Policy Currents | RAND Research and Commentary on the Issues That Matter Most
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July 13, 2023

NATO Summit Highlights Key to Ukrainian Reconstruction

Security decisions made at this week's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, are essential to Ukraine's fight against Russia. But, as RAND experts wrote in the Los Angeles Times, such decisions will be just as important--if not more so--after the war ends. In other words, they will "set the tone" for Ukraine's reconstruction.

NATO members have a range of options to support Ukraine's rebuilding efforts. To start, they could extend current arrangements of providing military support to Ukraine, which the G7 affirmed through a joint declaration yesterday. Stronger still, they could threaten to introduce Western forces into Ukraine. Or, they could bring Ukraine into NATO--a step that a number of allies pledged to take this week, without providing specifics on timing.

Whatever happens next, further "clarifying security arrangements and moving toward firm postwar security assurances" will be vital to Ukraine's reconstruction success.

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Russian Failures in Ukraine

Many expected Russia's invasion of Ukraine to last only a matter of weeks. Instead, Moscow faltered against a strong Ukrainian resistance and committed a series of missteps. Why has Russia stumbled so significantly? A new RAND report finds that poor planning and lack of capacity in logistics and sustainment are partly responsible, as they left Russian soldiers without the means to fight and likely affected morale. This may be a cautionary tale for any force planning a prolonged fight, the authors write.

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Limiting Access to Reproductive Health Care May Undermine National Security

One year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, about half of all women serving in the active-duty U.S. military have limited access to reproductive health care. According to RAND experts, these restrictions could lead more women to turn away from military service altogether. This is especially worrying in an already-difficult recruiting environment, they say, and it could have an effect on national security.

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'Barbie' Ban Highlights Politics of South China Sea

The highly anticipated "Barbie" movie will not be hitting theaters in Vietnam later this month. The country banned the film because it includes a map featuring the controversial nine-dash line, which indicates China's claims to disputed territory in the South China Sea. A 2022 RAND paper provides a primer on this complex issue, reviewing the history of territorial claims--and the risks of ongoing militarization--in this important region.

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The Top Reason Superintendents Are Stressed? Politics.

This spring, RAND surveyed 150 superintendents in school districts across the country to learn more about their job-related stress. The vast majority of respondents--79 percent--said that their work was often or always stressful. Superintendents most commonly cited "the intrusion of political issues or opinions into schooling" as a source of that stress. Notably, most said their jobs are worth the stress and disappointments.

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Diplomacy Is Working 'Slowly but Surely' in Yemen

More than a year ago, the United Nations brokered a nationwide truce in Yemen. Even though the deal has formally expired, the halt in fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has mostly held. The importance of this truce should not be understated, says RAND's Alexandra Stark. However, ending the war in Yemen for good will require continued engagement from U.S. and other diplomats, as well as a peace process that includes all parts of Yemeni society.

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** Events

Examining Black Men's Life Expectancy
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Friday, July 14, 2023 Online

A Better Future for Ukraine and Its Partners
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Monday, July 17, 2023 Washington, D.C. and Online

Political Extremism Among Veterans: Understanding Its Roots, Identifying Those Who Have Caused Harm, and Creating Opportunities for Prevention
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Thursday, July 20, 2023 Online


** Trending Reports
Can Taiwan Resist a Large-Scale Military Attack by China?
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The Impact of Defense Counsel at Bail Hearings
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** RAND in the News
James F. Dobbins, Leading Authority on Nation Building, Dies at 81 (New York Times)
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Sweden's Path to NATO Membership Cleared After Turkey Greenlights Bid (CNBC)
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U.S. Military Deals Not Enough to Wean India Off Russian Arms Yet (Reuters)
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** About RAND
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