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.
Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World
Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World examines conflict management capacities and gaps regionally and globally, and assesses whether regions—through their regional organizations or through loose coalitions of states, regional bodies, and non-official actors—are able to address an array of new and emerging security threats.
Customary Justice and the Rule of Law in War-Torn Societies
Customary Justice and the Rule of Law in War-Torn Societies presents seven in-depth case studies that take a broad interdisciplinary approach to the study of the justice system. Moving beyond the narrow lens of legal analysis, the cases—Mozambique, Guatemala, East Timor, Afghanistan, Liberia, Iraq, Sudan—examine the larger historical, political, and social factors that shape the character and role of customary justice systems and their place in the overall justice sector.
South Sudan Independence
USIP’s Jon Temin provides a preview of South Sudan’s upcoming independence on July 9.
Despite Violence, South Sudan Preparing for July 9 Independence
With the overwhelming vote in favor of separation, a new nation will be born on Saturday, July 9: the Republic of South Sudan.
Hawk and Dove: What a Special Forces Soldier Learned about Peace
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates likes to say that some of the biggest doves are in uniform. It’s the kind of counterintuitive declaration that, in fact, the military is very skeptical when it comes to military action, and prefers peace to battle almost anytime.
Strengthening the Capacity of Youth to Build Peace in Colombia
Through a grant to Hijos e Hijas por la Memoria y Contra la Impunidad (Sons and Daughters for Memory and Against Impunity), USIP is strengthening a youth organization dedicated to promoting a peaceful resolution to Colombia's conflict, supporting young people’s desire to serve as leaders for peace in Colombia, and helping to develop the peace-making capacities of the younger generation.
International Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Qaddafi
USIP’s Lawrence Woocher discusses the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Libyan leader Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi and how this may impact efforts to end the fighting.
Liberian President Optimistic on Country’s Outlook
If there is a Cinderella story in sub-Saharan Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf would argue it belongs to Liberia. Years of civil war, economic mismanagement and staggering debt all conspired to bring an already-ravaged economy to its knees by 2005. Read how President Sirleaf worked to turn the country around.
Women Peacemakers in Iraq
USIP’s Maria Jessop and Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana discuss the power of dialogue to bridge divides and the role of women peacemakers in Iraq in the context of a workshop for the women of USIP’s Network of Iraqi Facilitators (NIF) they conducted in May 2011.
Iraq’s Political Development Continues Amid Turmoil of Arab Spring
Having maintained a permanent field office in Baghdad since 2004, USIP has sought to flexibly respond to immediate challenges to peace and security in Iraq while staying focused on developing the long-term capacities of Iraqi institutions and groups to prevent, manage and productively resolve conflict.