Iraq’s Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari addressed his country’s role in the Middle East, its battle against ISIS/ISIL, relations with the U.S., and the need for international assistance, in an event at the U.S. Institute of Peace on July 19. It was his only public appearance during a trip to Washington for meetings with the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL and an international pledging conference to raise funds for relief and reconstruction, as the Iraqi government works with allies to prepare for the massive undertaking of recapturing the country’s second-largest city, Mosul, from ISIS control.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Violent Extremism;  Reconciliation

The longstanding United Nations call for countries to adopt National Action Plans to involve women in issues of national security repeatedly stumbles in much of the Middle East and North Africa. The U.S. Institute of Peace had a discussion on May 4 on how these roadblocks can be overcome, especially amid the current upheaval.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Violent Extremism;  Gender

The Woodrow Wilson Center, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States hosted a discussion with Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) at the Woodrow Wilson Center, on April 14, 2016.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Violent Extremism;  Environment;  Economics

Wars and oppression—from Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan and parts of Africa—last year pushed more than a million people to seek safety and opportunity in Europe. This tide of migrating humanity has heightened Europe’s tensions around its growing Muslim community. Conflict is growing around terrorism, the status of sharia law, the construction of mosques, and the possibility and desirability of multicultural societies. On March 23, American University anthropologist Akbar Ahmed screened his 201...

Religion

Extremist groups like ISIS have seized control in swaths of Iraq and Syria in part because they tout themselves as an alternative to corrupt and inept government at all levels. USIP hosted a discussion on January 6, 2016 highlighting new research by the global humanitarian and development organization Mercy Corps on the connection between citizens’ perceptions of governance and public support for armed opposition.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Justice, Security & Rule of Law;  Democracy & Governance

On the United Nations-declared International Day of Peace, September 21, USIP highlighted an essential process for any country to heal from a violent conflict: reconciliation. USIP convened this reconciliation discussion as part of a daylong celebration of the international day of peace. If you took some action for peace, share it with us at #PeaceDayChallenge. Read the event coverage, Reconciliation as the Road to Durable Peace.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue;  Reconciliation

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley led a discussion September 18 of how the United States and its partners should respond to the greatest displacement of people since World War II. With former British foreign secretary David Miliband, USIP President Nancy Lindborg and other panelists, they focused on the steps needed to address this crisis at its roots.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Fragility & Resilience;  Human Rights

The speaker of Iraq’s parliament, His Excellency Dr. Saleem al-Jubouri, discussed his country’s current challenges in a public forum on June 8, 2015 at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Conflict Analysis & Prevention;  Violent Extremism;  Religion