Cheryl Benard

Cheryl Benard is an Austrian-American political scientist, author, and policy analyst known for her extensive research on gender issues, civil society, and post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in Afghanistan and the Islamic world. Her career spans academia, think tank analysis, and direct advocacy, influencing policy discussions within institutions like the RAND Corporation and the U.S. Department of Defense. Benard's work often examines the intersection of culture, security, and women's rights in international affairs.

Early life and education

Cheryl Benard was born in 1953 in Vienna, the capital of Austria. She pursued her higher education at the University of Vienna, where she earned a doctorate in philosophy. Her academic background provided a foundation in European intellectual history and social theory, which later informed her interdisciplinary approach to political and security studies. During this period, she developed an early interest in the dynamics of social change and political ideology.

Career

Benard's professional career is marked by roles at prominent research institutions and engagement with international policy. She served as a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, a globally influential think tank based in Santa Monica, California. At RAND, she led and contributed to numerous studies for clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Her research often focused on counterterrorism, democratization, and nation-building, with a special emphasis on South Asia and the Middle East. She has also been a consultant for various governmental and non-governmental organizations on issues of human security and gender mainstreaming.

Research and publications

Benard is a prolific author whose scholarly and literary work addresses complex socio-political themes. Her notable non-fiction works include *"Veiled Courage: Inside the Afghan Women's Resistance"*, which documents the struggle for women's rights under the Taliban regime. She co-authored *"The Government of God: Iran's Islamic Republic"*, a critical analysis of the theocratic system in Iran. Her research for the RAND Corporation has produced influential reports such as *"Women and Nation-Building"* and studies on civil society development in post-invasion Iraq. Benard has also written novels, like *"Turning on the Girls"*, which explore themes of feminism and social engineering through satire, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Policy work and advocacy

Beyond research, Cheryl Benard has been actively involved in policy advocacy and program design. She played a significant role in developing the Women's Rights in Afghanistan program, advocating for the inclusion of gender equality measures in international reconstruction efforts following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Her expertise has been sought by bodies like the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank on integrating gender perspectives into development aid and security sector reform. Benard has consistently argued that the empowerment of women is a critical component of sustainable development and counterinsurgency strategy, influencing policy debates within the Pentagon and State Department.

Personal life

Cheryl Benard is married to Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, United States Ambassador to Afghanistan, and United States Ambassador to Iraq. Their partnership has connected her work directly to high-level diplomatic and security circles. The couple has been based in various international capitals, including Kabul, Baghdad, and New York City, due to Khalilzad's postings. Benard maintains a relatively private personal life, with her public profile primarily defined by her professional contributions to political science and policy analysis. Category:1953 births Category:Austrian political scientists Category:Austrian women writers Category:American political scientists Category:University of Vienna alumni Category:RAND Corporation people Category:Living people