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.
Afghan President Ghani’s Message in U.S. Visit: Help Us Stand on Our Own Feet
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani likely will use his first visit to Washington since taking office to thank the American people for their sacrifice for the cause of peace in Afghanistan, and to appeal for steadfast backing to prevent a precipitous drawdown of U.S. civilian and military support that could plunge his country back into a bloody civil war. According to experts at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Ghani will emphasize that Afghanistan’s new leadership is committed to reforming government,...
To Stabilize Afghanistan, U.S. and Partners Must Commit to the Long Haul
As Washington hosts Afghanistan’s new leaders this week, policy specialists and government officials have urged the United States and its allies to agree on long-term financial and security support to stabilize Afghanistan. The reformist administration of President Ashraf Ghani and his coalition partner, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, creates a fresh opportunity for governments and international institutions to strengthen the Afghan state and curtail the country’s decades-long war...
Afghan President: Pakistan Is Why Peace with Taliban Is Possible
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has declared himself “cautiously optimistic” that he can get Pakistan’s help to negotiate a peaceful end to Afghanistan’s 13-year-old Taliban insurgency. Tonight he explained why.
The Irregulars: Vigilante Police-Security, Iraq and Afghanistan
Arming vigilantes in places like Iraq and Afghanistan to work alongside struggling police forces isn't a solution -- it's a time bomb.
Rebuilding Nepal, from the Government Up
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that wreaked havoc in Kathmandu has opened up an opportunity for the reform the country so desperately needs.
After Ireland Vote: Various Roads to LGBTI Rights
Following Ireland’s constitutional referendum to legalize same-sex marriage, the newly appointed senior U.S. diplomat on human rights for gender minorities said he is “incredibly optimistic” about the prospects for the global campaign to guarantee such protections. Still, U.S. Special Envoy Randy Berry and an international group of activists said May 26 that gender-rights movements in many countries face tougher political landscapes than in Ireland and must rely heavily on more legalistic app...
Pakistan Public School Curriculum Distorts Views on Terrorism, Researcher Says
Pakistan’s public school curriculum uses flawed textbooks that distort student perceptions, limit their critical thinking skills and obscure the real causes of violence and terrorism in the country, according to a study commissioned by the U.S. Institute of Peace.
To Help Afghanistan Survive, Narrow the Focus
Afghanistan’s Taliban are trying to defeat the government in this first year following the U.S. military’s withdrawal from combat operations, and their surge in attacks has driven the rate of army and police casualties at least 65 percent higher than last year. Still, a focused strategy can help the government survive, USIP experts say.
Welcome to Afghanistan’s Peace College
Can you teach your way out of a war?
U.S. Envoy Feldman Urges Continued Support to Solidify Afghan Gains
The U.S. can’t assess yet the precise impact the confirmed death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar will have on the group’s talks with the Afghan government, but officials do believe the insurgency faces a more stable and united administration than at any time in the past six years, according to Dan Feldman, the outgoing U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.