http://www.usip.org The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase conflict management capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute does this by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding efforts around the globe. Sat, 8 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EDT en-us http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1219_iraq_displaced.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1219_iraq_displaced.html Dec 19 - It is estimated that one in five Iraqis — nearly five million people — has been displaced from their home. Due to the improved security situation and the increased difficulty of displacement, Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people are beginning to return, only to find their homes destroyed or occupied by others. Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1217_piracy_peace_africa.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1217_piracy_peace_africa.html Dec 17 - Since January 2008, pirates operating off the Somali coast in East Africa have extorted an estimated $150 million in ransom payments from over 100 vessels, the largest being the Saudi tanker Sirius Star with its cargo of two million barrels of oil. The increasing frequency, aggressiveness and sophistication of these attacks have made the Gulf of Aden the world's most dangerous waterway according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center. Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1216_iraq_economic_reconstruction.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1216_iraq_economic_reconstruction.html Dec 16 - Effective economic reconstruction sends a number of positive signals in conflict-affected environments. It heralds a return to normalcy via employment creation and a resumption of investment flows and it fosters a broad constituency for peace by laying the foundation for sustained economic activity. Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1215_chad_conflicts.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1215_chad_conflicts.html The fragility of the Chadian government, as well as the fragmentation among Chadian civil society, political parties, and rebel movements, poses significant challenges that Chadian civil society, regional governments, African institutions and the international community must address with a coordinated strategy. Although the situation in the country is often examined through the lens of the Darfur crisis, several internal factors drive the instability in Chad and its regional actions. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1212_national_security.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1212_national_security.html Dec 12 - The national security system of the United States was created in 1947 during the administration of President Harry Truman. That world no longer exists. Today the nation is confronted with a globalized, more unpredictable world with multidimensional threats. Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1211_terror_mumbai.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1211_terror_mumbai.html Dec 11 - The recent terrorist attacks that shook Mumbai pose daunting questions for consideration. What is the threat of terrorism, and how should we confront it? Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1211_preventing_genocide.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1211_preventing_genocide.html Dec 11 - The Genocide Prevention Task Force, chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, released its final report on December 8. The report provides practical recommendations to enhance the U.S. government's capacity to respond to emerging threats of genocide and mass atrocities around the world. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1210_eu_us_me.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1210_eu_us_me.html Dec 10 - As the United States and Europe embark on a new chapter in transatlantic relations, will our priorities in the Middle East coincide, clash, or complement each other? In honor of the recent publication of Bound to Cooperate-Europe and the Middle East II, the U.S. Institute of Peace, in conjunction with the Carnegie Endowment and the Bertelsmann Foundation, invites you to a discussion with senior European diplomats. Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1209_ali_aldabbagh.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1209_ali_aldabbagh.html Dec 9 - Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh will present a new vision for Iraq as a stronghold of regional security, stability and economic prosperity. After his presentation, Dr. al-Dabbagh will respond to questions from the audience. Tue, 9 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1209_haiti_legal.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1209_haiti_legal.html Dec 9 - There is widespread support within Haiti for reform of Haiti's criminal laws that date from the 1860s. Haitian laws do not reflect contemporary criminal justice standards and international human rights norms and do not address some of the most serious crimes that are committed in Haiti. Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1208_iraq_prt.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1208_iraq_prt.html Since their 2005 inception in Iraq, PRTs have struggled to fully define their mission, overcome structural problems, learn to work alongside their military counterparts and assist Iraqis down the path to self-governance and stability so that U.S. forces can withdraw. While the concept was born in the Afghan conflict, PRTs in Iraq bear little resemblance to their Afghan cousins, which are led and largely staffed by military officers. Mon, 8 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1208_iran.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1208_iran.html Dec 8 - Book discussion co-sponsored with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mon, 8 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/peacewatch/index.html http://www.usip.org/peacewatch/index.html The newly redesigned December 2008 edition of PeaceWatch features: A special message on USIP in a new era from President Richard H. Solomon and Board Chair J. Robinson West; the story behind USIP's involvement in the creation of the State Department's Civilian Response Corps; highlights of the Institute's future Public Education Center, and more. Thu, 4 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1204_haiti_poverty.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1204_haiti_poverty.html Dec 4 - In November 2007, the Government of Haiti published its strategy for economic growth and poverty reduction. The strategy identified development priorities for the government and provided a blueprint for international donor support. Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1119_humanitarianism_drc.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1119_humanitarianism_drc.html Nov 19 - Since August 2008, renewed violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) North Kivu province has created a humanitarian catastrophe by displacing more than 250,000, killing scores of innocent civilians, disrupting aid efforts and destroying critical infrastructure. The crisis was precipitated by a host of factors, including: continued concerns about the influence of Hutu extremists in the region, weak governance and competition for access to the region's vast mineral wealth. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1119_ssr_missions.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1119_ssr_missions.html Nov 19 - The U.S. government and the U.N. have moved ahead with formalizing their work on Security Sector Reform (SSR). They have also begun to concentrate on the challenges of assessments and planning in SSR operations. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1117_apology_reconciliation.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1117_apology_reconciliation.html Nov 17 - On February 13th, 2008 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an official apology to Australia’s indigenous peoples, specifically members of the “Stolen Generations”, for the wrongs committed against them by the Australian government. This historic event is captured in a moving short film, Apology. The United States Institute of Peace will host a screening of Apology followed by a discussion with Joseph Montville on the theory behind the role of apology in reconciliation, and the larger context of apology in peace processes. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1112_abrahamic_alternatives.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1112_abrahamic_alternatives.html Nov 12 - In June 2007, 24 American Jewish, Muslim, and Christian scholar leaders met at a conference sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace and the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy. The purpose of the conference was to specify practices within each of the three faith traditions that could lay the groundwork for a nonviolent program to resolve conflict and address injustice as an alternative to warfare. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr216.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr216.html Drawing on a series of consultations convened by USIP's Center for Sustainable Economies, author Jeremiah S. Pam focuses on the role of the U.S. Treasury Department in finance-related state-building and institution-strenthening. Specifically, the report identifies key dynamics in the field and discusses aiding local institutions, providing technical assistance, improving interagency coordination and enabling local champions for such efforts. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr217.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr217.html An essential component of any post-conflict stabilization program is the permanent dismantlement of armed groups and their fruitful absorption into civilian society—this process is known as disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Although Colombia continues to wrestle with violent conflict at the hands of multiple armed factions, the country embarked on a major DDR program in 2003 with the goal of permanently ending the threat of violence from one of those armed factions—the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, or AUC). Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1106_iraq_recommend.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1106_iraq_recommend.html Iraq has experienced a notable reduction in violence in the past year, and the Iraqi panelists asserted the need for a continued presence of multinational forces to maintain this progress. However, as Almusawi specified, Iraqis insist that any agreement regarding the presence of foreign troops should not compromise the country's sovereignty. The terms of the agreement must be clear, in Iraq's interests and approved by the Iraqi people. Fri, 7 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1106_haiti_conflict.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1106_haiti_conflict.html In September 2008, four hurricanes and tropical storms—Fay, Gustav, Hannah and Ike—slammed into Haiti with devastating force. Nearly 800 people were killed, 300 remain missing and more than 500 were injured. Thu, 6 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1106_securing_afghanistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1106_securing_afghanistan.html Nov 6 - The next President of the United States will have to confront enormous security challenges in Afghanistan. Violence in Afghanistan has dramatically increased this year, reaching its worst level since 2001. Thu, 6 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1106_peace_operations.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1106_peace_operations.html Nov 6 - Peace operations have undergone many changes since the first United Nations–administered peace mission in 1948. Peace operations today are more broadly accepted as a tool for contending with destabilizing events in all regions of the globe. Thu, 6 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1029_iraq_heritage.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1029_iraq_heritage.html The looting of Iraq’s museums and archaeological sites is an overlooked consequence of the 2003 invasion. The loss of such precious history would be tragic for any nation or culture. As Iraqis struggle to redefine a sense of nationhood after five years of war, they will need to draw on that common heritage to reconstruct their communities. Tue, 4 Nov 2008 11:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1029_us_treasury.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1029_us_treasury.html Oct 29 - A great deal has been written in recent years about both the shortcomings of and need to reform the way the United States conducts foreign assistance, particularly in the context of post-conflict state-building. In these discussions, most attention has understandably been devoted to the agencies most closely associated with the "three Ds" of defense, diplomacy, and development: the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1028_haiti.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1028_haiti.html Oct 28 - This fall Haiti was struck by four successive hurricanes and tropical storms with devastating consequences. Over 800 people died and millions are homeless and at risk of starvation. Haiti's new Prime Minister, Michele Pierre-Louis, faces the challenge of providing humanitarian relief and preventing food shortages, which aid workers have warned could trigger unrest. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1027_financial_turmoil.html http://www.usip.org/events/2008/1027_financial_turmoil.html Oct 27 - The global financial system has witnessed massive bailouts, significant government intervention and wide-ranging corporate restructuring in a bid to avoid or mitigate the negative effects of the recent market slump. This has taken place against the backdrop of plummeting economic indicators and eroding investor confidence. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr215.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr215.html Peace operations have undergone several evolutions since the first United Nations–administered peace mission in 1948. A characteristic feature of the most recent evolution, which began about a decade ago, is that today peace operations are more broadly accepted as a tool for contending with destabilizing events in all regions of the globe. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1008_media_prevention_peacebuilding.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1008_media_prevention_peacebuilding.html There is growing recognition among policymakers and conflict management experts that the media should be a building block of any comprehensive peacebuilding strategy. Yet there are scant guidelines in this regard. Projects are still planned and implemented in a relatively ad-hoc manner, with minimal reference to lessons learned from previous initiatives. This USIP Peacebriefing examines the field. Wed, 8 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr214.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr214.html Eight Muslim scholar-leaders, six Jewish scholar-leaders, and eight Christian scholar-leaders met from June 13 to 15, 2007, in Stony Point, N.Y., at a conference sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace and the Churches’ Center for Theology and Public Policy. The purpose of the conference, titled Alternatives to War, was to specify practices within each of the three Abrahamic traditions that could lay the groundwork for a nonviolent program to resolve global conflict and address injustice. Wed, 8 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/ppwg_report.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/ppwg_report.html On October 2, 2008, the USIP-cosponsored Pakistan Policy Working Group released a report with recommendations to the next administration as it develops its strategic options relating to Pakistan. The recommendations are endorsed by Richard L. Armitage, former deputy secretary of state and Lee Hamilton, former U.S. representative and co-chair of the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group. Mon, 6 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EDT