As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
In light of the national security importance of India-Pakistan relations, USIP supports two Track-II dialogues on normalization between the two nuclear powers. On July 12, USIP convened a discussion with key participants from these dialogues and Congressional experts for a look ahead at outcomes to expect from reemerging official dialogue between India and Pakistan, and what these talks could mean for stability in South Asia.
Former USIP writer-in-residence, renowned journalist and Edward R. Murrow Professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, Marvin Kalb visited for a roundtable discussion of his new book, Haunting Legacy: Vietnam and the American Presidency from Ford to Obama. Co-authored with his daughter, Deborah Kalb, this timely publication explores the lasting legacy of America’s lost war in Vietnam and how it continues to impact U.S. policymaking and U.S. foreign policy to this day.
Seven U.S. federal agencies spend billions annually on training and equipping foreign police. On July 8, field experts from USAID, the Justice Department, the Defense Department, and USIP examined innovative new approaches to U.S. foreign police assistance and introduced USAID's new Field Guide.
On June 30, 2011, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted an international conference on Security Sector Transformation in North Africa and the Middle East.
Upon the publication of "Pandemics and Peace: Public Health Cooperation in Zones of Conflict" (USIP Press, June 2011), panelists Dr. Jose Fernandez, Dr. Allyn Taylor, and author Dr. William J. Long discussed the relationship between pandemics and peace.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made her third visit to USIP on Friday, June 24, 2011 for a speech that addressed key political, economic and social issues affecting her country and the region. Audio, Video and Photos are available on the event page.
There has been a surge of enthusiasm and activity around crisis mapping recently, thanks to high profile success stories such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, and Kenya. But, as the field matures, how do we turn this information into insight that engages and empowers local communities in conflict prevention and peacebuilding? USIP and Ushahidi, the crisis mapping pioneer, explored these questions with mappers from conflict zone countries and policymakers in Washington, D.C.
Peacebuilding organizations are under increasing external pressure to demonstrate the impact of their programming. From within the field as well, there is a growing desire to develop effective evaluation systems that can create accountability to funders and beneficiaries of peacebuilding initiatives.
Many conflicts on the international scene today involve extremist groups that employ violence to achieve their goals. But should states and international bodies engage entities such as the Taliban, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and if so, which ones, when, and how?
On June 14, USIP and the Institute for Social Policy Understanding convened a discussion tackling the twin challenges of Pakistan's health and education sectors. Panelists identified obstacles and opportunities for Pakistan in building robust social sector infrastructure.