The report argues that public procurement is a useful, yet bounded, governance instrument for middle powers dependent on foreign frontier AI. By embedding contractual guarantees—such as model access for evaluation and termination clauses—into state contracts, governments can mitigate risks like vendor lock-in and data sovereignty vulnerabilities. However, the analysis finds that individual state demand provides limited leverage; therefore, the key strategic recommendation is that middle powers must coordinate their procurement efforts. This collective action is necessary to aggregate demand, share evaluation capabilities, and strengthen their collective bargaining position against dominant AI providers.
Implementation and Outcome Evaluation of LA DOOR, a Proposition 47–Funded Program in Los Angeles: Cohort 3 Final Evaluation Report
English Summary
The evaluation of the LA DOOR program confirms that proactive, health-focused diversion initiatives can significantly reduce recidivism among vulnerable, justice-involved populations. Key evidence shows that participants who maintained engagement for at least two months experienced relatively low reconviction rates (15%), yet the program struggled with persistent systemic challenges, notably housing instability and mixed substance use outcomes. Policy implications suggest that maximizing the effectiveness of similar Proposition 47 initiatives requires sustained, coordinated investment in stable housing and comprehensive community services to overcome implementation barriers and ensure long-term client support.
中文摘要
對LA DOOR計畫的評估證實，主動且著重於健康的轉介倡議，能顯著降低弱勢的、與司法系統相關群體的再犯率。關鍵證據顯示，參與者若能維持至少兩個月的參與度，其再定罪率相對較低（15%）。然而，該計畫仍面臨持續的系統性挑戰，特別是住房不穩定和混合的藥物濫用後果。政策意涵指出，為最大化類似提案47計畫的成效，需要持續且協調的投資，投入於穩定的住房和全面的社區服務，以克服實施障礙，確保長期支持給服務對象。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Houthis have launched a major military offensive in Yemen, capturing critical strategic ports like Mokha and Perim Island, marking a significant shift in regional power. This escalation, which is viewed as an extension of Iranian influence, aims to establish Houthi control over the Bab el Mandeb Strait, thereby threatening global energy transit and opening a 'second front' in the broader Iran conflict. Because the anti-Houthi coalition remains militarily fragmented and lacks decisive external support, a purely military solution is unlikely. Consequently, external powers must prioritize containing the Houthi threat while the local partners urgently address their internal political divisions to prevent wider regional upheaval.
-
3.
The article argues that the most profound impact of the global War on Terror has been not military, but domestic, fundamentally reshaping U.S. society and politics. Key evidence highlights that the conflict generated staggering human and financial costs while fostering a pervasive culture of fear, which diminished social cohesion and fueled xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment. Crucially, the security state has facilitated an uncontrolled expansion of executive power, allowing the government to curtail civil liberties under the guise of domestic safety. Policymakers must therefore conduct a reckoning with this political legacy, recognizing that the persistent threat narrative has been used to undermine democratic norms and political pluralism.
-
4.
While Russia currently punches above its weight by leveraging global fragmentation, its military heft, and control over vital resources, this advantage is predicated on continued international chaos. The article argues that this 'besieged fortress' model is unsustainable, predicting that a return to global stability would expose Russia's deep structural weaknesses, particularly in its high-tech and civilian sectors. For long-term development, Russia must pivot away from perpetual confrontation and instead pursue limited cooperation, especially with the EU. Failure to modernize its innovation infrastructure and shift its foreign policy toward engagement, rather than rivalry, poses the greatest risk to its future.
-
5.
The publication argues that while the world successfully navigated the recent 'Iran Shock' without a catastrophic energy crisis, this relative stability is deceptive and should not breed complacency. The immediate avoidance of a price shock was due to temporary buffers, including the utilization of bypass pipelines, massive IEA stock releases, and critically, China significantly reducing its global oil demand. However, the analysis warns that these buffers are eroding, emphasizing that energy remains a devastating geopolitical weapon. Policymakers must recognize that the threat of energy weaponization is transforming national security and requires continuous strategic vigilance.