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.
Democracy, Like Revolution, is Unattainable Without Women
In this peace brief, author Sahar F. Aziz argues that the biggest challenge for women in Arab Spring countries is transforming their leadership and influence into high-level governance positions, both elected and appointed.
Sustainable Security in Yemen: Popular Committees in Abyan
In early 2011, as the Arab Spring protests swept through Yemen and crippled government control even in more urban areas Ansar al-Sharia (AAS), a local Islamic militant group affiliated with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), began to take control of major areas of the far southeastern governorate of Abyan. This not only posed a serious threat to local residents but also to those beyond Yemen’s borders. With Abyan in the control of AAS and beyond government reach, Abyan risked becoming ...
Waiting for Change
A year after a political compromise ended popular protests in Yemen, the transitional government has met some benchmarks for reform. However, key demands for improved security and government services, for example, remain stalled. This report studies security and justice conditions in four governorates to assess how transition is progressing. Also available in Arabic (1,076 KB))
Yemen's National Dialogue
Erica Gaston, program officer in USIP's Rule of Law Center, discusses prospects and challenges for Yemen's National Dialogue, and highlights the Institute's past work in civil society.
Security Sector Transformation in the Arab Awakening
Countries transitioning to democracy must change old models of organizing the police, armed services, and intelligence services, which typically were characterized by mistreatment of the public, for models that stress transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement. Yet each new government in the Middle East and North Africa must tailor its reforms carefully and patiently in order to avoid backlash among security services.
USIP Prevention Newsletter - July 2012
The July 2012 Prevention Newsletter features a spotlight on Egypt: Morsi's Victory Brings Challenges New and Old: On June 14, Egypt's transition came to a turning point: Morsi became the first democratically elected President in the history of Egypt.
Yemen and Transitional Justice
Victims from Taiz
USIP Examines Security Sector Transformation in North Africa, Middle East
The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) held its third annual conference on security sector governance on May 10, drawing in activists from North Africa and the Middle East as well as former U.S. ambassadors to the region to assess the political and security-sector challenges arising from the “Arab Awakening.”
USIP Prevention Newsletter - May 2012
The May 2012 Prevention Newsletter features a spotlight on the North Korean Missile Launch: On April 13, North Korea defied the international community and conducted a failed long-range ballistic missile test.