Rule of Law

The School of Public Policy at George Mason University (GMU) and USIP jointly organized a one-day conference analyzing the critical role that Pakistan’s “youth bulge” will play in influencing that strategically important country’s internal and regional peace and security.

Several Syrian opposition activists engaged in a project known as “The Day After” appeared at the USIP on October 4 to discuss the challenges of achieving a post-Assad democratic transition amid intensifying violence, militarization of the revolution, sectarian tensions and repression by the Syrian regime.

Learn how to build the capacity of law enforcement actors and institutions to provide civilian-led security to the population, including how to assess capacity, identify the appropriate police structure to respond to specific issues, and transfer knowledge to police actors, from the ministry to the local station.

Countries transitioning to democracy must change old models of organizing the police, armed services, and intelligence services, which typically were characterized by mistreatment of the public, for models that stress transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement. Yet each new government in the Middle East and North Africa must tailor its reforms carefully and patiently in order to avoid backlash among security services.

August 2012 marks 25 years since the signing of the Esquipulas II agreement in Guatemala that brought an end to the wars of Central America. USIP's senior program officer for Latin America, Virginia Bouvier, explores what lessons Esquipulas II might offer for peace in Colombia.

Afghanistan’s Presidential Decree of July 21 has been billed as an “anti-corruption decree,” setting forth the Afghan government’s concrete plans for fighting corruption. But even a cursory reading reveals the decree is about far more than just anti-corruption. In fact, it appears to be a detailed short-term work program for 32 government ministries and agencies, also including suggestions for actions by the National Assembly and the Supreme Court.

Eight months after the popular uprisings in Yemen and five months after President Abdo Rabo Mansour Hadi took the presidency, Yemenis are eager to embark on the justice and security reforms that they demanded during their 11-month long revolution.  To support the transition process, USIP has begun to conduct research on local-level justice issues in Yemen and provide information on comparative experiences of other transitional countries on both “top down” and “bottom up” rule of law and legal empowerment initiatives.