Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Dec. 12, 2023
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America's Indo-Pacific Alliances Are Stronger Than Ever
Enhanced deterrence against China and North Korea. A relationship with Taiwan that is the strongest it's been since 1979. Bolstered ties in Oceania. U.S. alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific are "just about the deepest and most robust they have been in all their history," says RAND's Derek Grossman, writing in Foreign Policy.
What explains these successes? Grossman credits both the "exceptional durability" of U.S. alliances and partnerships, as well as the Biden administration's ongoing efforts to counter aggression by China and North Korea.
There is, however, still room for improvement. The biggest obstacle for the United States in the Indo-Pacific, Grossman says, is that Washington lacks a true economic strategy for the region. This inherently limits the depth of its strategic cooperation.
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What Do Teachers Think About Standards-Aligned Curriculum Materials?
A growing percentage of K12 teachers are regularly using English and math materials required or recommended by their schools or school districts. According to new RAND survey results, three in ten teachers consider these standards-aligned materials to be too challenging for most of their students. Teachers who responded in this way tended to work in high-poverty schools, were more likely to be using these materials for the first time, or were in the earlier stages of their careers.
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Planning for Resilient Reconstruction in Ukraine
It's unclear when or how the war in Ukraine will end. But even after major combat operations cease, Ukraine could still face Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure. RAND's William Courtney and Howard Shatz say that this could hamper and add costs to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. It will also lead to choices that involve complex or painful trade-offs between investing in efficient versus resilient infrastructure. What can Kyiv do to strike the right balance?
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** RAND Recommends
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- In the New York Times, RAND's Wendy Troxel, a renowned sleep expert, offers practical strategies for managing bedtime when your partner is a restless sleeper.
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- RAND's Benjamin Sacks explains how "pop-up" stations like the BBC's new emergency Gaza service demonstrate the power of radio during conflict.
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- NPR interviewed RAND's Edward Geist about his new book, Deterrence Under Uncertainty: Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Warfare.
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** Events
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China, Taiwan, and the United States: The Coming War?
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 (Online)
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