The United States is entering a period of intensifying strategic competition with several rivals, most notably Russia and China. U.S. officials expect this competition to be played out primarily below the threshold of armed conflict, in what is sometimes termed the gray zone between peace and war. In this report, the authors examine how the United States might respond to Russian and Chinese efforts to seek strategic advantage through coercive actions in the gray zone, including military, diplomatic, informational, and economic tactics. The United States is ill prepared and poorly organized to compete in this space, yet the authors' findings suggest that the United States can begin to treat the ongoing gray zone competition as an opportunity more than a risk. Moreover, leaders in Europe and Asia view Russian and Chinese gray zone aggression as a meaningful threat and are receptive to U.S. assistance in mitigating it. In this report, the authors use insights from their extensive field research in affected countries, as well as general research into the literature on the gray zone phenomenon, to sketch out the elements of a strategic response to the gray zone challenge and develop a menu of response options for U.S. officials to consider.

How big was the ancient city of Ayodhya? Why is this city so significant for Hindus? Who established the city and what did it look like? What did Lord Rama and Devi Sita's palace look like? What sort of animals were found in this ancient land? No one grows up in India untouched by the beautiful story of Lord Rama and Devi Sita. Every Dussehra we celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Every Deepavali, we commemorate the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya and hear the tale of how the entire city was lit up to receive their beloved king and queen. But is the magnificent capital of Ayodhya just limited to this? Ayodhya was a renowned pilgrimage destination since the dawn of mankind, and after the birth of Lord Rama, it became a place of supreme importance for Hindus. Amazing Ayodhya is an attempt in gaining knowledge about this ancient city-its architecture, its design, its buildings and all the splendid details during the era when Lord Rama walked this earth. This splendidly researched book, replete with shlokas from the Valmiki Ramayana, offers authentic information about the city which will not only help understand the life and times of ancient Hindus but also the revered figures of Rama and Sita. Replete with descriptions, author Neena Rai draws out comparisons of an earlier era with our current life and culture, thus connecting the past with the present. She further compares Ayodhya with the cultures of other ancient civilisations so that the reader feels 'connected' to the past and the content of the book appears 'contemporary'. A fascinating account of an ancient city with significant contemporary relevance, Amazing Ayodhya is a must-read for a better understanding of history, scriptures and Hindu civilisation.

In an era of rising global competition, U.S. challengers and rivals are increasingly looking to achieve competitive advantage through gray zone activities-that is, acts of aggression that remain below the threshold of outright warfare. In this report, RAND researchers identify eight common characteristics of such aggression (e.g., unfolds gradually, is not attributable) and develop a framework for assessing the health of U.S. and partner deterrence in the gray zone. They apply the framework to three cases: China's aggression against the Senkaku Islands, Russia's aggression against the Baltic states, and North Korea's aggression against South Korea. The authors conclude that U.S. and partner deterrence of gray zone activities is in a reasonably strong, though mixed, condition in each of these three contexts. Finally, the authors outline the implications of their findings for the U.S. Army. Among these implications are that maintaining a local presence and posture plays an important role in conveying likely responses to aggression, and clear statements of shared intent to respond to specific actions are critical.

Using contemporary examples of business and management research, predominantly within the context of India, this book offers numerous tools and techniques which can be applied to a diverse range of research needs. Topics discussed include: research designs, sampling, interviews, focus groups, case study research and mixed method research.

If businesses and other organizations are to meet the many and complex challenges of sustainable development, then they all, both public and private, need to embed sustainability considerations into their decision-making and reporting. However, the translation of this aspiration into effective action is often inhibited by the lack of systems and procedures that take sustainability into account. Accounting for Sustainability: Practical Insights will help organizations to address these issues. The book sets out a number of tools and approaches that have been developed and applied by leading organizations to: - embed sustainability into decision-making, extending beyond an organization's boundaries to take into account suppliers, customers and other stakeholders; - measure and link sustainability and financial performance; - integrate sustainability into 'mainstream' reporting, both to management and external stakeholders. In-depth cases studies from Aviva, BT, the Environment Agency, EDF Energy, HSBC, Novo Nordisk, Sainsbury's and West Sussex County Council show in detail how accounting for sustainability works in practice in a wide range of organizational contexts. Published with The Prince's Charities: Accounting for Sustainability

The text offers a comprehensive and unique perspective on disaster risk associated with natural hazards. It covers a wide range of topics, reflecting the most recent debates but also older and pioneering discussions in the academic field of disaster studies as well as in the policy and practical areas of disaster risk reduction (DRR). This book will be of particular interest to undergraduate students studying geography and environmental studies/science. It will also be of relevance to students/professionals from a wide range of social and physical science disciplines, including public health and public policy, sociology, anthropology, political science and geology.