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.
Afghanistan Donor Conference 2020: Pitfalls and Possibilities
When Afghan officials and international donors meet next month to consider future aid commitments to Afghanistan, they will face a changed situation from their last gathering four years ago. Then, the focus was on tying financial assistance to government reform in the midst of ongoing war with the Taliban; peace was barely on the agenda. Now, peace talks between the Taliban and the government have begun, and a new Afghan administration is still taking shape with an agreement that resolved the disputed 2019 presidential election. Meanwhile, fighting and casualties remain at unsustainable levels and the country is reckoning with the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.
Four Lessons for Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan
As Afghan peace talks in Doha move forward, a vital component to the success of any peace deal will be how Afghanistan’s security sector can reform to sustain peace after more than 40 years of violence, and how the international community can best assist.
Event Wrap: Making Peace in Afghanistan
More than a year into the “surge” of American and international military forces in Afghanistan, there are only mixed results on the ground, say experts. And that, they say, begs the question – who is helping to build the political process on which a final, peaceful resolution can be reached?
Navigating Tricky Transitions in Iraq, Afghanistan
The last American troops will leave Iraq this year, and the first troops will leave Afghanistan starting this summer. That means the civilian side of the U.S. government must step up to assume a greater responsibility in the void the military leaves behind. But is the U.S. government ready to take on this bigger role as the military exits? The answer is: it's far from clear.
The Key to Stability in Afghanistan
Success in Afghanistan has always been tied to the expansion of the Afghan national security forces, experts agree. This news feature recaps the USIP event "Securing Transition: Assessing the Future of the Afghan National Security Forces." The panel discussion took place on February 25, 2011.
Starting an Af-Pak Dialogue
Since early 2010, USIP’s Cross-Border Dialogue Initiative has brought together more than 300 people, teaching the skills of policy advocacy and negotiation and, at the same time, building bridges between communities suffering from endemic violence and separated by a tense national border.
Afghanistan: Preparing Peacemakers
Inevitably, the intensity of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan will ebb. Looking ahead to that time, the U.S. Institute of Peace has trained a network of Afghan “facilitators” to mediate conflicts—within and between families, localities and communities.
Training U.S. Advisers, Building Afghan Ministries
When the Pentagon decided to deploy senior civilian advisers to Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense last May, it turned to the expertise at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
Landmine Awareness Day
USIP’s Virginia Bouvier discusses the Landmine Awareness Day.
A Voice from the Opposition: The Way Ahead in Afghanistan
USIP on April 14 held an event with Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the Coalition for Change and Hope political party in Afghanistan. He told the group that despite the fact that stereotypes exist about Muslim countries and democracy, there are many in Afghanistan who support a democratic country.