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Political Systems and International Relations

Latest from USIP on Political Systems and International Relations

  • November 10, 2009   |   Resource
    Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium

    In the wake of Lebanon forming a new government, USIP assesses how the country can ensure ongoing political progress and stability.

  • November 9, 2009   |   In the Field
    Enhancing Traditional Local Conflict Resolution Techniques in Afghanistan

    Promoting non-violent resolution of conflict at all local levels will be essential to bringing, and sustaining, peace and stability to Afghanistan.  In Afghanistan's recent history, the most effective agents in advancing peace and security at the local level have been indigenous structures such as shura and jirga councils, as well as Maliks.

  • November 2, 2009   |   Resource
    On the Issues: Commemorating the U.S. Embassy Seizure, Thirty Years Later

    On Wednesday, Iran will hold a parade and demonstration to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy seizure. The opposition is now mobilizing followers to turn the commemoration into a mass protest. Robin Wright, a Jennings Randolph fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace and author of four books on Iran, covered the revolution and the hostage drama.

  • November 2, 2009   |   Course
    Governance and Democratic Practices in War to Peace Transitions

    Course will enable practitioners and policy makers to develop effective strategies in establishing stable institutions and helping to support a robust civil society in transition environments. Interactive exercises with critical analysis of various case studies will focus on establishing governance and democratic practices in divided societies, and offer a framework that can be applied in unstable, post-conflict environments.
     

  • October 1, 2009   |   Resource
    The Afghan Elections: Who Lost What?

    On October 1, 2009, Alex Thier, director of USIP’s Afghanistan and Pakistan program, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on the Afghan elections, the importance of strengthening Afghan institutions, and the threats to success for the U.S. mission in that country.

  • September 16, 2009   |   Event
    Kosovo: A European State, or Not?

    Kosovo, which declared its independence a year and a half ago, is now recognized by 62 other U.N. member states and aims eventually to join the European Union.  What progress is it making in this direction?

  • September 14, 2009   |   Course
    Introduction to Post-Conflict Strategies and Operations

    A 'hands on' course that provides students with a framework for organizing and implementing post-conflict peace and stability operations based upon the end-states that should be achieved. Will focus on the critical issues that confront post-conflict interventions in achieving each end state and the overarching leadership responsibilities involved in these objectives.

  • August 21, 2009   |   In the Field
    Notes from Sudan

    Ahead of the country's critical 2011 referendum on whether the South should secede from Sudan, USIP is dedicated to help resolve internal conflicts and help ensure the country's future stability and security. In "Notes from Sudan," USIP's Jon Temin writes about his recent tour of the country to get an update on the status of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended decades of civil war in Sudan and learn about preparations for the 2011 referendum and the 2010 national elections. 

     

  • August 13, 2009   |   Resource
    A New Agenda for Bosnia and Herzegovina

    As concerns grow about Bosnia’s post-war recovery, USIP presents its fourth report on recent developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and various options to prevent a return to violence there. Author Jim O'Brien, who served as the presidential envoy for the Balkans in the 1990s, proposes a two-part strategy that includes stripping Bosnia's political parties of their nationalist appeal and speeding up the European Union accession process for the Balkans region.

  • July 15, 2009   |   Event
    Engaging Hamas: Risks and Opportunities

    Based on a recent USIP report "Hamas: Ideological Rigidity, Political Flexibility" by Paul Scham and Osama abu-Irshaid, this discussion will explore how the international community can detect and take advantage of any willingness by Hamas to compromise, without making ourselves vulnerable to manipulation. How should we interpret this movement, what is the role of Shari'a law in Hama's political behavior and what are the policy implications of the report?

  • June 26, 2009   |   Resource
    New State Department Documents Refute Karadzic Claims
  • June 24, 2009   |   Event
    Recommitting to Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)

    The Office of the US Special Envoy to Sudan will convene a conference involving more than twenty countries and organizations, as well as the two signatories to Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), on June 23rd. The conference will focus on reaffirming international commitments to the CPA and charting the course ahead concerning the international community's support for CPA implementation. Following the conference, on June 24th USIP will host a panel discussion to share outcomes. The panel will feature the US Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, and representatives from the NCP and SPLM delegations.

  • June 22, 2009   |   Resource
    Iran’s Disputed Election
  • June 17, 2009   |   Event
    USIP-Nixon Center event: "China's Foiled North Korea Strategy" & "North Korea, Inc."

    On behalf of Ambassador Richard Solomon, Chair of the Korea Working Group, the U.S. Institute of Peace convenes a USIP-Nixon Center public event on two new USIP Working Papers.

  • June 15, 2009   |   Resource
    U.S.-Iranian Engagement

    May 2009 | Daniel Brumberg and Eriks Berzins
    On February 23, 2009, the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), together with the United Nations Association-USA and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, held a roundtable discussion among top Middle East experts and former United States Government officials. Held at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, the meeting’s purpose was to discuss prospects for creating a diplomatic framework through which the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran can address issues of common concern in the Middle East and South Asia, and in so doing, advance an engagement dynamic that might eventually open the doors for rapprochement between the two countries.

A country that is at risk for, in the midst of or recovering from conflict has needs that no one expert or organization can provide. Often, humanitarian organizations work to address basic human needs for food, shelter and medicine; military or international organizations may have armed forces providing security; and governance experts may be helping local officials establish or improve legal frameworks and government agencies.

No two countries or situations are the same, but experts have identified many issues that emerge in nearly every conflict or post-conflict setting. The list of issue areas aims to aid researchers and practitioners by grouping USIP events, publications and resources by topic.