Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa is escorted by an honor guard at Independence Day celebrations in Harare, Zimbabwe, April 18, 2019. Photo by Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

Zimbabwe After Mugabe

In 2017, a military coup toppled Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe after 37 years in power. Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, promised “a new Zimbabwe.” Has he delivered? New research by RAND's Alexander Noyes finds that Mnangagwa has fallen short both politically and economically. And Zimbabwe is now in a downward spiral. To help the southern African country realize its tremendous potential—built on rich natural resources and one of the continent's most educated populations—the United States and other international actors could offer support. Read more »

Staff at Bellevue Hospital wear gear to protect them from an Ebola virus infection, New York City, October 8, 2014. Photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters

Does the U.S. Need to Improve Its Response to Infectious Diseases?

The death toll of the coronavirus continued to grow this week. As global health authorities address the outbreak, it's important to remember that this crisis is just one part of a broad public health preparedness challenge facing countries all over the world. A new RAND report examines this larger issue. In particular, the authors identify ways that the United States might strengthen its system of care for infectious diseases. They find that a more formalized system would be beneficial. Also, financial sustainability is critical to responding to rare but serious infectious threats. Read more »

Images by ViewApart and MariaArefyeva/Getty Images; design by Rick Penn-Kraus/RAND Corporation

Supporting Civilians After Deployment

Over the past two decades, the United States has deployed an unprecedented number of federal government civilians to Iraq and Afghanistan. They perform a wide variety of tasks—from administrative support to diplomatic functions. As more civilians are deployed, increasing numbers are exposed to high-threat environments and high levels of stress. What can be done to ensure that these individuals receive the support they need to reintegrate after returning home? Read more »

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Principals Say They Need More Support to Help Students with Disabilities

Principals play a critical role in supporting America's 6.7 million students with disabilities. But do they have what they need to help these students succeed? RAND conducted a nationally representative survey of principals to find out. Only 12 percent of respondents said that they felt completely prepared to support the needs of students with disabilities when they began working as principals. Notably, those leading schools with more students of color reported having less-sufficient access to support. Read more »

Tabatabai testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee on January 28, 2020.

How to Avoid Escalation with Iran

Following the U.S. killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani last month, Tehran attacked two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. This isn't likely to be the end of Iran's response, says RAND's Ariane Tabatabai. In fact, the regime could challenge the United States in a number of different ways, such as interfering in U.S. elections or using proxy groups to target American interests in the Middle East. To avoid escalation and lay the groundwork for future talks, Washington could be clearer in its messaging to Tehran, she says. Watch the video »