Latin America and Africa in the News
RAND researchers often write commentaries for publications on a variety of topics. This page lists commentaries
and op-eds about or related to Latin America and Africa. For a complete list of commentaries and op-eds by RAND staff,
visit the RAND Newsroom.
BRIC-à-Brac — Jun. 16, 2009
The leaders of the BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India, and China hold their first stand-alone summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Tuesday, June 16, but the timing of this meeting is hardly coincidental, as discussed by Andrew Weiss for ForeignPolicy.com .
Commentary
Assessing Mexico's Narco-Violence — May 18, 2009
Drug-related violence in Mexico has more than doubled over the past 18 months, with a sharp increase in crimes that can only be understood as atrocities, since these are some of the same tactics used by al-Qaeda in Iraq according to Benjamin Bahney and Agnes Gereben Schaefer in this commentary for The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Commentary
Swine Flu: A Real Security Threat — Apr. 30, 2009
In the rush of constant news updates on swine flu, we must recognize that controlling the spread of this disease is not simply a health concern but also one of national security, as discussed by Melinda Moore in this commentary for the Baltimore Sun.
Commentary
Who Has the Will to Fight Piracy? — Apr. 22, 2009
The recent French and American rescues of hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia were necessary and proper. No one believes these actions will end piracy, unless we impose risks on the pirates, according to this commentary by Brian Michael Jenkins for GlobalSecurity.org.
Commentary
Could Mexico Fail? — Feb. 13, 2009
Lawlessness in Mexico is approaching terrorism and becoming a U.S. security issue along the border according to this commentary by Brian Michael Jenkins for Homeland Security Today.
Commentary
United States, East Africa Allies Must Overcome Radical Islam to Reshape the Region's Security — Feb. 4, 2009
While al Qaeda is the primary terrorist/extremist threat in East Africa, the region suffers more broadly from a danger of radical Islamist groups and organizations that the United States and its allies must address to reshape the region's security environment.
News Release 
Full Document
Reasons Why Hispanics Remain Underrepresented in Military, Despite Interest — Jan. 12, 2009
Lower high school graduation rates and higher rates of obesity are two of the reasons that many Hispanics are denied entry into the U.S. military. Although Hispanics do well once in the military, they are underrepresented in all branches of the nation's armed forces, primarily because they often fail to meet eligibility requirements.
Full DocumentNews Release
Piracy Needs Regional Answer — Nov. 26, 2008
The international community is at something of a loss as to how to respond to the increasingly audacious nature of piracy off the Horn of Africa, exemplified by the hijacking of the Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star and three other ships last week.
Commentary
Vicente Fox Center and RAND Launch Joint Program to Find Policies to Combat Poverty in Mexico and Latin America - Aug. 3, 2007
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox and RAND Corporation Executive Vice President Michael Rich today signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint research program that will study ways to fight poverty and aid vulnerable groups in Mexico and Latin America. Studies conducted by the Fox Center and RAND will be published jointly. In addition to the studies, this program will also conduct seminars, conferences and international forums designed to promote democracy, leadership, transparency, gender equality and strategies to fight poverty.
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Policy Insight, Volume 1, Issue 3, June 2007 - Making Liberia Safe through Comprehensive Security-Sector Reform - Jun. 26, 2007
For some 15 years, Liberia was wracked by unprecedented levels of brutality, corruption, incompetence, intrigue, and foreign adventures that engulfed the entire region in intertwined conflicts. This Policy Insight, based on work the RAND Corporation conducted at the request of President Johnson-Sirleaf, offers an architecture and strategy to give Liberians the security sector and the peace they need and deserve.
Full Document Related Report 
PRGS Policy Insight Web Page
RAND Study Finds Mexican Teacher Incentive Program had Negligible Effect on Student Achievement - Mar. 22, 2007
RAND researchers found that the program's incentives to raise student test scores, which were used to measure educational quality, had a negligible impact.
English News Release Spanish News Release
Old Front Against Terrorism - Jan. 14, 2007
It would be premature to portray Ethiopia's swift defeat of the Islamist forces in Somalia as a victory in the global war on terror. The December invasion blunted the immediate threat of Somalia's takeover by Islamist hard-liners. Al-Qaeda fugitives who found sanctuary in Somalia are again on the run. Commentary by Brian Jenkins for the San Diego Union-Tribune
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RAND Study Finds Adolescent Asian Immigrants Improve Their Good Health Habits Over Time; Latinos' Nutrition Grows Worse - Dec. 5, 2006
The good health habits of adolescent Asian immigrants improve with each generation born in the United States, but health habits among adolescent Latino immigrants generally remain poor or become worse in succeeding generations, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
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By Edward Gonzalez (Los Angeles Times)
By James Dobbins (Miami Herald)
By Robert E. Hunter (Washington Post)
By Felicia Wu (Financial Times)
Brian Michael Jenkins (Mercury News)
By James Dobbins (New York Times)
By Angel Rabasa (Los Angeles Times)
By Angel Rabasa (Wall Street Journal)
By Brian Michael Jenkins (San Diego Union-Tribune)
By Angel Rabasa (San Diego Union-Tribune)
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