Contact: 
Allison Sturma 
202-429-4725 (o) 
202-415-4935 (m)

(Washington) - Current and former senior U.S. officials will join foreign affairs scholars on June 2 for the 4th biannual PeaceGame—a day of scenario role-playing, analysis and strategizing that in this edition takes on the spread of violent extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda that are driving wars in the Middle East. The event, co-produced by the U.S Institute of Peace and Foreign Policy, aims to determine best possible strategies for confronting the rise of violent extremism and its appeal to disenfranchised and vulnerable youth. Players and speakers during the event, at USIP’s headquarters, will include officials from recent U.S. administrations, as well as intelligence and academic specialists. Among them:

• Stephen Hadley, Chairman, Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Tom Donilon, former National Security Advisor
• David Rothkopf, CEO and Editor, Foreign Policy Group
• Nancy Lindborg, President, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Dr. Gregory Treverton, Chairman, National Intelligence Council
• Ambassador James Jeffrey, Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Washington Institute
• Toni Verstandig, Chair, Aspen Institute’s Middle East Programs and Senior Vice President, S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace
• Graham Allison, Director, Harvard Kennedy School
• Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the President, RAND Corporation
• Manal Omar, Acting Vice President, Middle East and Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Jorgen Ilum, Commissioner, East Jutland Police, Denmark
• Sascha Meinrath, Founder, X-Lab

Using PeaceGame’s innovative, scenario-based, multi-media model, role players will work through the range of complex challenges around the recruitment by militant groups of youthful fighters from the Middle East, Europe and North America. These will include strategies to counter such recruitment and the risks of rehabilitating fighters returning from conflicts.

PeaceGame will kick off with an invitation-only reception on June 1 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. There, guests will use virtual reality devices to view ‘Clouds Over Sidra,’ a short film that takes viewers inside one of the largest Syrian refugee camps. The film’s producers and former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will discuss issues related to the events of PeaceGame.

To interview specific participants, either at the reception on June 1 or during PeaceGame on June 2, please contact Maria Ory to make arrangements: maria.ory@foreignpolicy.com or 202-728-7318. Note: Not all PeaceGame participants will be available for interviews.

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The United States Institute of Peace is a Congressionally-created, independent, nonpartisan institution. Its mission is to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflicts around the world by engaging directly in conflict zones and by providing analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace.