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International Law and Armed Conflict

Rule of Law is examining the evolving legal and institutional arrangements for addressing violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). As part of this ongoing effort, USIP has just produced a guide to training programs in IHL for military personnel around the world.

America's Strategic Posture

America's Strategic Posture

Friday, May 1, 2009

For more than eleven months this bipartisan commission of leading experts on national security, arms control, and nuclear technology met with Congressional leaders, military officers, high-level officials of several countries, arms control groups, and technical experts to assess the appropriate roles for nuclear weapons, nonproliferation programs, and missile defenses. This official edition contains a discussion of key questions and issues as well as the Commission’s findings and recommendati...

Type: Book

The Limits of Institutional Engineering: Lessons from Iraq

The Limits of Institutional Engineering: Lessons from Iraq

Friday, May 1, 2009

 Post-conflict, post-totalitarian societies like Iraq possess many economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics that are not conducive to democratic governance. A central pillar of democracy promotion is that judicious institutional engineering--crafting new institutions and other elements outlining the democratic rules of the game--can overcome these obstacles and engender stable democracies.

Type: Special Report

The Interior Ministry's Role in Security Sector Reform

The Interior Ministry's Role in Security Sector Reform

Friday, May 1, 2009

Efforts to create an effective interior ministry and a professional and community oriented police force cannot succeed unless they are part of an overall effort for security sector reform. SSR, a relatively new concept, refers to the highly political and complex task of transforming the institutions and organizations responsible for dealing with security threats to the state and its citizens.

Type: Special Report

Unfinished Business in Bosnia and Herzegovina: What Is To Be Done?

Unfinished Business in Bosnia and Herzegovina: What Is To Be Done?

Friday, May 1, 2009

This is the first of three papers USIP will publish this month on Bosnia, each with a different analytical perspective on what is happening in Bosnia and what needs to be done there to prevent a return to violence. We do this in the hope that these papers will generate a fuller debate on options that might be pursued by the U.S. government (USG), Europe and Bosnians. 

Type: Peace Brief

Maliki's Iraq between Two Elections

Maliki's Iraq between Two Elections

Friday, May 1, 2009

In meetings conducted in Baghdad in May 2009, senior Iraqi leaders indicated how they interpret January’s provincial election results, expressed concerns about the recent downturn in security, lamented the tremendous financial pressure the government is feeling due to the decline in oil prices, and projected their hopes for national elections slated for 30 January 2010.

Type: Peace Brief

What to do about Bosnia and Herzegovina?:

What to do about Bosnia and Herzegovina?:

Friday, May 1, 2009

 The policy choice in Bosnia revolves around one question: how much time does the country have? If one believes that the country is reasonably stable, that another election will produce more cooperative leaders, and that Bosnia's "EU future" is assured, then the way forward is clear: cede international leadership in Bosnia from the U.S. to the European Union.

Type: Peace Brief