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.
Getting to ‘Afghan Good Enough’
With the Obama administration poised to transition the bulk of its forces out of Afghanistan by 2014, it’s all the more critical to build credible, accountable and enduring institutions there.
U.S. Special Envoys: A Flexible Tool
This report is based on interviews with nine current and three former U.S. special envoys, conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. It’s part of a U.S. Institute of Peace special oral history project supported by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST).
‘Expeditionary Economics:’ How One Military Officer Links World Security with Economics
When it comes to creating stability and solving the world’s security problems, it may be counterintuitive that a military man believes that the power of the economy – and not the military. But indeed he does.
Five Myths of Afghan Reconciliation
Amid the budding political discourse on a peace process in Afghanistan, USIP’s Gordon Lubold examines five myths about reconciliation.
Chester Crocker on the State of Peacebuilding
Chester A. Crocker, long-serving member of USIP's Board of Directors, discusses the future of peacebuilding, the impacts of cuts to national security budgets, his contributions as a board member and chairman, USIP's unique national security functions and Academy, and more.
Steven Heydemann on International Diplomatic Pressures on Syria
USIP Mideast expert Steven Heydemann examines the reasons behind the regime's escalation of violence, the international community's response, and additional steps that the U.S. might take to pressure the Assad government.
The Politics of Dispute Resolution and Continued Instability in Afghanistan
In this Special Report Noah Coburn analyzes findings from USIP's in-country research projects on dispute resolution in Afghanistan. The report argues that the lines between formal and informal justice systems in Afghanistan are blurred and that this has major implications for international programs engaging the informal sector, and ultimately concludes that lack of security and political stablity are the greatest challenges to dispute resolution.
USIP’s Lawrence Woocher on the New Steps to Prevent Genocide
USIP’s Lawrence Woocher discusses President Barack Obama’s major announcement Thursday on new steps to prevent mass atrocities, including the creation of an interagency Atrocities Prevention Board and other initiatives.
A Manual to Facilitate Conversations on Religious Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
USIP has found the documentary film "The Imam and the Pastor" useful as a resource for workshops and training programs exploring themes of religious peacebuilding and inter-group reconciliation. As such, we commissioned religion and peacebuilding specialist David Steele to produce a facilitator’s manual so that others might use this documentary, and the follow-up documentary "An African Answer," in their own training and workshops.
Optimism and Obstacles in India-Pakistan Peace Talks
USIP is engaged in research and dialogue on India-Pakistan relations. This brief applies a problemsolving lens and draws upon the lessons provided by the Track II dialogue process.