Media, Conflict, and Peacebuilding

USIP has been working to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan since 2002 through programs designed to improve understanding of peaceful dispute resolution, advance peace education in schools and communities, enhance dialogue between leading Afghans and the international community, and promote the rule of law. USIP established an office in Kabul in 2008. This on the ground presence has greatly increased USIP's contact with and understanding of events, programs, and attitudes in Afghanistan, and has strengthened its capacity to execute innovative and effective programs in the country.

In Iraq, "Salam Shabab" is the very first peacebuilding television program depicting the real life story of Iraqi youth. The series showcases not only a population that is often marginalized, but also the powerful desire and capacity of Iraqi youth to bring peace to their communities. The afternoon featured an exclusive screening of one episode from Season 1 of Salam Shabab, which aired in full on Iraq on Al Iraqiya and throughout the region on Space Power. A Q&A session with the show's producers followed the screening. USIP then welcomed a panel of dynamic young cultural leaders and activists from across the Middle East to discuss the role of youth in peacebuilding in the region. The evening concluded with a live performance by Iraqi pop band UTN1.

Event audio: The U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California has produced a new documentary film, Assignment: China – The Week that Changed the World. Written and narrated by Mike Chinoy, formerly CNN’s senior Asia correspondent and Beijing bureau chief, the film uses previously unreleased footage and interviews with the reporters and officials who accompanied President Richard Nixon to tell the behind-the-scenes story of the media coverage of the trip that changed the course of U.S.-China relations. The United States Institute of Peace and the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau hosted a screening of Assignment: China, followed by a conversation featuring some of those who traveled to China with Nixon.

USIP's Tara Sonenshine, nominated to lead the U.S. State Department's office of Public Diplomacy, discusses how to maintain America's core values but embrace the change occuring around the world.

February marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. The trip was also a milestone in the history of journalism. On January 17, USIP and the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau hosted a screening of the documentary film Assignment: China.

By working with local Pakistani organizations on a comprehensive content analysis initiative, the Center will produce an assessment of the role of the media in promoting extremist messaging. Based on the results of the content analysis, the Center will work with media stakeholders to review the findings and develop actionable next steps to counter extremism in local media.

Through its goal of better understanding the role of media throughout the conflict cycle, the Center has been working on the development of a variety if assessment and evaluation tools. These tools include a strategic framework for media interventions, a template for the assessment of the media landscape in conflict situations and guidelines for evaluating the impact of media programs in conflict areas.

Through a series of summits to highlight the expanding power of today’s media to transform public diplomacy and promote peaceful international relations, the Center has brought together a variety of public diplomacy thinkers and media stakeholders. These events have been hosted by influential public figures such as Ted Koppel and Queen Noor.

After traveling to Afghanistan to conduct an in-depth media evaluation, the Center is working with local partners to use edutainment to address the challenges of dealing with Afghanistan’s multiple informal and formal judicial sectors through a serial radio drama. The Center is also using new technology and radio to provide youth with the capability to inform others on legal issues and solutions.