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.
Haiti's New Government Faces Historic Dilemmas
Two years after Jean-Bertrand Aristide's ouster by armed revolt, Haiti appears ready to turn a page in its turbulent political history. What is the nature of the challenges Haiti's new leadership will face in governing a country traumatized by chronic violence and instability?
Haiti's Economic Challenge
Haiti's new government faces an enormous economic challenge. Since a brief spike in the 1970's, Haiti's economy has experienced a steady decline as a result of rapacious government policies and, possibly well intentioned, but destructive international sanctions.
Can the Diaspora Solve Haiti's Enduring Social Conflict?
How can the Haitian diaspora help Haiti's new government? Can they help resolve the chronic social conflict that has troubled the Haitian republic since its inception?
Lessons from Haiti and Beyond: Report from the 2010 International Conference on Crisis Mapping
At the International Conference on Crisis Mapping (ICCM) held from October 1 to 3, 2010, researchers and practitioners in the humanitarian and technology fields presented their current work in crisis mapping. This Peace Brief summarizes the overall lessons learned in the field of crisis mapping as identified through presentations, panel discussions, and community-led break-out sessions in the 2010 conference.
What Is In Haiti’s Future?
This report is based on views expressed during a January 26, 2010 event hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Haiti Working Group titled “What is in Haiti’s Future?” The event featured presentations by Thomas Adams, the U.S. State Department’s special coordinator for Haiti; Alexandre Abrantes, the World Bank’s special envoy to Haiti; Mark Schneider, senior vice president of the International Crisis Group; and Robert Fatton, University of Virginia’s associate dean for graduate programs.
Transcending the Past to Build Haiti’s Future
This Peace Brief is based on a public forum and meeting of USIP’s Haiti Working Group on October 29, 2010. The featured speaker was Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, former Prime Minster of Haiti (2008-2009). Robert Maguire, Chair of USIP’s Haiti Working Group and Associate Professor of International Affairs at Trinity Washington University, was a discussant. Robert Perito, director of USIP’s Haiti Program, served as moderator.
Security After the Quake? Addressing Violence and Rape in Haiti
This report is based on views expressed during an August 31, 2010, event, “Security after the Quake? Addressing Violence and Rape in Haiti,” hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Gender and Peacebuilding Center and the Haiti Working Group.
Humanitarian Assistance and Conflict in Africa
The good work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in recent conflicts in such countries as Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia is well known—providing food, shelter, medicine, and a host of other materials and services under extremely difficult conditions. But does humanitarian assistance in some cases actually exacerbate conflict?
Toward the End of Poverty in Haiti
In July 2006, Haitian poet and historian Jean-Claude Martineau spoke at USIP and said that Haiti is the only country in the world with a last name—“Haiti, poorest country in the western hemisphere” —as described in the media. Sadly, in the two years since, conditions have worsened. Four severe storms that struck Haiti in September 2008 only exacerbated the already critical problem of the country’s poverty.
Haiti After the Storms: Weather and Conflict
In September 2008, four hurricanes and tropical storms—Fay, Gustav, Hannah and Ike—slammed into Haiti with devastating force. Nearly 800 people were killed, 300 remain missing and more than 500 were injured.