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.
'Landmark' Hamas and Israel Prisoner Swap
USIP's Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen discusses the political aspects and timing of the Palestinian-Israeli prisoner swap brokered by the Egyptians.
Getting Past the Palestinian Bid for U.N. Membership
USIP convened a group of distinguished experts to discuss the way ahead after the Palestinian Authority moved forward with its application for U.N. membership. Progress has been made in recent years in Palestinian state-building, but how or if the two sides approach the negotiating table now remains far from clear.
Syria's Opposition Takes Form
There is little doubt the creation of a unified front among the various dissident groups in Syria is a positive development for their cause. But it remains unclear if it reflects a true "coalescing" of all the different rebel voices, or if the group can grow into an effective political force capable of being seen as a viable alternative to the Assad regime.
Evaluating Media Interventions in Conflict Countries
Experts lay out a set of common principles for assessing how media programs in conflict zones help or hinder peacebuilding.
Successes Show Prevention Can Work, Should Be Used More: USIP Vice President Briefs Navy War College
Abi Williams, USIP senior vice president for conflict management, recently delivered a major lecture to Naval War College students on peacekeeping and conflict prevention’s role in the National Security Strategy of the United States.
Lessons from Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq
Now that the U.S. program embedding civilian units with combat brigades in Iraqi provinces has ended, civilian team members weigh in on how to do it better in Afghanistan and elsewhere. They urged adequate funding and the ability to disburse it quickly, concrete goals and objectives, and an integrated chain of command.
U.S. Troops in Iraq after 2011?
After more than eight years on the ground in Iraq, the U.S. military pull-out is proceeding rapidly, with about 40,000 soldiers still in the country as of the end of September. Three of the Institute’s leading specialists on Iraq weighed in on the question of extending U.S. troop presence after the December 31, 2011 deadline.
State's Tauscher Headlines USIP's Academy Course on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control
The Institute’s Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding held the course in nuclear nonproliferation Sept. 26-30. And, for the first time ever, an undersecretary of state, Ellen Tauscher, spoke to an Academy class. Tauscher is the undersecretary of state for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.
International Mediation in Venezuela
International Mediation in Venezuela analyzes the effort of the Carter Center and the broader international community to prevent violent conflict, to reconcile a deeply divided society, and to preserve democratic processes. From their perspective as facilitators of the intervention and as representatives of the Carter Center, Jennifer McCoy and Francisco Diez present an insider account of mediation at the national and international level.
Praise for "Customary Justice and the Rule of Law in War-Torn Societies"
“Brilliantly structured, this important book provides a realistic, honest, and original analysis of the tension between universal human rights and customary justice in post-conflict societies. It argu