Past Events

This workshop aims to inform members of the Democratic Republic of Congo diaspora and other stakeholders of ongoing development assistance programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), provide a forum for a frank exchange of ideas and identify avenues for more effective diaspora involvement in peacebuilding.

USIP grantee Dr. Boroujerdi will present the findings of his study on the Iranian political elite at this USIP and Wilson Center co-sponsored event.

Nigeria has come under increased scrutiny as a possible hotbed of international terrorists. To discuss whether this is a credible conclusion the U.S. Institute of Peace is hosting a public workshop on March 15 featuring John Paden, Clarence Robinson Professor of International Studies at George Mason University, and David R. Smock, Vice President at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Please join USIP for a panel discussion on the complex relationship between clergy and regime in Iran. 

Join in a discussion with a panel of the Vital Voices 2010 Global Leadership Award winners.  The leaders chosen this year represent diverse backgrounds and countries including Pakistan, Brazil, Kenya, Bahrain, and Afghanistan.  The panel will discuss innovative and creative strategies toward peacebuilding from the grassroots level to regional initiatives.

Despite the challenges facing the next generation of Iraqis, many Iraqi youth are generally positive about their futures. This event will consider some of the ways these young people are contributing to their communities, with a particular focus on USIP's work with Iraqi youth and partners in education, media and civil society sectors. 

Both DDR and SSR address the heart of the relationship between a state and its people: political control of armed force. What are the connections between DDR and SSR, and how can these be implemented?

The elections planned for 2010 could be a game-changer for Burma, with the economy presenting a viable point of entry for effective and lasting reform. Drawing from his December 2009 visit to Burma, Joseph Stiglitz will discuss his perspectives and outline how economic reform could help promote both lasting peace and sustainable, conflict-sensitive economic progress. 

A distinguished panel of experts will discuss the current movements in Iran today, many of which are led by women, and also reflect upon the past three decades of the shifting status of women in Iran.

PLEASE NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for February 9th and was postponed due to snow.
Police and military forces are the first line of defense against corruption, but they can also engage in corrupt practices. What are the best practices for dealing with corruption, particularly in countries emerging from conflict?

Six weeks after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, what are the top priorities for donors and for Haiti? What role will the United States play in the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years?

There is a growing body of evidence that group dynamics can help explain the nature and likelihood of political violence. This event discussed questions like: What types of horizontal inequalities make political violence most likely?  What factors determine group mobilization?  Is there a tipping point? How should conflict management and peace promotion strategies better account for horizontal inequalities?

The Other Side of Gender series addresses wartime sexual violence by taking into account male gender issues. 

Copper deposits worth over $50 billion in Afghanistan’s Aynak valley could either present an opportunity for economic sustainability and political stability or become the focus of violent competition and grand corruption. Panelists discussed the steps necessary to ensure that the copper industry benefits local communities and promotes peace in Afghanistan; how the Afghan business sector could prepare to be fully integrated in the copper value chain and the role for external parties, like the United States, to help the Afghan government and community-based organizations to build capacity that would improve coordination and effectiveness.

PLEASE NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for February 8 and was postponed because of weather conditions. This meeting will address the obstacles to integrating the health sector into preventing and responding to gender-based violence in conflict, and how they can be overcome.