Resources & Tools

Cover of Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium (Image: U.S. Institute of Peace)
November 2009 | Peace Briefing by Mona Yacoubian

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

Kashmiri-Indian separatists confront police during 2008 state lections. (Photo: NY Times/Ruth Fremson)
September 2009 | Special Report by Lawrence Woocher

How well does the international community work to prevent the outbreak of new wars? In a special report, "Preventing Violent Conflict: Assessing Progress, Meeting Challenges," USIP's Lawrence Woocher examines the current status of conflict prevention as an international norm and argues for enhanced global attention on conflict prevention strategy relative to more reactive responses, such as post-conflict rebuilding and resolving existing conflicts.

Map of Niger Delta (Courtesy: CIA)
September 2009 | Peace Briefing by David R. Smock

USIP's David Smock explores the factors underlying and perpetuating the militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In this report, based on an 11-day trip to Nigeria in late August 2009, Smock analyzes the prospects for the amnesty process, and why stronger political processes and economic development could help address the roots of the conflict there.

A child and his mother in Sudan. (Photo: NYT)
September 2009 | Peace Briefing by Jon Temin

Most international attention devoted to Sudan has focused on the nationwide elections and the 2011 referendum on the status of southern Sudan.  Yet, there are other aspects of the north-south dynamic deserving of discussion and strategic thinking that don't receive their due.  In a new Peace Brief, USIP's Jon Temin examines six important issues and questions that require more consideration as the decisive events in Sudan’s political history approach.

Credit: USAID Photo-Georgia
May 2009

An online toolkit for peacemakers, negotiators, and other conflict management practitioners.

Credit: The New York Times/Rita Castelnuovo
April 2009

This publication documents faith-based efforts by Muslim, Jewish, and Christians to achieve a just peace in the Arab/Israeli conflict. The publication argues forcefully that religious leaders and interests must be engaged in the peace process in order to assure a sustainable, inclusive, and comprehensive settlement. The report includes the perspectives of clergy, lay, facilitators of inter-faith dialogue, religious educators, and participants in the historic Alexandria Summit in January 2002, which convened high-level clergy to voice a religious commitment to and strategy for achieving peace in the region.

Credit: FLT Films
April 2009

This documentary, produced by IFT Films, with USIP support, follows the story of Pastor James Wuye and Imam Mohammad Ashafa of Nigeria. Pastor James and Imam Ashafa are former members of competing militias in Nigeria who experienced personal transformations through their friendship and now work cooperatively to head the Inter-Faith Mediation Centre, supported by USIP. This documentary captures Pastor James and Imam Ashafa at work building relationships between Muslim and Christian clergy and leading training in conflict prevention, mediation, and reconciliation. To order the film, visit the IFT Film website: http://www.fltfilms.org.uk

Credit: File Photo
April 2009 | Working Paper by Steven Simon

Overall, Syria has marginally benefited from the war in Iraq at both the regional and international levels. After watching the U.S. military unseat the Baathist regime next door in 2003 with unprecedented speed, it looked to many observers—including some in Damascus—as if Syria would be next in line.

February 2009 | Book by Ingrid A. Lehmann

Managing Public Information in a Mediation Process, the second handbook in the Peacemaker's Toolkit series, helps mediators identify and develop the resources and strategies they need to reach these audiences. It highlights essential information tasks and functions, discusses key challenges and opportunities, and provides expert guidance on effective approaches. Examples from past mediations illustrate how various strategies have played out in practice.

August 2008 | Book by David R. Smock and Amy L. Smith

Managing the Mediation Process offers an overview of the process of mediating interstate and intrastate conflicts. Each of its six chapters covers a different step in the process, identifying what needs to be done at that step and how best to accomplish it.