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/2009/0512_us_iraq.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0512_us_iraq.html May 12 - The Coalition Provisional Authority governed occupied Iraq from April 2003 through June 2004. What did the CPA accomplish? What were its shortfalls? Tue, 12 May 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0506_haiti_economic_recovery.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0506_haiti_economic_recovery.html May 6 - Haiti has received unprecedented diplomatic attention lately, with visits from the UN Secretary General, Secretary of State and former President Clinton, and the UN Security Council. The April 14 international donors' conference yielded $324 million in new pledges. Wed, 6 May 2009 9:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0430_constitution_making.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0430_constitution_making.html Apr 30 - Around the world, constitutions are venerated as the foundation of the legal and political order. In countries in transition from conflict or despotism, the process of making a new constitution often becomes a focal point for efforts to achieve national reconciliation, right historical wrongs, and state the aspirations of the nation. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0429_women_iraq.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0429_women_iraq.html Apr 29 - Violence in Iraq has significantly declined since General Petraeus' troop surge deployed in 2007. Nevertheless, challenges remain especially for the women of Iraq, whose lives have been significantly altered during the course of the war. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0428_conflict_households.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0428_conflict_households.html Apr 28 - This public event looks at how different types of conflict affect economic behaviors at the household level. The presenters, Tilman Brueck and Kati Schindler, will discuss the impacts of conflict through the use of household survey data collected from both Mozambique and Rwanda, where post-conflict environments impaired household boundaries, asset endowments, and the types of income-generating activities households engaged in. Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0427_bosnia_war_crimes.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0427_bosnia_war_crimes.html Apr 27 - The Bosnia-Herzegovina State Court and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia-Herzegovina are unique judicial institutions, established to prosecute war crimes and organized crime in the country, including war crimes cases transferred from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). They are national hybrid institutions, composed of both international and national judges and prosecutors. Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0420_burma.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0420_burma.html Apr 20 - At the dawn of the twentieth century Burma was the richest country in Southeast Asia. By the dawn of the twenty-first it was the poorest. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0414_khmer_rouge.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0414_khmer_rouge.html Apr 14 - Thirty years after the Khmer Rouge were ousted from power in Cambodia, and more than a dozen years after Cambodia and the UN agreed to prosecute the Khmer Rouge leaders for war crimes, the first trial in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has begun. Duch, the head of the infamous detention center Tuol Sleng is currently facing charges for crimes against humanity, and four senior leaders have been indicted to face trial in the Fall. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0409_ministerial_advisor_ssr.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0409_ministerial_advisor_ssr.html International actors in Security Sector Reform (SSR) are increasingly taking on roles as “advisors” to Ministries of Interior, Defense, and Justice. Rather than directly implement changes necessary for SSR, these advisors must persuasively articulate suggestions to their local counterparts. Advisors’ success depends on their ability to convey recommendations in a manner that makes change acceptable to their advisees. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0413_military_economic_reconstruction.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0413_military_economic_reconstruction.html Apr 13 - Effective and sustainable state-building requires a balanced application of all instruments of foreign assistance, particularly defense, diplomacy and development (the 3Ds). Recent U.S.-led efforts to promote state-building in Iraq and Afghanistan have occasioned a gradual expansion of the military's role in non-kinetic activity, such as economic reform. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0406_dprk_china.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0406_dprk_china.html Apr 6 - Amid ongoing concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, China and North Korea are celebrating the "Year of Sino-DPRK Friendship," commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Despite recent strains in the relationship in the wake of North Korea's 2006 nuclear test, most observers believe that China, as the DPRK's largest trading partner and main source of food and fuel aid, still enjoys more leverage over Pyongyang than any other nation. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0406_eliasson_sudan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0406_eliasson_sudan.html Apr 6 - This event featured Jan Eliasson, former United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Darfur and President of the United Nations General Assembly and current Senior Visiting Scholar at USIP. Ambassador Eliasson discussed his experience as Special Envoy, lessons learned and prospects for peace in Sudan, with a focus on Darfur. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr221.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr221.html Iraq today is faced with a multilayered displacement crisis that is massive in both size and complexity. It is estimated that 3.8 million Iraqis were displaced from their homes from 2003 to 2008, with the majority of them becoming displaced in 2006 and the first half of 2007 Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr220.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr220.html The Kurds of Syria, in contrast to the Kurds of Iraq and Turkey, are little known in the West, but they have similarly strained relations with the state that governs them and face human rights abuses as a minority. The Syrian state’s repression of its Kurdish population, which thus far has not sought a separate state, may contribute to Kurdish claims for self-determination in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0403_bond_afghanistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0403_bond_afghanistan.html Apr 3 - As policymakers and observers around the world discuss President Obama's recently-released Afghanistan/Pakistan strategy, Senator Kit Bond of Missouri offered his own views on how the U.S. should approach this troubled region. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and an expert in South and Central Asian issues, Senator Bond has spent a great deal of time focusing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan situation, has travelled extensively in the region, and studied closely the factors affecting security, development, and governance in the region. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0403_us_un.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0403_us_un.html Apr 3 - The election of President Barack Obama has increased expectations for a change in the U.S. role and posture in the international system. In particular, the question is no longer if the United States will engage with the United Nations, but how. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0402_deng.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0402_deng.html Apr 2 - The United States Institute of Peace and Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service African Studies Program are pleased to invite you to a lecture and discussion with Francis Deng, author of the new book "Identity, Diversity and Constitutionalism in Africa." In this innovative and stimulating volume, Francis Deng outlines a new relationship between governments and societies—a relationship informed by Western concepts but based on traditional African values such as respect for human dignity, equality, and self-rule. Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0401_deng_africa.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0401_deng_africa.html Apr 1 - Since independence, African states have struggled under the burden of European models of governance. Hobbled by these alien frameworks, countries have limped from crisis to crisis, unable to establish their democratic legitimacy or to quell the secessionist demands of marginalized minorities. Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0320_sudan_elections.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0320_sudan_elections.html With elections planned in Sudan in 2009, the question of how residents of the Darfur region should participate points to a number of challenges that remain unanswered. Is the security situation in Darfur adequate to permit elections? Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0318_darfur_sudan_chad.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0318_darfur_sudan_chad.html Mar 18 - While Darfur continues to garner significant international attention, less attention is paid to the regional dynamics underlying the conflict, especially relations between Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. The complicated, intertwined dynamics between these countries have been at the heart of instability in the region since well before Darfur appeared on the international stage. Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0317_obamapolicy_asia.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0317_obamapolicy_asia.html Mar 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. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0313_ministerial_advisor_ssr.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0313_ministerial_advisor_ssr.html Mar 13 - Effective ministerial advising is a lynchpin of successful security sector reform (SSR). However, the U.S. lacks an integrated, cohesive strategy for advising. Civilian, military, and private security personnel bring different approaches and resources to advising. Fri, 13 Mar 2009 9:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0312_afghanistan_constitution.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0312_afghanistan_constitution.html The debate over where to locate the power to issue constitutional interpretations that would bind the branches of the government began during the constitutional drafting process in 2003. Initially, the draft constitution submitted to President Karzai by the Constitutional Drafting Commission contained provisions for a Constitutional Court, distinct from the Supreme Court. Thur, 12 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0311_icc_sudan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0311_icc_sudan.html Mar 11 - As the International Criminal Court considers the chief prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, there is an ongoing debate concerning the relationship between efforts to achieve peace in Sudan, especially in the Darfur region, and efforts to achieve proper accountability. While some experts argue that halting ongoing hostilities must be the first priority, others emphasize that international criminal proceedings should not be impeded. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0311_postconflict_statebuilding.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0311_postconflict_statebuilding.html Mar 11 - Scholars and policy analysts increasingly seem to agree that building effective and legitimate states lies at the core of successful peacebuilding. But is this true? Is a state-building approach the surest way to peace in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia? Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0310_somalia_challenges.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0310_somalia_challenges.html Mar 10 - The conference will examine current developments in Somalia and the possibilities for greater U.S. and international engagement. Speakers will include a variety of Somalia experts from the region itself, distinguished policymakers, humanitarian representatives, and security analysts. Tue, 10 Mar 2009 8:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0309_reconstructing_gaza.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0309_reconstructing_gaza.html As the international community continues to debate humanitarian assistance to Gaza, USIP examines “Reconstructing Gaza – Lessons from Lebanon” by Beirut-based Alistair Harris, a Deployable Civilian Expert for the British Government’s Stabilisation Unit. Harris argues that donors should avoid the temptation to adopt a mechanistic, one size fits all solution. “In the rush to rebuild what was destroyed, it should be remembered,” writes Harris, “that the major catalysts for this conflict were political and economic. As such, the reconstruction effort must ensure that viable employment initiatives form part of the post-conflict stabilization plan. This was very much a man-made humanitarian disaster,” concludes the report. “If the underlying issues are not addressed, unfortunately renewed conflict would seem inevitable.” Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0305_sadiq_alrikabi.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0305_sadiq_alrikabi.html Mar 5 - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Da'wa Party scored a decisive win in Iraq's January 2009 provincial elections and has emerged as a leading force in Iraqi politics. The remainder of 2009 promises to be eventful, with local elections scheduled for July, a possible referendum on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, national elections slated for the end of the year, and a drawdown of US forces. Thu, 5 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0304_citizenship_sudan.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0304_citizenship_sudan.html Sudan’s upcoming elections in 2009 raise hopes and concerns for the country’s future. According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in 2005 between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Sudan is scheduled to hold national and state level elections in 2009. Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0303_shiites_sunnis.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0303_shiites_sunnis.html Mar 3 - Over the past year, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs has convened a group of distinguished Iraqi academics and professionals to develop policy recommendations for Iraq. This group includes Iraqis from all parts of the country and features Islamists as well as secularists, people living inside Iraq as well as exiles, and a variety of professional backgrounds, including political science, the oil sector and the military. Tue, 3 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr219.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr219.html Although the Palestinian-Israeli “track” of the Arab-Israeli dispute remains at the heart of the conflict between Israel and its neighbors, the very complexity of that track (Jerusalem, refugees, borders, etc.) has led some to consider the Israeli-Syrian track to be relatively simple and straightforward. While simple it is not and straightforward it is only in relative terms, the Syrian-Israeli conflict can indeed be settled without prejudice to the central act of the Arab-Israeli drama. Mon, 2 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0225_pakistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0225_pakistan.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0224_transitional_justice.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0224_transitional_justice.html Feb 24 - In the past twenty years, "transitional justice" has become a buzzword in the international community and is routinely promoted as a necessary component of peace processes. Criminal trials for mass atrocities and truth commissions are increasingly common in transitional countries around the world, while in a host of recent conflicts, from Iraq and Afghanistan, to Congo and Darfur to Nepal and Burundi, attempts to establish transitional justice mechanisms have faced major obstacles, and continue to a subject of debate. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 9:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0223_reconciliation.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0223_reconciliation.html Feb 23 - How can contesting visions of the past, as well as efforts to instrumentalize history for nationalistic purposes, be addressed in the interests of socio-political reconciliation? What role can scholars play in this process, and what are the dangers and opportunities in bringing together historians from opposing sides of a conflict offer for those seeking to promote peace and dialogue? Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0220_use_of_force.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0220_use_of_force.html Feb 20 - Recent armed conflicts— domestic and international— have drawn fresh attention to age-old questions concerning when war can be justified, and what methods and targets are permissible during war. Over more than two millennia, the world’s leading religious traditions— Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam— have provided guidance in these contested domains. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0218_education_afghanistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0218_education_afghanistan.html Feb 18 - Educating women and girls during the height of the Taliban rule was Professor Sakena Yacoobi's mission. Putting herself in serious danger each and every day, Professor Yacoobi founded an Afghan women-led NGO called the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) in 1995. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/working_papers/index.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/working_papers/index.html New USIP report, "Securing Afghanistan," strengthens case for urgent, sustainable reforms. This first-ever comprehensive analysis of international security assistance shows many donors have not met their Afghan commitments. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0206_security_sector_reform.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0206_security_sector_reform.html While the U.S. and world economies are slowing markedly, Security Sector Reform (SSR) is a growth industry for the private sector. U.S. government employees may set SSR policy and design projects, but implementation is extensively outsourced to private contractors. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/working_papers/index.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/working_papers/index.html Since 2004, USIP's "Iraq and its Neighbors" initiative has sponsored track II dialogues and ongoing research on relations between Iraq and its six immediate neighbors. As part of this work, the Institute—in partnership with the Stimson Center—sponsored a bipartisan, independent, and unofficial Study Mission to Syria and Saudi Arabia in mid-January 2009. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0211_finance_management.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0211_finance_management.html Feb 11 - Ongoing attempts to modernize U.S. foreign assistance and increase development support would only be effective if developing countries have capable public financial management (PFM) systems in place. Unfortunately, most recipients have weak institutions, fragile policy frameworks and significant human resource deficiencies. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0210_dprk.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0210_dprk.html Feb 10 - North Korea's 2009 New Year's editorial outlined plans for a "New Revolutionary Upsurge" to build "a great, prosperous and powerful nation" (kangsong taeguk). Drawing a direct parallel to Kim Il-sung's Chollima Movement of the late 1950s, Kim Jong-il is reported to have launched his new revolutionary upsurge in Kangson—the birthplace of the Chollima Movement—on December 24, 2008. Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0206_us_mediation.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0206_us_mediation.html Feb 6 - With the crisis in Gaza, a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems increasingly remote. At the same time, the need to engage all parties to the conflict in negotiations is more pressing than ever. Prior to the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, a reinvigorated peace process between Israel and Syria appeared well within reach. Fri, 6 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0204_kosovo.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0204_kosovo.html Feb 4 - Kosovo proclaimed its independence almost a year ago, but recognition has been slow and Serbia continues to object. Relations between Belgrade and Pristina remain icy. Wed, 4 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/media/global_diplomat/ http://www.usip.org/media/global_diplomat/ Feb 3 - On February 3, 2009, USIP joined International Television Service (ITVS) to convene Media as Global Diplomat, a day-long conference that brought together many of the top thinkers in U.S. public diplomacy and strategic communication with independent film and media producers to identify innovative paths forward in the increasingly important effort to improve mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through communication and media. Tue, 3 Feb 2009 9:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0203_pakistan_extremism.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0203_pakistan_extremism.html Feb 3 - The spread of violent Islamist militancy is destabilizing Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the region. Jihadist groups have been trained, funded, and harbored for decades in Pakistan, primarily engaging in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Increasingly, this expanding network, including affiliations with al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has turned its sights on Pakistan itself. Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0130_paul_collier.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0130_paul_collier.html Jan 30 - The USIP Haiti Working Group will continue its discussion on ending poverty in Haiti by presenting Professor Paul Collier. At the request of the UN Secretary General, Professor Paul Collier, author of the best selling book The Bottom Billion, traveled to Haiti to assist the government to develop a strategy for generating economic security. Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0123_ssr_private_sector.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0123_ssr_private_sector.html Jan 23 - The role of commercial contractors in training Iraqi and Afghan security forces was the latest chapter in the growth of the private sector in Security Sector Reform (SSR). Outsourcing for US police advisors in UN peace operations began with the US -led intervention in Haiti in 1994. Today, provision of police and military advisors, plus logistics and support personnel is a multi-billion dollar industry. Fri, 23 Jan 2009 9:30:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0122_inprol.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0122_inprol.html Jan 22 - On Thursday, January 22, the American Society of International Law (ASIL) and the International Network to Promote the Rule of Law (INPROL) will host an event on Transitional Justice and Rule of Law and the Creation of the Civilian Response Corps U.S. Government Expeditionary Capacity. Lessons learned from Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and elsewhere have highlighted the importance of developing a U.S. government civilian ready capacity for reconstruction and stabilization (R&S), including, among other priority sectors, transitional justice, security and rule of law. Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr218.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr218.html Muslims in general and Muslim leaders particularly have often been severely criticized for not more energetically condemning the violent acts of Muslim extremists. Violent extremists are on one edge of the Muslim community. They are counter-balanced by a growing movement of Muslim peacemakers. Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0116_civmil_afghanistan.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0116_civmil_afghanistan.html Jan 16 - The Afghan people stand at the center of one of the greatest foreign policy challenges facing the U.S. and the world today. Ultimately, their confidence in the Afghan government and the international community, their rejection of extremism, and their investment in their own future will define the potential for long-term stability in Afghanistan. Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0113_aldabbagh_iraq.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0113_aldabbagh_iraq.html Al-Dabbagh’s “Formula for Regional Partnership,” was introduced as an unofficial vision of the Iraqi government, designed to uproot the "seeds of tension, terrorism, instability and conflict in the region.” The proposal seeks to include Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait (with possible expansion to the GCC countries) in a regional framework for economic and strategic cooperation. Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/baton2009/ http://www.usip.org/baton2009/ Jan 8 - Passing the Baton was a one-day conference examining critical foreign policy challenges and opportunities facing the new administration as it transitions to power. The event convened nearly 1900 participants and a high-level, bipartisan group of current and former U.S. foreign policy officials and practitioners. Thu, 8 Jan 2009 8:45:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0106_nsa_iraq.html http://www.usip.org/events/2009/0106_nsa_iraq.html Jan 6 - Iraqi leaders are confident that the Iraqi Security Forces are capable of replacing U.S. troops in major cities in six months' time, but are the ISF ready to take control? Will the country be secure in the upcoming elections, provincial (January 31) and national (December 2009)? Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2009/0106_rol_crc.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0106_rol_crc.html For more than a decade, experienced international practitioners and peace scholars have recognized that multilateral interventions in societies ravaged by internal conflict cannot succeed unless they come prepared to deal with the inevitable void in public security and inability of the legal system to function effectively. In 1998, two core components of any solution to this crucial deficiency were highlighted in Policing the New World Disorder. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1224_haiti_poverty.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1224_haiti_poverty.html In July 2006, Haitian poet and historian Jean-Claude Martineau spoke at USIP and said that Haiti is the only country in the world with a last name—“Haiti, poorest country in the western hemisphere” —as described in the media. Sadly, in the two years since, conditions have worsened. Four severe storms that struck Haiti in September 2008 only exacerbated the already critical problem of the country’s poverty. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1223_cambodia.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1223_cambodia.html Documentation centers dedicated to researching, recording, archiving and protecting information related to mass crimes and human rights abuse conflict have been organized in countries as diverse as Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala and Iraq. Their work is an integral part of a transition from an authoritarian regime or war to sustainable peace. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1222_drc_disaster.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1222_drc_disaster.html 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 clash between pro-government forces and rebel militias, mainly the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), 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. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EDT 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/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1218_iraq_obama.html http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1218_iraq_obama.html President-elect Obama has stated his commitment to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months, leaving a residual force of unspecified size for counterterrorism operations, training and equipping Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and protection of Americans. Judging from his statements during the campaign, it appears that the President-elect would like to leave Iraq’s internal problems to the Iraqis and treat Iraq as part of overall regional concerns rather than being his central focus. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:00:00 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