Publications
Articles, publications, books, tools and multimedia features from the U.S. Institute of Peace provide the latest news, analysis, research findings, practitioner guides and reports, all related to the conflict zones and issues that are at the center of the Institute’s work to prevent and reduce violent conflict.
Copenhagen Process Tackles Delicate Topic of Detainees in Military Operations
Allegations of detainee mistreatment are not new and remain one of the most controversial aspects of contemporary military operations. The debate has led a number of states to embrace the 'Copenhagen Process: Principles and Guidelines' concerning the taking and handling of detainees.
U.N. Special Representative Calls for Greater Steps to End `Scourge’ of Sexual Violence in War
Speaking at a major conference held at USIP, former Sierra Leone policymaker and diplomat Zainab Hawa Bangura appealed for greater political will, public determination, and improved technical capacity to prevent and prosecute the “vile crime.” The effects of continued impunity devastate survivors and weaken a society’s ability to recover from war.
Military Intervention in Mali vs. Syria: When is the Path Rocky or Paved?
France’s rapid intervention in Mali in early January is particularly striking when compared to the lengthy debate over international intervention in Syria, which has thus far produced only inaction. USIP’s Rachel Brandenburg explores what considerations made French intervention in Mali feasible while constraining action in Syria.
Al-Qaida on the Rise in North Africa?
USIP’s Dan Brumberg considers the potential for al-Qaida’s growth in North Africa, and the challenge this poses to U.S. relationships with the new, post-conflict governments in the region.
Complex Mali Crisis Analyzed at USIP Meeting
The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on December 18 hosted a public meeting, examining the growing instability in Mali: “Crisis in Mali: Causes and Options.”
Voting in Fear
In Voting in Fear, nine contributors offer pioneering work on the scope and nature of electoral violence in Africa; investigate the forms electoral violence takes; and analyze the factors that precipitate, reduce, and prevent violence. The book breaks new ground with findings from the only known dataset of electoral violence in sub-Saharan Africa, spanning 1990 to 2008. Specific case studies of electoral violence in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria provide the context to further un...
Democratization in Mali: Putting History to Work
Since the 1991 uprising, which saw the ouster of the country's long-standing military dictator and ushered in a democratically elected government, Mali has achieved a record of democratization that is among the best in Africa.