Publications
Articles, publications, books, tools and multimedia features from the U.S. Institute of Peace provide the latest news, analysis, research findings, practitioner guides and reports, all related to the conflict zones and issues that are at the center of the Institute’s work to prevent and reduce violent conflict.
![At the Sahel’s Center, Tension Rises Over Chad’s Disputed Election](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240515_chad-troops-2020_voa_ac.jpg?itok=q7IzLky0)
At the Sahel’s Center, Tension Rises Over Chad’s Disputed Election
A disputed presidential election in Chad last week is making few global headlines, but poses new risks to African and international efforts to reverse the Sahel region’s spreading instability, conflict and human displacement. Chad is centered in the world’s largest belt of military rule: six nations across Africa that have suffered armed coups since 2020. Among them, Chad is the first to hold elections to restore civilian rule. But a string of setbacks to a fully credible vote has yielded a contested result that risks further domestic conflict and a narrowing of popular legitimacy for the next government, led by the incumbent transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby.
![In Europe, Xi Looks to Boost Ties — and Sow Divisions](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240516_xi-jinping-france-2024_ec_ac.jpg?itok=ebusGY4t)
In Europe, Xi Looks to Boost Ties — and Sow Divisions
Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week made his first trip to the European continent in five years, visiting France, Hungary and Serbia. In Paris, Xi faced tough questions over trade and China’s support for Russia and its war in Ukraine, but met a much friendlier reception in Budapest and Belgrade, both of which view China as a key economic and political partner. Still, the visit demonstrated the obstacles Beijing faces in fostering deeper ties across Europe, where resentment is simmering over China’s moral and materiel aid to Russia and what Europe views as unfair trade practices.
![Peace Teachers Program](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2023-12/peace-teachers-program-cover.jpg?h=7ff89bd3&itok=iIblMxKt)
Peace Teachers Program
The U.S. Institute of Peace’s (USIP) Peace Teachers Program is rooted in the conviction that educators can be pivotal in bringing themes of global conflict and peace into their classrooms, schools, and communities.
![India Elections: Foreign Policy Rhetoric Mixes Bluster and Real Differences](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240520_india-leadership-1_nyt_ac.jpg?itok=_BGv2NBu)
India Elections: Foreign Policy Rhetoric Mixes Bluster and Real Differences
Historically, foreign policy has rarely been a core area for political debate in India’s national elections. This year, the BJP is again widely anticipated to win a parliamentary majority, however, as hundreds of millions of Indian voters head to the polls, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition INDIA alliance, headed by the Congress Party’s Rahul Gandhi, have made a point to highlight their differences on several high-profile national security issues.
![The Taliban’s Attacks on Diversity Undermine Afghanistan’s Stability](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240516_afghan-forces-killings-3_nyt_ac.jpg?itok=osECFpKO)
The Taliban’s Attacks on Diversity Undermine Afghanistan’s Stability
Each year, the U.N. International Day of Living Together in Peace reminds us that true, sustainable peace is achieved not simply by eliminating war, but rather by building tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity among and between communities.
![What’s Next for Iran After Raisi’s Death?](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240521_iran-president-crash-1_nyt_ac.jpg?itok=udoKC5zg)
What’s Next for Iran After Raisi’s Death?
On May 19, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and six other passengers and crew died in a helicopter crash. The aircraft went down in dense fog in a mountainous region of East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran. The officials were returning from the opening ceremony for a dam on the border with Azerbaijan. Less than 72 hours after Raisi’s death, the focus has turned to the political changes that come next with elections slated for June 28.
![Kenya, a Key U.S. Partner, Needs Help to Foster Peace in Africa and Beyond](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2024-05/20240522_kenya-president-critics-3_nyt_ac.jpg?itok=7MBnEl3A)
Kenya, a Key U.S. Partner, Needs Help to Foster Peace in Africa and Beyond
This week’s state visit to the United States by Kenya’s president — the first by an African head of state in over 15 years — is meant ceremonially to celebrate 60 years of formal U.S.-Kenyan relations. But Kenya’s current importance for America lies in its role as a valued partner, especially on the continent with the world’s fastest-growing population. President William Ruto can underscore both imperatives and opportunities for U.S. roles across the continent that will shape security and prosperity for next generations of Americans and Africans. Urgent issues include averting catastrophic famine in East Africa and activating economic investment to support stability and democratization.
![Biden and Xi at APEC: Averting Further Crisis in U.S.-China Relations](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2023-11/20231116_biden-xi-25_nyt_ac.jpg?itok=Ug-EHxbX)
Biden and Xi at APEC: Averting Further Crisis in U.S.-China Relations
President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for several hours on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this week in San Francisco. After several years of deteriorating relations — and frozen communication — between Washington and Beijing, Biden characterized the talks as the “most constructive and productive” since he came to office. But the increasing strategic competition between the two powers leaves major issues still to be addressed, such as China’s aggression in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, BRICS expansion, nuclear security, and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
![After Beijing’s Balloon, What’s Next for U.S.-China Ties?](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2023-02/20230209-spy-balloon-recovery-nyt-ac.jpg?itok=g0GsgBEs)
After Beijing’s Balloon, What’s Next for U.S.-China Ties?
Days before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to travel to Beijing, the Pentagon announced it had detected a Chinese “surveillance balloon” over Montana. The incident sparked intense speculation about China’s intentions, including why it would choose to employ a relatively low-tech surveillance device. Ultimately, Blinken announced on February 3 that he was postponing his trip, which would have been the first by a U.S. secretary of state in five years. With U.S.-China tensions already simmering, the balloon episode injects more mistrust and scuttled the opportunity presented by Blinken’s trip to resume cooperation on areas of mutual interest and demonstrate that both sides want to better manage bilateral tensions.
![Three Takeaways on U.S.-China Relations After the Shangri-La Summit](https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/styles/summary_image/public/2023-06/20230607-taiwan_us_china-nyt-ac.jpg?itok=dYaRMfIi)
Three Takeaways on U.S.-China Relations After the Shangri-La Summit
Defense ministers from around the world gathered in Singapore last weekend for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a forum for discussing security challenges in Asia and an opportunity for high-ranking security officials to engage in bilateral talks. However, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not meet with his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu. Beijing suspended formal military-to-military meetings last August following then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Since then, U.S.-China tensions have only ratcheted up, particularly following revelations this February that a Chinese surveillance balloon was hovering over U.S. territory.