Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

Second Annual Conference: Preventing Violent Conflict

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 / Time: 5:00am - 1:15pm 

Share This
Print the Page

For this second annual conference on conflict prevention, USIP brought together experts and policymakers to discuss challenges and opportunities for conflict prevention around the world. The goals of this conference were to spotlight the importance of prevention, discuss specific challenges facing prevention efforts, and identify priority areas for USIP's future work on conflict prevention.

Read the event coverage, Peace: Trending Positive

USIP's second annual conference on Preventing Violent Conflict brought together experts and policymakers to discuss challenges and opportunities for conflict prevention around the world. Almost 200 leading policymakers, scholars, diplomats, and nongovernmental organization leaders participated in this all-day conference.

The keynote address was delivered by Gareth Evans, chancellor of the Australian National University and former Australian minister of foreign affairs. The first panel highlighted the potential conflicts at risk of breaking out in various regions. This year's conference also included four concurrent break-out sessions allowing participants to discuss specific challenges facing conflict prevention efforts. The afternoon panel reflected on global conflict prevention initiatives by the U.S. government, the United Nations, and civil society.

One of the goals of this event was to identify priority areas for USIP's future work on conflict prevention. Recommendations for USIP included the development of a guidebook allowing practitioners to apply prevention tools, and research quantifying the costs and benefits of conflict prevention. The U.S. government should channel resources for prevention at an early stage of conflict, and systematically include a gender perspective when analyzing conflict and engaging in conflict resolution efforts.

We look forward to welcoming everybody at USIP's third annual conference in June next year.

See the keynote address by Prof. Gareth Evans, as well as the remarks from Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero. 

See the info and guiding questions for the Panel Discussions and the Break-Out Sessions. This Peace Brief provides an overview of last year's discussions. | Sign up to receive USIP’s bimonthly Conflict Prevention Newsletter via e-mail.
 

Agenda

 

09:00am | Welcome and Introduction

09:15am | Keynote Address

  • The Hon. Gareth Evans, Chancellor, Australian National University

10:00am | Panel 1: Regional Challenges

11:45pm | Lunch Break (lunch will be provided to participants)

12:45pm | Break-Out Sessions

  • The Prevention of Electoral Violence: Facilitator: Dorina Bekoe, U.S. Institute of Peace
  • Women and Conflict: Facilitator: Kathleen Kuehnast, U.S. Institute of Peace
  • Making the Case for Prevention: Facilitator: Mary Stata, Friends Committee on National Legislation
  • The Conflict Prevention Toolbox: Facilitator: Lawrence Woocher, U.S. Institute of Peace

2:15pm | Break


 

2:30pm | Presentation of Take-Aways by Facilitators of Break-Out Sessions

3:00pm | Panel 2: Global Conflict Prevention Initiatives

  • Dr. Paula Dobriansky, Chair
    Senior Fellow, Harvard University, and Distinguished National Security Chair, U.S. Naval Academy
  • Ms. Nancy Lindborg
    Assistant Administrator, USAID
  • Ms. Maria Otero
    Under Secretary, U.S. Department of State
  • Mr. Jordan Ryan
    Assistant Administrator and Director, UNDP
  • Mr. Mark Schneider
    Senior Vice President, International Crisis Group

4:45-5:15pm | Conclusion

Related Academy Courses

Related Publications

A Year After October 7, the Middle East Crisis Has No End in Sight

A Year After October 7, the Middle East Crisis Has No End in Sight

Thursday, October 10, 2024

By: Robert Barron;  Caroline Dibble;  Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

The grim anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing war brought little respite for memorialization and healing from the enormity of loss with which Israeli and Palestinian societies have been grappling. More than 100 of the over 250 Israeli and foreign hostages abducted that day into Gaza are estimated to remain in captivity, with only 64 presumed still alive; upward of 42,000 Gazans have been killed in the ongoing war, most of the enclave’s population has been repeatedly displaced, and damage and humanitarian devastation is widespread. A multi-front war that has simmered since that day is now poised to boil over with catastrophic potential for the region.

Type: Question and Answer

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

As Taiwan Builds Resilience, Lai’s Tough Stance on China Risks Escalating Tensions

As Taiwan Builds Resilience, Lai’s Tough Stance on China Risks Escalating Tensions

Thursday, October 10, 2024

By: Jennifer Staats, Ph.D.;  Naiyu Kuo

Facing a growing threat from China, Taiwan has taken several steps in recent years to strengthen its defense and deterrence capabilities. Predictably, much of this has involved traditional military initiatives, such as increased defense spending, investments in asymmetric capabilities and the extension of compulsory military service for men from four to 12 months. Elected this January, President William Lai Ching-te is continuing that work, but also stressing the role that civil society can play in preventing a war. By enhancing civil-military integration, improving preparedness across society and building overall resilience, Taiwan aims to erode Beijing's confidence in its ability to swiftly and easily seize control of the island. But to successfully deter an attack and preserve the cross-Strait status quo, leaders in Taipei must demonstrate resolve while avoiding unnecessary provocation.

Type: Analysis

Civilian-Military Relations;  Conflict Analysis & Prevention

Costly Conflict: Here’s How China’s Military Options for Taiwan Backfire

Costly Conflict: Here’s How China’s Military Options for Taiwan Backfire

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

By: Peter Wonacott

When Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan’s new president in May, he thanked supporters “for refusing to be swayed by external forces” and called on China to cease “political and military intimidation.” Days later, Beijing sent its own blunt message to Taiwan’s newly elected president. China’s army, navy, air and rocket forces converged in nearby waters to test its readiness to “reunify” with Taiwan, whether or not the self-ruled island — or any of its international supporters — shared the same objective. Such Chinese military drills around the Taiwan Strait point to one of the world’s most combustible threats, a potential conflict between China and Taiwan that draws in the United States and wreaks havoc with the global economy.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Economics

The Middle East on Fire

The Middle East on Fire

Thursday, October 3, 2024

By: Mona Yacoubian

Iran’s ballistic missile strikes on Israel on October 1 have raised fears of an all-out war in the Middle East. The deepening spiral of bloodshed began on September 17 and 18 with the detonation across Lebanon of thousands of pagers and two-way radios used by Hezbollah operatives — one analyst deemed the unprecedented Israeli operation “the most extensive physical supply chain attack in history.” Ongoing airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon have marked the most significant Israeli barrage in 11 months of tit-for-tat escalation. On September 27, Israel dealt Hezbollah a devastating blow by killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on a Beirut suburb. Despite reeling from these latest reverses and the evisceration of its command structure, the Shiite militia continues to lob missiles at Israel. Stunned and outraged, Iran — Hezbollah’s patron — fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel; at least one person was killed in the West Bank. Iranians are now bracing for Israeli retaliation. The cycle of violence, it appears, is far from over.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

View All Publications