Burma’s Big Test: Preventing Election Violence in 2020

Burma’s Big Test: Preventing Election Violence in 2020

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

The people of Burma will head to the polls in late 2020 to elect more than 1,100 representatives to national, state, and regional legislative bodies. During a recent field assessment, the U.S. Institute of Peace confirmed that the risk of election-related violence is surprisingly low considering the ongoing conflicts and multitude of grievances. However, hate speech, disinformation, and intense competition between parties could create violent incidents, particularly during the campaign period. Early efforts to promote peaceful elections need to start now as the window for effective prevention will soon be closed.

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & Conflict

Electing Peace in Liberia

Electing Peace in Liberia

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

By: Inken von Borzyskowski

The day after Christmas Liberians went to the polling stations to elect George Weah, a former international soccer player, as the new President of Liberia. Weah beat the former vice president and chief opponent, Joseph Boakai, in a run-off election. The risk of election-related violence was substantial given...

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & ConflictDemocracy & Governance

Atrocity Prevention through Dialogue

Atrocity Prevention through Dialogue

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

By: Sofía Sebastián

Dialogue with violent extremist groups is a controversial practice, even when used to prevent widespread violence or atrocities. Humanitarian dialogue may serve as a crisis-mitigation instrument, offering short-term relief and civilian protection. When the risk of atrocities is remote, political dialogue can be used for structural or upstream prevention aimed at conflict resolution or addressing community grievances. Though dialogue as a peacebuilding tool has potential in any stage of a conf...

Type: Special Report

Violent ExtremismHuman RightsMediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Tension Rising Ahead of Kenya, Liberia 2017 Elections

Tension Rising Ahead of Kenya, Liberia 2017 Elections

Monday, September 19, 2016

By: Scofield Muliru

With elections coming up next year in Liberia and Kenya, the time for early and sustained efforts to prevent clashes is now. Forthcoming USIP research shows that domestic institutions hold the key: election commissions, the police and, above all, political leaders. Any international support to those institutions and leaders must now move from plans to action in order to achieve any desired impact amid rising tensions.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionGlobal Elections & ConflictGlobal Policy

Peaceful Elections in Kenya? Start Preparing Now for 2022

Peaceful Elections in Kenya? Start Preparing Now for 2022

Friday, August 4, 2017

By: Susan Stigant

The people of Kenya go to the polls next week to select their next President as well as members of the national assembly and local-level officials. In a country vital to U.S. security and economic interests in East Africa, preparations for the elections have been rocky and tense. Many analysts have drawn parallels to past elections to predict whether peace or violence will prevail. But assessing the 2017 elections will require more than a snapshot review of election week or comparisons with past violence.

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & ConflictConflict Analysis & Prevention