As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
The United States Institute of Peace hosted a panel discussion to launch its latest book, Getting it Right in Afghanistan, on what needs to be done in 2014 in Afghanistan. Panelists included Ghost Wars author Steve Coll, former Afghan Ambassador Omar Samad, and USIP’s Moeed Yusuf. The panel discussion was preceded by an introduction by Andrew Wilder, and a brief presentation of the book by Scott Smith.
Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, offered his views on how foreign assistance preserves and promotes the country’s national security.
A new generation is emerging in Afghanistan that is more educated, more connected with the world, and more hopeful about the future than previous generations. The U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a public event on the opportunities and challenges youth face today, and their perspectives on the country’s future.
This event was the first in a series on the issue of Afghan women that were co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation and USIP in 2013.
The intervention in Afghanistan in many ways redefined how civilians and military personnel work together in conflict zones. International military forces perceived the provision of aid and economic development as a key part of their ultimate objective of state-building through stabilization. Aid agencies tended to view military efforts as short-term and lacking a true developmental perspective or understanding of humanitarian principles. For many years these efforts co-existed in a state of...
Afghanistan's current transition - involving drawdown of international combat troops and hand-over of security responsibilities to Afghan security forces as well as reductions in international aid - is now well into its second year. Along with the security and political dimensions (including the next cycle of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2015, respectively), the economic transition is an important factor influencing the success of the overall transition process.
The U.S. Institute of Peace, in partnership with The Institute for Inclusive Security and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), will host an expert panel to discuss the relationship between women in civil society and the security sector, to examine the obstacles women face, and how can they be overcome. Read the event coverage, Taking the 'Thug' Out of Security Forces: What Women Can Do
April 5 marks the start of the one-year countdown to Afghanistan's presidential election. This will be the first post-9/11 election in which President Hamid Karzai is not on the presidential ballot. A panel of experts joined USIP to discuss the critically important technical and political issues that need to be addressed during the next 365 days in order for the elections to produce a credible and legitimate outcome. Read the event coverage, Credible Afghan Presidential Vote Hinges on Proc...
Please join the Reserve Officers Association and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) for a program that will explore new education and training approaches being used to help U.S. troops better prepare for these complex operating environments before their deployment. Read the event coverage, USIP, ROA Hold Forum on “Training for War and Fragile Peace”
In the aftermath of the summit meeting between presidents Obama and Karzai on January 11th, many questions still remain regarding the upcoming security, political and economic transitions in Afghanistan, and the impact these various transitions will have on future peace and stability in Afghanistan. On January 25th, USIP hosted a two-panel event with leading experts on Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss some of the major challenges and opportunities for peace and political stability in Afgha...