What is the RAND Corporation?:
The
RAND Corporation is one of America's oldest think tanks and research institutes, dedicated to providing research to U.S. policy makers in various fields. RAND currently has three main offices in the US: Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA, and Washington, D.C. Internationally, RAND runs other offices in Doha, Qatar and Cambridge, United Kingdom. RAND also runs the
Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School, which offers advanced degrees in Public Policy.
Background :
Established in 1945, RAND
was created as an intelligence and research outfit
attached to the U.S. Armed Forces. In its early years the organization was associated with intelligence research and designing intelligence operations within a classified environment. The organization has since become more independent and now works with other nongovernmental and international organizations and research institutes. RAND researchers are credited with major breakthroughs in space travel and artificial intelligence, as well as pioneering various analytical methods that have been incorporated into various disciplines.
What Does the RAND Corporation Do?:
RAND provides research on various policy areas but seems to concentrate on foreign policy and national security issues. Domestic focus areas include criminal justice, health, labor, disaster preparation, social welfare, and transportation. Other international work includes intelligence policy, international economy, development, and
terrorism.
Ties to the Military:
RAND's ties to the military since its inception have brought it under criticism as overly militaristic and partial towards the U.S. military-industrial complex.
RAND Corporation Funding:
Charity Navigator is a website dedicated to providing information on non-profit organizations, including funding sources. Their Rand Corporation profile can be accessed
here.
