Many commentators have likened today's Russia-Ukraine war to the Western Front of World War I. But this analogy is misleading, say RAND's Raphael Cohen and Gian Gentile. They argue that the Second World War (in particular, the battles that took place in the hedgerows of Normandy in the summer of 1944) is a better historical precedent to understand the current conflict in Ukraine.
Cohen and Gentile cite several reasons for this: the “fluid” nature of the fighting, troop density levels, the terrain, and the all-important question of morale. None of these similarities guarantee that Ukraine will achieve a breakout like the U.S. Army did in Normandy nearly 80 years ago. But the World War II analogy is nonetheless an argument for patience and persistence.
In 1944, the U.S. Army's slow, daily advances wore down the German defenders. Today, the Ukrainian military is moving at a similar pace. “Whether this halting progress ultimately grinds the Russian military down—or grinds to halt—will only be revealed in time.”
Recent RAND surveys show that educators at all levels have experienced pressure from parents when it comes to discussing politicized topics, such as race and gender, in the classroom. These same surveys also highlight the importance of including parents in efforts to address the problem of heightened political polarization in schools. Our researchers suggest a two-pronged approach: a proactive strategy to engage parents in conversations about students' learning, and a reactive strategy to help educators manage conflict if it does occur. Read more »
Both the United States and China are racing to develop AI and other emerging technologies to gain a competitive edge in the global contest for power, security, wealth, and influence. To stay ahead, RAND's Caitlin Lee says that Washington may want to look back to the Cold War. The U.S.-Soviet race to develop nuclear weapons is a useful example because it encourages a systematic approach to identifying which technologies have the best chance of countering China's aggression and effectively defending the West. Read more »
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