My doctoral discipline is Anthropology, but I’ve conducted much of my scholarly research in Political Science. Here are some peer-reviewed articles in both fields.
Anthropology
“The Dāʾūdī Bohras (Mustaʿlī Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa): Using Modernity to Institutionalise a Fāṭimid Tradition.” In Carole Cusack, James Lewis and Afzal Upal, eds., Islamic Sects and Movements. London: Oxford University Press/E.J. Brill, 2021, pp. 255-278. Link
“Power, Ideology and Authority: Two Case Studies from the Daudi Bohras.” African and Asian Studies Vol. 16 (Leiden: Brill, 2017) pp. 81-101. Link
“Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition/Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess.” American Anthropologist, Vol. 104. No. 4 (December, 2002) pp.1,228–1,230. Link
“Annual Rites of the Daudi Bohras: Islamic Identity as Universal and Unique.” The Eastern Anthropologist (Lucknow), Vol. 53. No. 3-4 (July-December 2000), pp. 457-480.
“Anthropology: What’s the Use?” Anthropology News, March 2000, p. 37.
“Ram and Ram Rajya: The Babri Masjid/Ramjanambhumi Dispute and the Politicization of a Divinity.” Journal of Vaisnava Studies, Vol. 2, No. 4, Fall, 1994, pp.159-174.
Political Science
“India’s Engagement with Myanmar: Regional Security Implications of Acting East Slowly.” In Karen Stoll Farrell and Šumit Ganguly, eds., Heading East: Security, Trade, and Environment between India and Southeast Asia, pp. 69-89. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. Link
“Democratization and Development.” In South Asia in World Politics, Devin T. Haggerty, ed., pp. 231-256. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. Link
“Kashmir: All Tactics, No Strategy.” In Šumit Ganguly, ed., The Kashmir Question: Retrospect and Prospect. London: Frank Cass, 2003, pp. 181-202. Link
“Ethnic Conflict & Civic Life: A Review Essay.” India Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (April 2003), pp. 97-112. Link
RAND reports: Lead or sole author
(Selected. Unclassified only)
Regional Responses to U.S.-China Competition in the Indo-Pacific: India. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021. Link
Regional Responses to U.S.-China Competition in the Indo-Pacific: Indonesia. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021. Link
Blank, Jonah, Shira Efron, and Katya Migacheva, "The Project May Serve the Nation — But What About Us, Who Live Here?": Villagers' Views of the Dawei Special Economic Zone, an Internationally Funded Infrastructure Project in Myanmar. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2019. Link
“Religion and stability in the former USSR: Policy implications of analysis.” In Katya Migacheva and Bryan Frederick, eds., Religion, Conflict, and Stability in the Former Soviet Union. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018. Link
Blank, Jonah, Richard Girven, Arzan Tarapore, Julia Thompson and Arthur Chan. Vector Check: Prospects for U.S. and Pakistan Air Power Engagement. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. Link
Blank, Jonah, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Angel Rabasa, and Bonny Lin, Look East, Cross Black Waters: India's Interest in Southeast Asia. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2015. Link
Blank, Jonah, Christopher Clary, and Brian Nichiporuk, Drivers of Long-Term Insecurity and Instability in Pakistan: Urbanization. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2014. Link
National University of Singapore Working Papers
(limited distribution)
“Two Presidents, Lost Opportunities, and a Two-State Solution Left Dead in the Water.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, FY 2024, No. 4, February 2025.
“At Odds with Biden’s Aims, Key Middle East States have Reason to Thwart his Re-election.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, FY 2024, No. 1, June 2024.
“As Election 2024 Draws Closer, Biden May Be Inching Towards a Break with Bibi.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, FY 2023, No. 8, March 2024.
“Why the US is Pushing for Saudi-Israel Normalisation, and How It Might Work.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, FY 2023, No. 4, October 2023.
“Non-Reaction to Saudi-Iran Deal in US Reflects Sharp Partisan Divisions.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, FY 2023, No. 2, July 2023.
“Bibi’s Gamble on GOP has Paid Dividends, May Embolden Him on Palestinian Issue.” Middle East Policy Institute Working Paper, February 2023.
“Global Terrorist Groups Likely to Find Sanctuary in Afghanistan under Taliban 2.0.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, October 2022.
“Will the Taliban Inspire Extremists Again? The Result of a Budding Rivalry is Key.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, December 2021.
“Out of Afghanistan: How Joe Biden Soured on America’s Longest War.” Middle East Institute Working Paper, No. 48, May 2021.
RAND reports: Chapter/section author
(Selected. Unclassified only)
Frederick, Bryan, Kristen Gunness, Gabrielle Tarini, Andrew Stravers, Michael J. Mazarr, Emily Ellinger, Jonah Blank, Shawn Cochran, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Lyle J. Morris et. al. Greater Conflict-Phase Access to Asia. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2023. Link
Frederick, Bryan, Kristen Gunness, Gabrielle Tarini, Andrew Stravers, Michael J. Mazarr, Emily Ellinger, Jonah Blank, Shawn Cochran, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Lyle J. Morris et. al. Improving Conflict-Phase Access. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2023. Link
Lin, Bonny, Cristina L. Garafola, Bruce McClintock, Jonah Blank, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Karen Schwindt, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Paul Orner, Dennis Borrman, Sarah W. Denton, and Jason Chambers, A New Framework for Understanding and Countering China's Gray Zone Tactics. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2022. Link
Lin, Bonny, Cristina L. Garafola, Bruce McClintock, Jonah Blank, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Karen Schwindt, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Paul Orner, Dennis Borrman, Sarah W. Denton, and Jason Chambers, Competition in the Gray Zone: Countering China's Coercion Against U.S. Allies and Partners in the Indo-Pacific. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2022. Link
Mazarr, Michael J., Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Jonah Blank, Samuel Charap, Michael S. Chase, Beth Grill, Derek Grossman, Dara Massicot, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Lyle J. Morris, Alexander Noyes, Stephanie Pezard, Ashley L. Rhoades, Alice Shih, Mark Stalczynski, Melissa Shostak, David E. Thaler, and Dori Walker, Security Cooperation in a Strategic Competition. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2022. Link
Mazarr, Michael J., Jonah Blank, Samuel Charap, Benjamin N. Harris, Timothy R. Heath, Niklas Helwig, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Lyle J. Morris, Ashley L. Rhoades, Ariane M. Tabatabai, and Sean M. Zeigler, Understanding the Emerging Era of International Competition Through the Eyes of Others: Country Perspectives. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2022. Link
Lin, Bonny, Michael S. Chase, Jonah Blank, Cortez A. Cooper III, Derek Grossman, Scott W. Harold, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Lyle J. Morris, Logan Ma, Paul Orner, Alice Shih, and Soo Kim, Regional Responses to U.S.-China Competition in the Indo-Pacific: Study Overview and Conclusions. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2020. Link
Lin, Bonny, Michael S. Chase, Jonah Blank, Cortez A. Cooper III, Derek Grossman, Scott W. Harold, Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Lyle J. Morris, Logan Ma, Paul Orner, Alice Shih, and Soo Kim, U.S. Versus Chinese Powers of Persuasion: Does the United States or China Have More Influence in the Indo-Pacific Region?. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2020. Link
Campbell, Jason H., Richard S. Girven, Ben Connable, Jonah Blank, Raphael S. Cohen, Larry Hanauer, William Young, Linda Robinson, and Sean Mann, Implications of the Security Cooperation Office Transition in Afghanistan for Special Operations Forces: An Abbreviated Report of the Study's Primary Findings. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. Link
McNerney, Michael, Jonah Blank, Becca Wasser, Jeremy Boback and Alexander Stephenson. Improving Implementation of the Department of Defense Leahy Law. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. Link
Gelfeld, Bill, Shira Efron, Melinda Moore and Jonah Blank. Mitigating the Impact of Ebola in Potential Hot Zones: A Proof-of-Concept Approach to Help Decisionmakers Prepare for High-Risk Scenarios Outside Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2015. Link
Watts, Stephen, Acharya Amitav, Jonah Blank, William Callahan, Keith Darden, Neil Fligstein, Marc Lynch, Raul Madrid, Alina Polyakova, and Robert Rotberg. Regional perspectives on the role of ideas and identities in world politics. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2015. RAND/PR-2014-OSD. [Unclassified, but access controlled by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense]
Wilson, Peter, Angel Rabasa, Scott Harold, Jonah Blank, Peter Chalk, Carter Price and Bonny Lin. China’s soft power in Southeast Asia and Australia. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2013. RAND/PR-874-MDS [Unclassified, but access controlled by Singapore Ministry of Defense]
Congressional Testimony
“Lashkar-e Taiba and the Threat to the United States of a Mumbai-Style Attack.” Testimony Delivered to the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, June 12, 2013. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2013. Link