Youth and Peacebuilding

The uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa have been accompanied by horrific levels of violence, particularly in Libya, Yemen and Syria. Post-authoritarian transitions will require a focus not only on building the institutions needed to sustain democracies, but also a focus on the myriad issues associated with post-conflict reconstruction.Please join Ambassador William B. Taylor, special coordinator for Middle East Transitions at the U.S. Department of State and Ellen Laipson, President and CEO of the Stimson Center for the second in a series of breakfast briefings organized by the United States Institute of Peace in partnership with the Defense Education Forum of the Reserve Officers Association.

On July 9th, 2011 the Republic of South Sudan declared independence, resulting in the most significant redrawing of the map of Africa since decolonization. Both new Sudans face a series of internal and external challenges to peace. The U.S. Institute of Peace is engaging on many of these key issues in an effort to help build a more peaceful, stable and secure Sudan.

On the eve of the one-year commemoration of Egypt’s uprising, U.S. Institute of Peace fellow Robin Wright spent ten days in Cairo interviewing the new spectrum of political players, from the protesters camping out at Tahrir Square to the new Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Members of Parliament as well as former al-Jihad extremists released from decades in jail.

In a period of tremendous change in parts of the world, we are asking USIP leaders, from board members to senior staff and experts, to explain the effects that events abroad and here at home will have on the United States, and the contributions the Institute can and does make. Steven Heydemann is USIP’s senior adviser for Middle East Initiatives.

Learn how to develop effective strategies for establishing stable institutions and a robust civil society, including how to address the interplay among issues of corruption, accountability, rule of law, elections, political party development, public administration, and economic reconstruction in divided societies.

USIP identifies and applies best practices in seven topical areas whose issues cross each phase of conflict through this series of Centers.

Identity-based conflicts rooted in ethnic or religious differences pose distinctive challenges for third-party mediators and other advisers. The course will outline strategies for addressing these issues, including responding to leaders who enflame identities, approaching the touchy issue of religion—both your own and local people's, building relationships through dialogue and ritual, and making use of indigenous or traditional reconciliation measures.

 Justice and Security Dialogue brings together stakeholders at the local community level to strengthen rule of law and security by building lines of communication, increasing trust, sharing information, promoting accountability, and providing input on justice and security reform needs and options.