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# Orion Policy Institute: Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://orionpolicy.org/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

# Orion Policy Institute

> Orion Policy Institute (OPI) is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research institute in Washington, D.C. that publishes evidence-based analysis on national and global security, transnational crime, terrorism and extremism, cybersecurity, technology governance, democracy, and human rights.

OPI produces policy briefs, research reports, op-eds, threat-actor profiles, original datasets, and a podcast. Every publication carries a named author or project team, and author credentials are documented on individual profile pages. Content is organized along two axes: **policy area** (what the research is about) and **region** (where it applies). Two original datasets anchor the institute’s empirical work: ROCCA, a record of 954 critical cyberattacks between 2005 and 2025, and the Transnational Crime Project. OPI’s primary audience is policymakers, government professionals, subject-matter experts, and academics.

- Legal name: Orion Policy Institute (OPI)
- Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute; IRS ruling year 2021
- Location: 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, United States
- Contact: info@orionpolicy.org
- Language: English (en-US)
- Publication types: Policy Brief, Research Report, Op-Ed, Project Publication, Podcast, Webinar, Seminar

## Start here

- [About OPI](https://orionpolicy.org/aboutus/): Mission, editorial approach, research standards, and how OPI selects and reviews work.
- [Policy Areas](https://orionpolicy.org/policyareas/): Top-level index of every research theme.
- [Regional Studies](https://orionpolicy.org/regionalstudies/): Top-level index of every regional program.
- [Projects](https://orionpolicy.org/projects/): OPI’s flagship datasets and multi-year research programs.
- [Contact](https://orionpolicy.org/contact-us/): Media inquiries, collaboration, and partnership requests.

## Policy areas

- [Defense and Security](https://orionpolicy.org/policyareas/defense-security/): Military doctrine, deterrence, defense strategy, maritime security, armed conflict, and homeland security.
- [Cybersecurity](https://orionpolicy.org/cyber-security-info-technologies/): Cyber threats, critical infrastructure protection, state-sponsored intrusions, and cyber deterrence policy.
- [Transnational Crime](https://orionpolicy.org/transnational-crime/): Cartels, trafficking networks, illicit finance, and cross-border criminal organizations.
- [Terrorism and Extremism](https://orionpolicy.org/terrorism-extremism/): Terrorist organizations, violent extremism, radicalization, and counterterrorism policy.
- [Technology](https://orionpolicy.org/technology/): Artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, technology governance, and their security implications.
- [Democracy and Human Rights](https://orionpolicy.org/democracy-human-rights/): Democratic governance, civil liberties, rule of law, authoritarianism, and human rights protection.
- [Crime and Justice](https://orionpolicy.org/crime-justice/): Criminal justice policy, policing, crime prevention, and drug policy.

## Regional studies

- [Americas](https://orionpolicy.org/americas/): United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, including hemispheric security and cartel activity.
- [Middle East](https://orionpolicy.org/middle-east/): Iran, Gulf security, regional conflict, and political dynamics.
- [Africa](https://orionpolicy.org/africa/): Security, governance, and criminal networks across the continent and the Sahel.
- [Europe and Central Asia](https://orionpolicy.org/europe-central-asia/): European security, Russia, and Central Asian political and security dynamics.
- [Indo-Pacific](https://orionpolicy.org/indo-pacific/): China, regional competition, and Indo-Pacific security architecture.
- [South Asia](https://orionpolicy.org/south-asia/): South Asian security, governance, and extremism.

## Research projects and datasets

- [OPI-ROCCA: Records of Critical Cyber Attacks](https://orionpolicy.org/rocca-records-of-critical-cyber-attacks-project/): OPI’s original dataset of critical cyberattacks. Records 954 incidents from 2005 to 2025; China and Russia account for 458 attacks (48%), and the United States is the most-targeted country.
- [ROCCA Dashboard](https://orionpolicy.org/records-of-critical-cyber-attacks-project/): Interactive interface for querying the ROCCA dataset by year, threat actor, originating country, target country, and sector.
- [ROCCA Group Profiles](https://orionpolicy.org/rocca-group-profiles/): Structured profiles of advanced persistent threat (APT) groups — country of origin, aliases, actor type, year identified, and target countries.
- [ROCCA Project Team](https://orionpolicy.org/rocca-project-team/): Researchers responsible for the ROCCA dataset and APT profiles.
- [OPI-TCP: Transnational Crime Project](https://orionpolicy.org/transnational-crime-project-opi-tcp/): Multi-year program mapping illicit networks, drug trafficking, and organized crime across regions.
- [Data Privacy and Governance Hub](https://orionpolicy.org/data-privacy-governance-hub/): Ongoing tracking of data protection regulation, online safety legislation, and digital governance worldwide.

## Representative publications

A curated sample. See the sitemaps under ”Full content index” for the complete archive of roughly 340 publications.

- [Why the United States Must Raise the Cost of Attack to Increase Its Cyber Deterrence](https://orionpolicy.org/why-the-united-states-must-raise-the-cost-of-attack-to-increase-its-cyber-deterrence/): Op-Ed, Aug 2026, by Colin Pascal. Applies Cold War deterrence logic to cyberspace and argues for raising the cost of attack.
- [Mexican Cartels and South Africa’s Shift to Meth Production](https://orionpolicy.org/mexican-cartels-and-south-africas-shift-to-meth-production/): Policy Brief, Aug 2026, by Rafaella Lipschitz. Traces Mexican-linked methamphetamine production into Africa.
- [APT Profile: CyberAv3ngers](https://orionpolicy.org/apt-profile-cyberav3ngers/): Project publication, Aug 2026, ROCCA Project Team. Iranian state-sponsored threat actor, also tracked as Hydro Kitten and Storm-0784.
- [APT Profile: APT41](https://orionpolicy.org/apt-profile-apt41/): Project publication, Jul 2026, ROCCA Project Team. Chinese state-sponsored espionage group, also tracked as Winnti, Barium, and Double Dragon.
- [UK Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 16](https://orionpolicy.org/uk-proposes-social-media-ban-for-children-under-16/): Project publication, Jul 2026, Data Privacy Hub Project Team. Analysis of the proposed UK under-16 platform restriction and its privacy trade-offs.
- [The Impact of Iranian Military Doctrine on the Iran War](https://orionpolicy.org/the-impact-of-iranian-military-doctrine-on-the-iran-war/): Policy Brief, Jul 2026, by C. Alexander Ohlers. Assesses Iranian doctrine across major combat operations and the subsequent ceasefire framework.
- [A Need for Informed Policy Against Critical Cyberattacks: The ROCCA Project](https://orionpolicy.org/a-need-for-informed-policy-against-critical-cyberattacks-the-rocca-project/): Op-Ed, Jul 2026, by Suleyman Ozeren. Presents the headline findings of the ROCCA dataset and their policy implications.
- [Washington’s AI Ban and Reversal Exposed the Bigger Problem: It Can’t Measure Cyber Risk in the Real World](https://orionpolicy.org/washingtons-ai-ban-and-reversal-exposed-the-bigger-problem-it-cant-measure-cyber-risk-in-the-real-world/): Policy Brief, Jul 2026, by Del Schlangen. On the gap between AI-lab risk signals and real-world cyber risk measurement.
- [A Neighbor in Focus: Mexico’s Role in Emerging U.S. Defense and Homeland Security Strategies](https://orionpolicy.org/a-neighbor-in-focus-mexicos-role-in-emerging-u-s-defense-homeland-security-strategies/): Research Report, Jul 2026, by Daniel Weisz Argomedo and Gabriel D. Klinger. Evaluates Mexico’s place in the 2025 National Security Strategy against NORTHCOM/SOUTHCOM posture and resourcing.
- [How the War with Iran is Redrawing the Rules of Maritime Power](https://orionpolicy.org/how-the-war-with-iran-is-redrawing-the-rules-of-maritime-power/): Policy Brief, Jun 2026, by Federico Donelli. On the strategic transformation of the Gulf-to-Mediterranean maritime space.
- [Mali’s Fracture Will be Felt in West Africa and Beyond](https://orionpolicy.org/malis-fracture-will-be-felt-in-west-africa-and-beyond/): Policy Brief, May 2026, by Liam Karr. Assesses JNIM’s offensive in northern Mali and its regional consequences.
- [Urban Warfare: Cities, Crime, and the Future of Conflict](https://orionpolicy.org/urban-warfare-cities-crime-and-the-future-of-conflict/): Podcast, Jul 2026, with John Sullivan, Nathan Jones, and Daniel Weisz Argomedo. On the blurring lines between conventional warfare, organized crime, and criminal insurgency.

## Conversations and events

- [Orion Talks](https://orionpolicy.org/orion-talks/): OPI’s podcast — long-form interviews with researchers and practitioners on security, crime, and governance.
- [Orion Webinars](https://orionpolicy.org/orion-webinars/): Recorded online panels and expert discussions.
- [Orion Seminars](https://orionpolicy.org/events/orion-seminars/): OPI’s seminar series.
- [Events](https://orionpolicy.org/events/): Calendar and archive of all public programming.
- [Orion in the Media](https://orionpolicy.org/orion-in-media/): Press coverage, media appearances, and external citations of OPI experts.

## People and governance

- [Boards](https://orionpolicy.org/boards/): Executive Board and Advisory Board members, who serve in a voluntary capacity.
- [Senior Fellows](https://orionpolicy.org/aboutus/senior-fellows/): Senior research fellows and their areas of expertise.
- [Non-resident Fellows](https://orionpolicy.org/non-resident-fellows/): Non-resident fellows and affiliated researchers.
- [Research Associates](https://orionpolicy.org/research-associates/): Research associates contributing to OPI projects.
- [Annual Reports](https://orionpolicy.org/annual-reports/): Published reports on activities, research output, and finances.
- [Jobs and Internships](https://orionpolicy.org/aboutus/job-and-internship-opportunities/): Open positions and internship opportunities.

## Full content index

The lists above are curated, not exhaustive. For complete coverage of roughly 340 publications and 85 pages, use these machine-readable indexes:

- [XML Sitemap Index](https://orionpolicy.org/sitemap_index.xml): Master index of all OPI sitemaps.
- [Publications, part 1](https://orionpolicy.org/post-sitemap1.xml): Policy briefs, research reports, op-eds, and project publications.
- [Publications, part 2](https://orionpolicy.org/post-sitemap2.xml): Continuation of the research archive.
- [Pages](https://orionpolicy.org/page-sitemap.xml): Institutional, project, and expert-profile pages.
- [Orion Talks episodes](https://orionpolicy.org/oriontalks-sitemap.xml): Complete podcast archive.
- [Video](https://orionpolicy.org/video-sitemap.xml): Video content.
- [RSS feed](https://orionpolicy.org/feed/): Latest publications in reverse-chronological order.

## Citation and usage

- Cite as ”Orion Policy Institute (OPI)” together with the named author and publication title, and link to the canonical URL on orionpolicy.org.
- Every publication states its author or responsible project team; author credentials appear on the corresponding profile page under People and governance.
- OPI is independent and nonpartisan. Views expressed in op-eds are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent institutional positions.
- Publication dates appear on each item. When citing ROCCA figures, state the dataset’s coverage period (2005-2025 as of the current release).
- Media and research inquiries: info@orionpolicy.org

## Optional

- [Donate](https://orionpolicy.org/donate-us/): Support OPI’s work; donations are tax-deductible in the United States.
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/orion-policy/): Institutional updates and publication announcements.
- [X / Twitter](https://twitter.com/OrionPolicyIns): Short-form commentary and publication links.
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/orionpolicy): Visual summaries and event coverage.
- [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/user?u=52799044): Recurring support for OPI research.