Experts from the U.S. Institute of Peace provide the latest analysis and perspective on the world’s critical hot spots, U.S. and global security and issues involved in violent conflict, based on the Institute’s work on the ground and with key individuals, governments and organizations. They give interviews and background briefings to journalists and write for news outlets around the world.
Washington, DC -- The United States Institute of Peace announced the national first, second, and third place winners in the twelfth annual National Peace Essay Contest at an awards banquet at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. The first place winner will receive a college scholarship of $10,000. Second and third place winners will receive scholarships worth $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. First Place: Jean ...
Conjuring up the spirit and symbolism of Camp David in an attempt to restart the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, President Clinton stunned Washington today in his announcement to convene summit talks next week at Camp David. How far should the U.S. go to help bring peace to the Middle East? What impact would an agreement at Camp David have on stability throughout the Middle East? Middle East specialists Jon Alterman, Jeff...
Three decades of relative calm across the Taiwan Strait now may be coming to an end. We are rapidly approaching a decision period in which choices made in Beijing, Taipei and Washington will shape the nature of cross-strait relations - and the security environment in East Asia - for decades to come. Taipei's new leader, Chen Shui-bian, is exhibiting remarkable pragmatism. Beijing, for all its bellicose rhetoric, is pulling its pu...
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On June 21, the United States Institute of Peace announced the first, second, and third-place national winners in the Institute's thirteenth annual National Peace Essay Contest. Winning recognition among entries received from more than 1,200 students from across the United States, including Puerto Rico and American high school students studying overseas, first place was awarded this year to Ms. Elspeth...
This week the leaders of South and North Korea are expected to hold their first-ever summit meeting. What can South Korean president Kim Dae Jung expect from the talks? Is North Korea serious about opening a new chapter in North-South relations? What role does the U.S. have to play in bringing peace and reconciliation to the Korean peninsula? Korean specialists Patrick Cronin and William Drennan are available for questions, commen...
How will the death of Syria's influential Pres. Hafez al-Assad affect this week's Final Status talk in Washington? Is Syria in for an easy transition of power or will there be bumps in the road ahead? What role will new leadership in Syria, Jordan, and other Arab powers play in U.S. facilitated efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East? Middle East specialists Jon Alterman, Jeffery Helsing, and Steven Riskin ...
Washington, DC -- The sudden withdrawal of Israeli troops and disbanding of militias in Southern Lebanon has caught many Middle East watchers by surprise. Are UN peacekeepers up to the challenge of ensuring stability in Lebanon? Can Hezbollah be trusted to keep the peace? How will the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Southern Lebanon affect U.S. efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian peace talks? Middle ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- From May 3-6, 2000, the United States Institute of Peace partnered with the Second Battalion, Second Infantry of the United States Army, in Kosovo to present a workshop on co- existence in a multiethnic society to 33 Albanian and Serbian community leaders from the Gnjilane area. This event was the first opportunity since the hostilities in 1999 for the participants to discuss problems of common concern. After ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On May 16, the United States Institute of Peace announced the state-level winners in the Institute's thirteenth annual National Peace Essay Contest. Open to American high school students in all of the 50 states, U.S. territories, and American high school students studying abroad, all state winners will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and will compete for national awards of up to $10,000. More than 1,200 s...
Washington, DC -- With the release yesterday of just over a hundred UN peacekeepers, the fate of the UN effort to bring peace and stability to Sierra Leone remains tenuous at best. Can the UN mission in Sierra Leone be salvaged? How does instability in Sierra Leone and Central Africa affect U.S. national security? What role can and should the international community play in addressing ethnic conflicts and humanitarian crises throu...