The RAND Corporation: Institutional Evolution, Policy Influence and the Securitization of Knowledge in Post-9/11 America

Abstract

This article examines the RAND Corporation's institutional evolution from its origins as a post-World War II military research project to its transformation into one of the most influential policy think tanks in American history. Tracing RAND's development through the Cold War era of nuclear deterrence and systems analysis to its post-September 11 role as a central node in the American counterterrorism establishment, the article analyses how the organization's institutional structure, funding mechanisms, and proximity to power have shaped the production of knowledge about the Muslim world. The article argues that RAND's operation of Federally Funded Research and Development Centres (FFRDCs), its reliance on government contracts, and the revolving door between RAND and government service have created structural incentives that privilege securitized framings of Islam over nuanced understanding. The 2004 report "The Muslim World After 9/11" is examined as a case study in how institutional constraints and client relationships shape policy analysis. The article concludes that understanding RAND's institutional positionality is essential for critically evaluating its research products and their influence on Western policy toward Muslim societies. This analysis contributes to broader scholarly discussions about the relationship between knowledge production, state power, and the securitization of religious identity in the post-9/11 era.