The RAND Corporation (Research ANd Development) is recognised as a pioneering think tank, having been established around 1947–1948. Its inception marked it as arguably the first major institution of its kind.
The organisation's primary interest lies in the study of systems and methods, rather than focusing solely on specific devices or instrumentalities. A fundamental aspect of its analytical approach involves examining both the physical dimensions of these systems and the accompanying human behavioural elements. During its period of significant influence, RAND was instrumental in producing numerous documents pertaining to ELITE THEORY.
Cold War Strategic Development During the Cold War, RAND played a pivotal role in shaping strategic thought, particularly in the realm of nuclear conflict. Prominent figures within the corporation introduced concepts that had a considerable impact on Cold War policies:
- Herman Kahn: As a chief strategist and mathematical genius, Kahn advanced the concept of a winnable nuclear war. His influential 1960 book on thermonuclear war is notable, and it is understood that the character of Doctor Strangelove, featured in a film that also includes a fictional "Bland Corporation," draws inspiration from Kahn's ideas.
- Alan Enthoven: During the 1950s, Enthoven, a nuclear strategist, engaged in "thinking the unthinkable" by planning for nuclear war and its potential victory. He devised a mathematical system that leveraged nuclear weapons as "rational incentives" to influence adversaries. Enthoven's work included creating detailed charts outlining the precise megatonnage of bombs required for specific cities and the estimated casualties needed to compel Russian negotiation. From this, he formulated a management technique known as systems analysis.
Influence on Policy and Management Enthoven's systems analysis aimed to purify decision-making processes by eliminating emotional and subjective values, replacing them with objective, rational methods and precisely defined mathematical targets and incentives. This systematic approach found its initial application within the military:
- Pentagon Transformation: Robert McNamara, then Secretary of Defence, enlisted Enthoven to overhaul the Pentagon's operational framework. This initiative involved discarding patriotism as the primary motivator for America's defence, substituting it instead with a rational system grounded in numerical data. The objective was to transition high-level defence planning from a political orientation to a purely analytical one.
- Broader Applications: The principles of systems analysis were considered applicable across a wide spectrum of human organisations. This indicated a wider ambition to rationalise and manage society through objective metrics. Enthoven's concepts later extended their influence, notably impacting figures such as
Margaret Thatcherin Britain.
Analytical Scope and Perceptions RAND's contributions are marked by its extensive research and its function in shaping elite perspectives. Its analytical scope includes detailed studies, such as research concerning the Soviets. The corporation's methodologies reflect an interest in how societal stability could be engineered through the interplay of suspicion and self-interest, a framework extended beyond the Cold War to general human society.