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.
America the Gentle Giant
Vladimir Putin's cynical efforts to annex Crimea and intimidate the fledgling government of Ukraine make it all too clear that naked aggression in world affairs is not a thing of the past. The United States and its allies must respond firmly when such aggression occurs. But there are other perhaps less dramatic instances of resorting to force of arms. These include unresolved disputes between states -- or ethnic, tribal, and religious disputes within states -- that degenerate into armed confl...
When Sanctions Aren't Enough
It should be clear now that the West has a Russian security problem. Twice in the last six years, the Kremlin has seized territory in a neighboring country on the grounds of protecting minorities or ethnic Russians and Russian speakers. In each instance, the rejoinder from the West proved to be inadequate. Now, this threat demands a broad response that goes beyond the steps taken to date, that will deter the Kremlin from further aggression.
The Big Chill
The sanctions that were placed on Bank Rossiya on Friday, March 21, have sent shock waves through Russian business and financial circles. In the intervening days, hundreds of thousands of Russians have lost access to Visa and MasterCard services. Russian oligarchs have stopped boasting that they are on the U.S. blacklist as international bankers and have begun to shy away from their businesses -- and their access to credit dried up while their stock prices tumbled. Russian owners of mining, m...
Can a Source of Conflict Be Turned Into a Unifier Instead?
One of the first things the Ukrainian parliament did after the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych last month was to repeal a law that allowed regional authorities to adopt Russian as a second official language after Ukrainian. The acting president understood the potential of the repeal to inflame tensions and vetoed the measure, but the moves highlight a larger question: what is the precise role of language in ethnic and national conflicts? Is language a driver of conflict, or is that merely a symptom of political and economic grievances?
NATO’s Balancing Act
NATO's Balancing Act evaluates the alliance’s performance of its three core tasks—collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security—and reviews its members’ efforts to achieve the right balance among them. Yost considers NATO's role in the evolving global security environment and its implications for collective defense and crisis management in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Africa, Libya, and elsewhere.
Democratic Breakthroughs: The Ingredients of Successful Revolts
Although each revolution is different, each successful case of democratic breakthrough shares common domestic and international influences. This report examines 11 cases of past successes at removing autocratic regimes and establishing elections. It then applies its findings to the emerging revolutions of the Arab Spring.
Nuclear Summit Wraps, Creating Momentum to Bolster Security
At the Nuclear Security Summit on April 12 and 13, leaders from around the world pledged to take their own steps to secure nuclear material used in bombs, civilian nuclear reactors and power plants, and to work together to enhance overall security.
CoESPU Workshops on Negotiation and Mediation for Police in Peacekeeping Environments
Senior Program Officers Nina Sughrue and Noor Kirdar continued USIP’s support for the international Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), run by the Italian Caribinieri in Vicenza, Italy. CoESPU, which was established on March 1st 2005, stems from an Italian initiative, supported by the G8 countries to provide technical and financial assistance in order to improve global capacity for sustaining peace stability operations, particularly in African countries.
Lessons for the Future of Civic Resistance: Georgia and Ukraine
This USIPeace Briefing discusses lessons learned from nonviolent political change in Georgia and Ukraine.
Caucasus Regional Workshop for Negotiation and Conflict Management Skills
Working in partnership with the Tbilisi-based Internally Displaced Women´s Association (IDPWA), USIP Professional Training Program officers Anne Henderson and Mike Lekson conducted a four-day conflict management workshop. The workshop´s main goal was to bring together civil society and government practitioners from across the Caucasus to build skills in the fields of conflict analysis, problem solving, negotiation, and third party involvement in dispute resolution.