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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.

Report

China Invests Warily in the Middle East

Dec 5, 2016

China endeavors to protect its expanding interests in the Middle East by not taking sides in conflicts and controversies. The United States should encourage China to get more involved in efforts to improve regional stability while reassuring partners of its own commitment to the region.
Commentary

Rex Tillerson's Many Challenges

Dec 24, 2016

If confirmed as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson will face a broad array of challenges. One may be to lend the administration consistency, while closing at least some of the deals that President-elect Trump has promised.

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News Release

News Release

Domestic Political Discord Now the Greatest Threat to U.S. Global Leadership

Faced with traditional threats from opponents such as Russia and emerging threats from non-traditional adversaries such as the Islamic State, the United States needs a comprehensive foreign policy strategy that can provide stability and improve policymakers' ability to manage in today's more complex and turbulent times.

Jan 18, 2017
Research Brief

Exploring America's Role in a Turbulent World

The post–Cold War era is over. The United States faces new challenges abroad and rising political polarization at home. How should America advance its interests and pursue new opportunities around the world?

Jan 18, 2017
Report

Domestic Political Discord Is Now the Greatest Threat to U.S. Global Leadership

The United States needs a coherent international strategy for today's turbulent world. But this will be hard to pursue without more domestic political consensus on America's global role.

Jan 18, 2017
Report

How Are European Countries Vulnerable to Russia?

Russia's aggression against Ukraine has highlighted potential threats to NATO and the EU. But European countries differ in how susceptible they are to possible Russian actions.

Jan 18, 2017
Multimedia

Trump and Russia: Challenges and Opportunities

In this Call with the Experts, our panel discusses the risks and opportunities that lie ahead with respect to U.S.-Russian relations.

Jan 13, 2017
Commentary

Iran Is at Putin's Mercy

Russia and Iran have forged an unprecedented, but fragile alliance in the Middle East. But there's no guarantee that Putin won't sell Iran out if he manages to forge better U.S. relations under Trump.

Jan 12, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

A Revanchist Russia Versus an Uncertain West: An Appreciation of the Situation Since the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis

More than a generation has passed since the BerlinWall came down, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and the contest between East and West that had lasted more than 40 years ended.

Jan 10, 2017
Commentary

Trump Should Confront Kim Over ICBM Tests

Whether successful or not, an ICBM test by North Korea would be very much against U.S. interests and President-elect Trump should act to counter it as early as possible. A turn to the basics of deterrence would be the path most likely to succeed.

Jan 6, 2017
Commentary

How to Deter Foreign Cyberattacks on U.S. Elections

Deterring future cyber-meddling in U.S. elections will require convincing adversaries — Russia and others — that any future such meddling will either be ineffective and/or too costly to be worthwhile.

Jan 5, 2017
Commentary

No Quick Fix with Russia

A series of small steps is more likely to improve Western and Russian security than an attempt at a total reset. At the same time, sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, and NATO actions to reassure and protect allies, must continue.

Jan 3, 2017
Dissertation

Dissertation

NATO, Climate Change, and International Security: A Risk Governance Approach

Offers a prospective analysis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the anticipated security consequences of climate change.

Dec 30, 2016
Commentary

Hidden Dangers of Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

Moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would antagonize partners in the Islamic world who are key to fighting ISIS and other extremists. And any potential cooperation that might have developed between Israel and Arab states over common concerns about Iran could suffer.

Dec 28, 2016
Commentary

Walking Away from One-China Policy Imperils Taiwan

The U.S. One-China policy has helped keep the peace for decades. Abandoning it now could result in stiffer Chinese resolve. Such a strategy may even backfire by triggering an otherwise avoidable crisis.

Dec 22, 2016
Report

Report

Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision

This report examines innovative modes of higher education provision, as well as ways in which the management and governance of higher education are changing in support of innovations in higher education provision.

Dec 22, 2016
Commentary

Carrier Deal Does Not Carry the Day for American Workers

Despite the good intentions, pressuring companies like Carrier to keep jobs in the U.S. addresses only the smaller part of the problem, globalization, not the larger one, technological change. A long term solution would be to upgrade the education and training system so that students graduate with skills for life-long learning.

Dec 21, 2016
Commentary

Cracks in the Chinese Powerhouse

Like most countries that have experienced rapid development, China is struggling to transition from a highly successful but unsustainable economic model. Beijing faces the additional challenge of executing difficult reforms in the face of an inhospitable global economy.

Dec 19, 2016
Commentary

Curbing Globalization Won't Halt the Rise of Inequality

Globalization may be one of many factors driving inequality. But ending trade agreements and throwing up trade barriers is unlikely to stop this trend.

Dec 14, 2016
Commentary

The Risks of an Accelerating Rivalry Between China and Japan

China and Japan have a long history of antagonism but their competition for influence in Asia has recently expanded in the economic, diplomatic, and security domains. The U.S., although a staunch ally of Japan, has served as a mediator. Weakening the U.S. role could aggravate Sino-Japanese tensions to a destabilizing degree.

Dec 12, 2016
Report

Understanding China's Strategy

Beijing's perceptions and assessments aren't static. They evolve as China's standing in the world increases and its interests grow. U.S. leaders should focus on understanding and managing competition with China on a global scale.

Dec 6, 2016

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International Affairs

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