2008
Consolidating Disarmament: Lessons from Colombia’s Reintegration Program for Demobilized Paramilitaries
November 2008 | Special Report | Jonathan Morgenstein
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).
The Treasury Approach to State-Building and Institution-Strengthening Assistance: Experience in Iraq and Broader Implications
October 2008 | Special Report | Jeremiah S. Pam
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.
Whither Peace Operations?
October 2008 | Special Report | Donald C. F. Daniel
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.
Abrahamic Alternatives to War: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives on Just Peacemaking
October 2008 | Special Report | Susan Thistlethwaite and Glen Stassen
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.
Reconciliation Strategies in Iraq
September 2008 | Special Report | David Steele
A window of opportunity now exists for post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq. In this Special Report, senior reconstruction facilitator David Steele—who has worked on the ground for three years with Iraqis and Provincial Reconstruction Teams—examines effective processes of relationship building and dispute resolution.
Thwarting Afghanistan’s Insurgency: A Pragmatic Approach toward Peace and Reconciliation
September 2008 | Special Report | Richard Hill, Gwendolyn Taylor, and Jonathan Temin
In countries emerging from conflict, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society is a challenging task—for the nation, aid organizations, and, most of all, the former fighters themselves.
Would You Fight Again?: Understanding Liberian Ex-Combatant Reintegration
September 2008 | Special Report | Richard Hill, Gwendolyn Taylor, and Jonathan Temin
In countries emerging from conflict, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society is a challenging task—for the nation, aid organizations, and, most of all, the former fighters themselves.
Making Borders Irrelevant in Kashmir
September 2008 | Special Report | P. R. Chari and Hasan Askari Rizvi
In this report, a duo of experts from India and Pakistan explore the prospect of "making borders irrelevant" in Kashmir through increased movement of people, goods and services across the "Line of Control." The findings draw on the results of a survey of stakeholders and public opinion on both sides.
Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
September 2008 | Sean McFate
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics.
Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
September 2008 | Sean McFate
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics.
Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
September 2008 | Sean McFate
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics.
Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
September 2008 | Sean McFate
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics.
Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
September 2008 | Sean McFate
Security sector reform (SSR) is essential in the transition from war to peace in conflict zones and is a topic of urgent importance. This report discusses definitions of SSR, the field's emergence, and challenges in current SSR implementation, among other topics.
Haiti: Confronting the Gangs of Port-au-Prince
September 2008 | Michael Dziedzic and Robert M. Perito
The UN mission in Haiti's successful campaign against the country's gangs set a precedent for future missions. Based on field research, authors Michael Dziedzic and Robert Perito explore the conduct of military and police operations, Haitians' overwhelmingly positive views of the UN intervention and lessons learned.
Integrated Security Assistance: The 1207 Program
July 2008 | Robert M. Perito
This Special Report report details USIP's assessment of the "1207 Program," an example of the U.S. military's growing involvement in integrated "whole-of-government" approaches to U.S. security assistance programs.
Mullahs, Money, and Militias: How Iran Exerts Its Influence in the Middle East
June 2008 | Barbara Slavin
This report focuses on Iran's interactions with groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and to a lesser extent, the Palestinian territories. The intent is to help policymakers understand the real extent of Iranian influence so that they can better motivate Iran and its allies to become more constructive actors in the Middle East.
Why We Should Still Study the Cuban Missile Crisis
June 2008 | Michael Dobbs
Few events have been as studied and analyzed as the Cuban missile crisis. Drawing on previously undiscovered archival materials and interviews with Soviet and American veterans of the crisis, Michael Dobbs has taken a fresh look at the history of those fateful thirteen days.
Using Quantitative and Qualitative Models to Forecast Instability
March 2008 | Jack A. Goldstone
To what extent can structural models detect—and forestall—conflict? How can decision-makers effectively use such paradigms?
Sudanese Universities as Sites of Social Transformation
February 2008 | Linda S. Bishai
In Sudanese universities, students and faculty have historically served as vital voices for political change and community and international engagement, but recent educational policies have severely limited their voices.
Toward Peace in the Southern Philippines: A Summary and Assessment of the USIP Philippine Facilitation Project, 2003-2007
February 2008 | G. Eugene Martin and Astrid S. Tuminez
The Moro Islamic Liberation front has been engaged in a rebellion against the Philippines for more than three decades. In 2003, the U.S. Department of State asked USIP to undertake a project to expedite a peace agreement between the two sides.
Religion in World Affairs: Its Role in Conflict and Peace
February 2008 | David Smock
In recent decades, religion has assumed unusual prominence in global affairs. The horrendous events of 9/11, the conflagration in Iraq, and the aggressive assertiveness of quasi-theocratic Iran only confirm in the popular mind that religion lies behind much of contemporary international conflict.
Elections in the DRC: The Bemba Surprise
February 2008 | Tatiana Carayannis
The surprising results of the 2006 elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo reveal the fractious nature of national politics as the country struggles to maintain peace.
Negotiating with the Islamic Republic of Iran
January 2008 | John W. Limbert
This Special Report, framed as a brief "how to" guide for American negotiators dealing with counterparts from the Islamic Republic of Iran, contains insights into Iranian negotiating patterns and appropriate responses. The report is the result of interviews with academics and practitioners, as well as historical research.
Media and Conflict: Afghanistan as a Relative Success Story
January 2008 | Yll Bajraktari and Christina Parajon
The development of media in post-Taliban Afghanistan has been relatively successful. However, such development remains incomplete and still faces many challenges. Hence, the international community must continue to assist and support these efforts.
Conflict-Sensitive Approach to Infrastructure Development
January 2008 | Merriam Mashatt, Major General Daniel Long, and James Crum
What is the nexus between conflict analysis and building infrastructure? What roles can new and upgraded buildings, highways, and the like play in winning the "battle for hearts and minds?" How can the U.S. government streamline processes aimed to facilitate infrastructure development in conflict zones?
Higher Education and the Future of Iraq
January 2008 | Imad Harb
Iraqis have traditionally valued intellectual achievement, but the legacy of Baathist rule and the current tide of instability have crippled universities. The future, however, could see institutions play a leading role in securing long-term peace.
