USIP: In Review and Looking Forward (Video)

USIP: In Review and Looking Forward (Video)

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

From a campaign for peaceful elections in Afghanistan to a radio program engaging youth in South Sudan, USIP worked with civil society, political leaders and others in 2014 on a range of actions to prevent, mitigate or resolve violent conflict during a particularly chaotic year in global affairs. Top USIP experts discuss highlights of the year and glance ahead at 2015.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionEducation & Training

After Attack on Arab-Jewish School, 'I Have to Keep Fighting For It'

After Attack on Arab-Jewish School, 'I Have to Keep Fighting For It'

Monday, December 22, 2014

Inbar Shaked Vardi and Mouran Ibrahim are 14 years old but speak in a way that many adults in the maelstrom of the Middle East can’t muster – of Arab-Jewish “shared living,” a step even beyond mere co-existence. When their school, the flagship Max Rayne campus of the Hand in Hand Jewish-Arab bilingual school network in Israel, was attacked recently, their outlook on the world was tested once again.

Type: Analysis

Education & TrainingReligionYouth

Engaging Youth in Building Peace

Engaging Youth in Building Peace

Friday, September 19, 2014

From soccer games to theatre productions to entrepreneurial investments, young people are mobilizing to promote peace, according to participants in a September 16 Twitter chat on youth and peacebuilding. The chat showed the important role youth play as a force for peace in a world dominated by violent headlines.

Type: Analysis

Education & TrainingYouth

If You Want Peace, You Have to Plan for It

If You Want Peace, You Have to Plan for It

Friday, September 19, 2014

By: Kristin Lord;  Ann Louise Colgan

Sept. 21 will mark the annual observation of the International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace and to focus attention on the purpose of promoting peace by the world community. Marking a day of peace may seem idealistic especially against the grim parade of recent events, but to the contrary, its inspiration is decidedly pragmatic: If we do not take peace seriously enough to plan for it and to develop in...

Type: Analysis

Education & Training

Mobilizing to Transform Conflicts Amid Tight Budgets, Shrinking Space

Mobilizing to Transform Conflicts Amid Tight Budgets, Shrinking Space

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

In an era when Western citizens are averse to protracted and costly military interventions, and corrupt regimes around the world feed instability, there’s a pressing need to identify violence-prevention approaches that hold the greatest promise. During a professional life working with non-violent activists and movements, I’ve developed a keen appreciation for the power of purposeful mass mobilization and strategic non-violent action led by and for local communities to advance rights, justice and good governance.

Type: Analysis

Education & Training

Dialogue: Calming Hot Spots Calls for Structure and Skill

Dialogue: Calming Hot Spots Calls for Structure and Skill

Thursday, May 1, 2014

By: Maria Jessop;  Alison Milofsky, Ph.D.

Dialogue has been around as long as humans faced with a crisis have gathered in circles to talk. It is one of the oldest forms of conflict resolution and is still, when well-conceived and executed, one of the most effective. But the familiarity of dialogue can lead to oversimplification or to the perception that it is easier to do successfully than is actually the case.

Type: Analysis

Mediation, Negotiation & DialogueEducation & Training

Sierra Leone Sends Women Peacekeepers to Somalia

Sierra Leone Sends Women Peacekeepers to Somalia

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

By: Debra Liang-Fenton

Sierra Leone is demonstrating that it understands the important role women can play as peacekeepers.  Half of the 50 Sierra Leone military personnel participating in a recent workshop by USIP on negotiations and communication in peacekeeping were women, an important development considering the unit will be deployed in Somalia.

Type: Analysis

GenderEducation & Training

A Rough Guide to Afghan Youth Politics

A Rough Guide to Afghan Youth Politics

Thursday, April 17, 2014

By: Gran Hewad;  Casey Garret Johnson

Afghan politics today are shifting in response to a growing youth population and an increasing number of young political leaders. Youth are critical to the future of the country, and what they think of the transition period since 2001 matters. Understanding their goals; how they network, organize, and mobilize; and their aspirations for the April 2014 presidential and provincial council elections reveal how they are looking to reshape the political culture. And perhaps the most significant si...

Type: Special Report

Conflict Analysis & PreventionEducation & TrainingYouth

Peace Education in Sudan? Not as Unlikely as it Might Sound

Peace Education in Sudan? Not as Unlikely as it Might Sound

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

By: Linda Bishai

Nothing prepared me for the coffee-black water coming out of the taps.  It happened just as a large and delicious breakfast was set out for us in a compound dining room and we were starting to wash our hands in sinks at the side. Sudden, dark, and a bit shocking, the water seemed like a betrayal of all the honest hospitality of our generous hosts. We quickly shifted to washing with bottled water and proceeded without further disruption.  Still, the image of that dirty water where clean water had flowed before seemed like a sign that something larger was badly broken.

Type: Analysis

Education & TrainingYouth