Beth Ellen Cole

Dean of Institutional Affairs, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding

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Contact

Phone: (202) 429-3806

E-mail: bcole@usip.org

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Beth Ellen Cole Discusses "Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction" Manual

Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities

Beth Cole is the dean of institutional affairs for USIP's Academy of International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. She is responsible for Academy outreach to and partnerships with U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations and other intergovernmental institutions. Previously she was the Institute's director of intergovernmental affairs and coordinated USIP's external relations with U.S., foreign state, regional and international organizations.

Cole is lead writer of the first civilian doctrine for building sustainable peace, Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction (2009). She led USIP's Afghanistan Security Mapping Project and co-chairs the USIP-hosted Working Group on Civil-Military Relations in Non-Permissive Environments, a forum for the U.S. armed forces, government agencies and humanitarian assistance organizations. Cole also serves on the Civil-Military Cooperation Working Group of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Assistance for the U.S. Agency for Internationl Development, and is an adjunct professor at the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Prior to joining USIP, Cole was director of the Congressional Roundtable on Post-Cold War Relations in the U.S. Congress and a senior fellow at George Mason University’s Program on Peacekeeping Policy. She is co-author of the RAND book The Beginner’s Guide to Nation-Building (2007). She also co-authored a number of USIP Special Reports including "Transitional Governance: From Bullets to Ballots" (2006) and "Building Civilian Capacity for U.S. Stability Operations: The Rule of Law Component" (2004), as well as the Peace Through Law Education Fund’s A Force for Peace and Security: U.S. and Allied Commanders Views of the Military’s Role in Peace Operations and the Impact of Terrorism on States in Conflict (2002).

Cole also served in positions at the Congressional Research Service and the U.S. Department of State working on arms control treaty issues and was executive director of several nongovernmental organizations, including the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and the Peace Through Law Education Fund.

Cole received a B.A. in political science and French from the University of Vermont and completed Kent State University’s program on international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Publications & Tools

	USIP and the U.S. Army Team Up For How-To Guide on Stability Operations December 2011 The United States Institute of Peace, the Simons Center for the Study of Interagency Cooperation and the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center got together to discuss challenges and lessons learned from more than a decade of stability operations. Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Security Sector Reform/Governance, Training
	Testimony of Beth Ellen Cole before the Commission on Wartime Contracting April 2011 \| Congressional Testimony by Beth Ellen Cole USIP’s Beth Ellen Cole testified before the Commission on Wartime Contracting about civilian-military relations and USIP-facilitated dialogue between the military, U.S. government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
	Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction November 2009 The Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction (S&R) manual presents the first strategic “doctrine” ever produced for civilians engaged in peacebuilding missions. It is a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace. Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan and Iraq: Perspectives on U.S. Strategy October 2009 \| Congressional Testimony by Beth Ellen Cole USIP’s Beth Cole presents ideas for military and civilian cooperation to increase security and stability in Afghanistan and Iraq to a House Armed Services subcommittee. Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan's Economy: On the Right Road, But Still a Long Way to Go November 2007 \| Peace Brief by Beth Ellen Cole Although Afghanistan has now laid the foundation for a market-based economy, substantial challenges still linger. Many of the problems Afghanistan’s economy faces are typical for those rebuilding after war: high prices from an immature system that lacks adequate private sector competition; resistance to change from a state-controlled system; the dearth of human capital; corruption; insecurity; and inequalities created by the market system itself. Issue Areas: Economics and Conflict
	Guidelines for Relations Between US Armed Forces and NGHOs in Hostile or Potentially Hostile Environments July 2007 Developed in concert with the Department of Defense and Interaction (the umbrella organization for major American humanitarian non-governmental organizations), these guidelines address how the US military and US non-governmental organizations should behave towards each other in non-permissive environments like those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	Options for Police in a U.S. Civilian Reserve Corps May 2007 \| Peace Brief by Robert Perito, Michael Dziedzic, and Beth Cole In the State of the Union address this year, President Bush joined calls for a U.S. civilian reserve corps. In mid-2006, USIP convened federal law enforcement officials and chiefs of police from across the United States to examine the range of choices for creating the police component of a civilian reserve corps that could rapidly deploy to states emerging from conflict. Countries: United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan Five Years Later: What Can the United States Do To Help? November 2006 \| Peace Brief by Beth Cole and Kiya Bajpai Five years after the fall of the Taliban, the international community and the Karzai government are losing a battle of confidence among the Afghan people. The United States needs to take dramatic steps to spur the delivery of governance, security, and development in order to stabilize Afghanistan. Countries: Afghanistan
	The Afghanistan Reconstruction Group: An Experiment with Future Potential September 2006 \| Peace Brief by Beth Cole and Christina Parajon The Afghanistan Reconstruction Group (ARG) was designed to serve an advisory role to both the U.S. and Afghan governments. USIP convened its Afghanistan Working Group to assess its shortcomings and potential for future success. Countries: Afghanistan
	Transitional Governance: From Bullets to Ballots June 2006 \| Practitioner Tool by Beth Cole DeGrasse and Christina Caan Effective transitional governance is one of the most formidable challenges facing reconstruction and stabilization missions in war-torn, failed states. How can these states secure lasting peace without institutions of governance, accountable leaders, and support of the governed? Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghan Insurgency Still A Potent Force February 2006 \| Peace Brief by Emily Hsu and Beth Cole With the rise of the insurgency and new insurgent tactics in Afghanistan, the USIP Afghanistan Working Group met to discuss the particularly alarming rise in bloodshed as U.S. forces begin the transfer of control of insurgent-heavy regions of the country to NATO forces this summer. Countries: Afghanistan
	Global Peace Operations Initiative: Future Prospects October 2004 \| Peace Brief by Beth DeGrasse, David Dickson, and Michael Dziedzic USIPeace Briefing analyzes the potential impact of the Global Peace Operations Initiative on African peacekeeping forces. Countries: Africa, United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Building Civilian Capacity for U.S. Stability Operations: The Rule of Law Component April 2004 \| Special Report by Robert Perito, Michael Dziedzic, Beth DeGrasse Establishing public order in the aftermath of an international military intervention is "job one." The success of all other activities hinges on getting this job done. Military combat units, however, are neither trained nor equipped for riot control and law enforcement functions. No rapidly deployable U.S. civilian capacity exists to provide the full spectrum of rule of law functions—from intelligence to incarceration—needed to support military forces engaged in peace and stability operations. Countries: United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Rule of Law

Events

	July 27, 2010 Women, Peace, and Security: Fulfilling the Vision of 1325 USIP conducted a working meeting to discuss the ten year anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, which focused on women's leadership in peacemaking and conflict prevention. Panelists discussed its history, lessons and experiences of the last ten years, why it is still relevant, and how to move forward implementing its vision. Issue Areas: Gender and Peacebuilding
	May 24, 2010 Neutrality with Dialogue The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a specific mandate under international law that is distinct among humanitarian actors. Its special status under the Geneva Conventions leads the organization to engage with the U.S. military on a number of issues in today's headlines, including detainee operations, conduct of hostilities, and the debate over civil-military roles in conflict areas. This event explored the ICRC's unique mission and status and its relations with the U.S. military in hostile environments.
	October 23, 2007 The Challenges of Economic Growth in Afghanistan Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Economics and Conflict
	June 21, 2007 Developing Civil Society in Afghanistan: Status and Prospects Countries: Afghanistan
	May 15, 2007 Afghanistan's Drug Problem: Costs, Consequences and Counter-Narcotics Strategies Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Security Sector Reform/Governance
	December 6, 2006 Five Years After the Fall of the Taliban: Afghanistan Beyond the Bonn Agreement Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Rule of Law
	November 8, 2006 Five Years After the Fall of the Taliban: Afghanistan and the War on Terrorism Countries: Afghanistan
	June 27, 2006 Security in Afghanistan: Are We Losing the Peace? Countries: Afghanistan \| Issue Areas: Security Sector Reform/Governance

	USIP and the U.S. Army Team Up For How-To Guide on Stability Operations December 2011 The United States Institute of Peace, the Simons Center for the Study of Interagency Cooperation and the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center got together to discuss challenges and lessons learned from more than a decade of stability operations. Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Security Sector Reform/Governance, Training
	Testimony of Beth Ellen Cole before the Commission on Wartime Contracting April 2011 \| Congressional Testimony by Beth Ellen Cole USIP’s Beth Ellen Cole testified before the Commission on Wartime Contracting about civilian-military relations and USIP-facilitated dialogue between the military, U.S. government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
	Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction November 2009 The Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction (S&R) manual presents the first strategic “doctrine” ever produced for civilians engaged in peacebuilding missions. It is a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace. Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan and Iraq: Perspectives on U.S. Strategy October 2009 \| Congressional Testimony by Beth Ellen Cole USIP’s Beth Cole presents ideas for military and civilian cooperation to increase security and stability in Afghanistan and Iraq to a House Armed Services subcommittee. Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan's Economy: On the Right Road, But Still a Long Way to Go November 2007 \| Peace Brief by Beth Ellen Cole Although Afghanistan has now laid the foundation for a market-based economy, substantial challenges still linger. Many of the problems Afghanistan’s economy faces are typical for those rebuilding after war: high prices from an immature system that lacks adequate private sector competition; resistance to change from a state-controlled system; the dearth of human capital; corruption; insecurity; and inequalities created by the market system itself. Issue Areas: Economics and Conflict
	Guidelines for Relations Between US Armed Forces and NGHOs in Hostile or Potentially Hostile Environments July 2007 Developed in concert with the Department of Defense and Interaction (the umbrella organization for major American humanitarian non-governmental organizations), these guidelines address how the US military and US non-governmental organizations should behave towards each other in non-permissive environments like those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	Options for Police in a U.S. Civilian Reserve Corps May 2007 \| Peace Brief by Robert Perito, Michael Dziedzic, and Beth Cole In the State of the Union address this year, President Bush joined calls for a U.S. civilian reserve corps. In mid-2006, USIP convened federal law enforcement officials and chiefs of police from across the United States to examine the range of choices for creating the police component of a civilian reserve corps that could rapidly deploy to states emerging from conflict. Countries: United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghanistan Five Years Later: What Can the United States Do To Help? November 2006 \| Peace Brief by Beth Cole and Kiya Bajpai Five years after the fall of the Taliban, the international community and the Karzai government are losing a battle of confidence among the Afghan people. The United States needs to take dramatic steps to spur the delivery of governance, security, and development in order to stabilize Afghanistan. Countries: Afghanistan
	The Afghanistan Reconstruction Group: An Experiment with Future Potential September 2006 \| Peace Brief by Beth Cole and Christina Parajon The Afghanistan Reconstruction Group (ARG) was designed to serve an advisory role to both the U.S. and Afghan governments. USIP convened its Afghanistan Working Group to assess its shortcomings and potential for future success. Countries: Afghanistan
	Transitional Governance: From Bullets to Ballots June 2006 \| Practitioner Tool by Beth Cole DeGrasse and Christina Caan Effective transitional governance is one of the most formidable challenges facing reconstruction and stabilization missions in war-torn, failed states. How can these states secure lasting peace without institutions of governance, accountable leaders, and support of the governed? Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Afghan Insurgency Still A Potent Force February 2006 \| Peace Brief by Emily Hsu and Beth Cole With the rise of the insurgency and new insurgent tactics in Afghanistan, the USIP Afghanistan Working Group met to discuss the particularly alarming rise in bloodshed as U.S. forces begin the transfer of control of insurgent-heavy regions of the country to NATO forces this summer. Countries: Afghanistan
	Global Peace Operations Initiative: Future Prospects October 2004 \| Peace Brief by Beth DeGrasse, David Dickson, and Michael Dziedzic USIPeace Briefing analyzes the potential impact of the Global Peace Operations Initiative on African peacekeeping forces. Countries: Africa, United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities
	Building Civilian Capacity for U.S. Stability Operations: The Rule of Law Component April 2004 \| Special Report by Robert Perito, Michael Dziedzic, Beth DeGrasse Establishing public order in the aftermath of an international military intervention is "job one." The success of all other activities hinges on getting this job done. Military combat units, however, are neither trained nor equipped for riot control and law enforcement functions. No rapidly deployable U.S. civilian capacity exists to provide the full spectrum of rule of law functions—from intelligence to incarceration—needed to support military forces engaged in peace and stability operations. Countries: United States \| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Rule of Law