piece explores the implications of the Defense Department's support for Ukraine on the National Defense Strategy, and support for Taiwan in particular.
Apr 11, 2023
Commentary
As China Ascends, Concerns Grow It Might Be Tempted into a 'Splendid Little War'
When a nation newly ascends or returns to the status of a leading international power, it often feels the need to publicly demonstrate its rise through a brief, victorious war. Today, China's increasing strength may tempt it to pursue such a conflict, and not necessarily with Taiwan, if it anticipates that victory will be swift, decisive, and demonstrative.
Apr 11, 2023
Commentary
Europe: Ukraine's Essential Ally
While the United States is Ukraine's primary military backer, Europe is sharing the war's overall burden, sanctioning Russia, arming Ukraine, and helping prepare it to join the European Union, as well as absorbing huge economic costs. Europe's partnership with the United States on Ukraine may be Western diplomacy's finest hour since the Berlin Wall fell.
Apr 10, 2023
Blog
Dementia and National Security, Finland Joins NATO, the Four-Day School Week: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the risk that dementia could pose to national security, Finland's NATO membership, the downside of a four-day school week, and more.
Apr 7, 2023
Dissertation
Whither the Liberal International Order? Does an Attenuated Liberal International Order Affect the Propensity, Incidence, and Intensity of Conflict?
Seeks to understand and anticipate the impact of an attenuated or weakened Liberal International Order on propensity, incidence, and intensity of conflict.
Apr 5, 2023
Journal Article
India-China Border Tensions and U.S. Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
India-China border intrusions and clashes have become more frequent and threaten to lead to all-out conflict between the two Asian giants.
Apr 5, 2023
Journal Article
Scottish Affairs Committee: Scotland's Role in UK Defence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
The aim of this evidence is to analyse the UK's national security priorities in the North Atlantic and the High North and how to develop Scotland's role as an asset in the pursuit of these priorities.
Apr 4, 2023
Commentary
Why U.S. Military Interventions Fail and What to Do About It
There will always be situations in which military intervention is the best or only option for the United States. But policymakers must also recognize that in many cases, the best response to a crisis or potential threat is to take no military action at all and rely instead on diplomacy or sanctions—or simply learn to live with an elevated threat.
Mar 30, 2023
Journal Article
Study Strengthening the Fight Against Organised Crime: Assessing the Legislative Framework
This study looks at three 'tools' that Member States can deploy in the fight against serious and organised crime. The report describes the current state of play and outlines possible policy solutions to address challenges identified.
Mar 29, 2023
Journal Article
Norway's Next Long-Term Defence Plan: An Allied Perspective
As Norway contemplates the priorities for its next Long-Term Defence Plan (LTP), it finds itself in a Europe, a NATO, and a global environment that have all changed markedly since the last iteration of the Plan was released in 2020.
Mar 28, 2023
Journal Article
Reflecting on One Year of War: The Role of Non-Military Levers
One year after Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this article examines the role of non-military levers (e.g., diplomatic, information, economic) in the conflict so far.
Mar 28, 2023
Commentary
Japan's New Security Policies: A Long Road to Full Implementation
The historic ambition contained within Japan's new defense strategies is notable. But the reality is that an extraordinary alignment of political, economic, fiscal, and other stars will be necessary for Japan's government to fully implement their stated ambitions over the next five to ten years.
Mar 27, 2023
Commentary
Juggled Plan for McCarthy-Tsai Meeting Does Taiwan No Favors
Instead of traveling to Taiwan like Nancy Pelosi did, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is abiding by the advice of President Tsai Ing-wen to skip the trip. They will meet in California. This could be seen as a major victory for China's aggressive stance toward U.S. ties with the island and could embolden Beijing.
Mar 24, 2023

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RAND Topic:
International Affairs

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Edward N. Okeke

Senior Economist

Edward Okeke is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He is an applied microeconomist and a physician with training in public health. His research lies at the intersection of health and development. Specific areas of…
Mary Avriette

Assistant Policy Researcher and Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School

M. Avriette is a Ph.D. student in the Research, Analysis, and Design stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. She is an active-duty veterinarian in the U.S. Army. Her research interests include national security, developing-nation economics, zoonoses…

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