Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap

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	Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
	admin
	2020-08-07
发布年	2020
语种	英语
国家	美国
领域	资源环境
正文(英文)	This week we discuss the challenges of planning for U.S. elections in the face of COVID-19; why artists need more support right now; how the pandemic complicates hurricane recovery; North Korea's conventional artillery; how wargaming can help guide defense policy; and what it will mean if the Quad becomes openly anti-China. Photo by Cavin Mattheis/News Sentinel Preparing for a COVID-19 Election To hold elections safely during the pandemic, states need registration and voting options that minimize personal contact, reduce crowds, and limit common access to high-touch surfaces, such as voting machines. Do states' current voting processes support these safety measures? And if not, then what changes could they make between now and November? New RAND research aims to answer these questions—and to help state officials understand how new voting policies might affect public health and safety, as well as election integrity, access, and logistics. Photo by vgajic/Getty Images The Pandemic Is a Disaster for Artists As the pandemic continues to surge, the vast majority of artists have likely lost some or all of their income. And while some businesses—restaurants and gyms, for example—are reopening, the arts are likely to be shut down for the foreseeable future. This could lead to millions of working artists and performers running out of unemployment benefits, losing their insurance, and possibly giving up on their arts careers altogether, say RAND experts. The CARES Act has provided some critical support, but more could be done. A levee gives way to high water in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina struck on August 31, 2005 Photo by Marc Serota/Reuters COVID-19 Complicates Hurricane Response Strengthening back into a hurricane after being downgraded to a tropical storm, Isaias lashed the Atlantic Coast this week, leaving destruction in its wake. With hurricane season in full swing, there may be more powerful storms on the way. Earlier this summer, RAND experts wrote about how to prepare for hurricane response and recovery during a pandemic. There are many issues to consider, including the fact that response systems are already overwhelmed; the complications of evacuating and sheltering; and how to safely deploy emergency workers. Photo by AlxeyPnferov/Getty Images A crowded street in Seoul, South Korea North Korea's Threat Goes Beyond Its Nukes North Korea maintains nearly 6,000 artillery systems within range of major South Korean population centers. According to estimates from a new RAND report, Pyongyang could use these conventional weapons to kill many thousands of people in just an hour. The authors conclude that, because so much harm could be done so quickly, it's important to avoid any situation where the North might feel compelled to initiate such a strike. So if a “provocation cycle” starts between North Korea and the United States, it's in everyone's interest to deescalate the situation as swiftly as possible. Naval War College President Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, left, views the wargaming hub at the college's Naval Postgraduate School program in Monterey, CA, January 29, 2020 Photo by Javier Chagoya/U.S. Navy How Wargames Could Help Guide Defense Policymaking Wargames are typically used to understand how a conflict or crisis might play out on the battlefield. But according to RAND's Elizabeth Bartels, the U.S. Department of Defense could also use games to better understand the effects of its policies. The focus of such a game would be bureaucratic competition, rather than military competition. Gaming out policy changes could offer valuable insights before costly decisions about defense acquisition, personnel, and management are made, she says. India's prime minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, during a bilateral meeting in Osaka, June 27, 2019 Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Reuters The Quad Will Soon Become Openly Anti-China The Quad—a partnership comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—is poised to become openly anti-China, says RAND's Derek Grossman. This anticipated shift may have significant implications. Most importantly, it would mean that the Quad's resolve to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific would be concrete, rather than symbolic. This may enhance the deterrence value of the group toward China. Listen to the Recap Get Weekly Updates from RAND If you enjoyed this weekly recap, consider subscribing to Policy Currents, our newsletter and podcast. Stay Informed RAND Policy Currents Email Subscribe to the podcast. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
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来源平台	RAND Corporation
文献类型	新闻
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/286147
专题	资源环境科学
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	admin. Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap. 2020.