More than 1 billion people live in countries affected by armed conflict or by the fragility of their societies. Fragile states are often vulnerable to conflict because their populations tend to see their governments as ineffective, illegitimate, or both. As a group, they are the ones that lag furthest behind in achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. On Friday, March 27 USIP hosted a discussion regarding a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “States of Fragility 2015: Meeting Post-2015 Ambitions.”

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Environment;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law;  Economics

The Atlantic Council and the U.S. Institute of Peace welcomed the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, on the occasion of his first official visit to Washington, D.C. since being sworn in as president on September 21, 2014. The public address, with questions and answers from the invite-only audience and via Twitter, took place on March 25, 2015 at USIP headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Democracy & Governance

President Obama has raised the possibility of another push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement before he leaves office. With stability on the ground already severely at stake, it is imperative that any renewed attempt take account of lessons learned from last year's round of failed talks. On March 23, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Center for a New American Security held a discussion with Ilan Goldenberg, the chief of staff to the U.S. special envoy during those talks and author of the new report Lessons from the 2013-2014 Israeli-Palestinian Final Status Negotiations.

Peace Processes;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Nonviolent civil resistance has motored social and political change, even in the most difficult conditions, for centuries. From the Indian independence movement, to the U.S. civil rights movement, to successful challenges to dictatorship in the Philippines and Chile, to the “dignity” movements in the Middle East and North Africa, and recent popular uprisings in Brazil and Venezuela, mobilized citizens have used nonviolent direct action courageously, creatively and effectively. Policy-relevant research on civil resistance is expanding alongside the explosion of people power around the world. Over 80 participants attended this interactive, arts-and-culture infused discussion featuring cutting-edge civil resistance research by three USIP grantees.

Nonviolent Action;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

On Monday, March 16, founding director of USIP partner Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace Ms. Zahra’ Langhi discussed the current and potential roles of religious actors in peace and justice efforts in Libya. Specifically, she highlighted key themes from a USIP-sponsored project to map Libya’s religious actors, and she addressed the ways in which they are impacting efforts to counter violent extremism.

Violent Extremism;  Religion

On March 10 the U.S. Institute of Peace held a discussion with a delegation from the U.N. panel co-hosted with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs and the Better World Campaign.

Religion;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law;  Global Policy

The results of a new, comprehensive survey of Ukrainians, including those in the East, were revealed before a discussion of the findings on Monday, March 9, at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Global Policy

People worldwide have been stirred by the dramatic images of “people power” movements calling for democracy and economic justice. The U.S. Institute of Peace held a panel discussion on Friday, March 6, on strategies for governments and non-government supporters to lend backing to movements for social change.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue;  Nonviolent Action