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.
Value of Police Assistance
December 2, 2011 Bob Perito, director of USIP’s Security Sector Governance Center of Innovation, discusses the value of police assistance programs in conflict affected countries – and the importance police can play in counter-insurgency operations. What role should local police play in counter-insurgency operations like those in Iraq and Afghanistan? In the formula for successful counter-insurgency operations—clear, hold and build—local police play a critical role. After U.S. and hos...
Gender and Statebuilding in South Sudan
The creation of a new state gives the women of South Sudan a rare chance to enhance their security, economic empowerment, and participation in governance.
Infighting Marks Lead Up to Iranian Elections
Next year’s parliamentary elections in Iran have intensified infighting among its conservative elites amid moves by the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader to tighten control of the political system, a panel of Iran specialists concluded at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Nov. 18.
Iraq, Its Neighbors, and the United States
Iraq, Its Neighbors, and the United States examines how Iraq's evolving political order affects its complex relationships with its neighbors and the United States. The book depicts a region unbalanced, shaped by new and old tensions, struggling with a classic collective action dilemma, and anxious about Iraq's political future, as well as America's role in the region, all of which suggest trouble ahead absent concerted efforts to promote regional cooperation. In the volume's case studies, acc...
State Building in South Sudan
With its secession from Sudan on July 9, 2011, South Sudan not only gained its eagerly-awaited independence, but also embarked onto the long road of state building. Over the past several months, the new country has begun to confront the myriad challenges it faces in sustainable development, good governance, and capacity building. In addition, the world's newest state is also coping with cross-cutting issues of managing resources, constructing a sense of nationhood, and contending with problem...
Handling Conflict by Peaceful Means
USIP leaders explain the effect that events around the world and here at home will have on the U.S., and the contributions the Institute can and does make during a time of tremendous challenge – and opportunity.
USIP Building Bridges in Yemen
The day Saleh agreed to transfer power, Manal Omar and Colette Rausch were in Sanaa, Yemen laying the groundwork for the Institute’s conflict management operations. They met with a wide range of stakeholders from across the social, economic, and political spectrum to learn the approaches for building peace.
From Militants to Policemen: Three Lessons from U.S. Experience with DDR and SSR
Consolidating the legitimate use of force in the hands of the state is a vital first step in post-conflict peacebuilding. This USIP Peace Brief analyzes two processes that are vital to securing a monopoly of force: disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR).
Protests Spark New Questions Ahead of Egypt's Elections
With much anticipated parliamentary elections scheduled to take place less in Egypt less than a week from now, what are the political implications of the current unrest taking place in Cairo and elsewhere in the country?
Syria’s Uprising and the Path Ahead
Violence in Syria is escalating, but the country is not yet at the brink of civil war.