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.
Saudi Women Try to Break Enforced ‘Car-Free Diet’
Just outside Washington D.C., Arlington County encourages residents to practice a “Car-Free Diet” on occasion. I practiced a “car-free diet” for more than two years when I lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The most recent wave of protests by Saudi women to press – again – for the right to drive sheds light on the battle of values playing out in the public squares (and on the roads) of the reclusive Kingdom. The outcome of this struggle has consequences well beyond Saudi society, because it frames the contributions that women are allowed to make.
Honoring Veterans by Working to Stop Conflicts
Every Veterans Day, our nation pays tribute to those who have defended America through military service. There is no better way of honoring this service than recommitting to preventing violent conflict where we can, reflecting the truism that the best battles are those never fought. That is the work of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Put simply, we stop fights. As a ground combat veteran of Vietnam who knows the terrifying and tragic reality of violent conflict, it is a special privilege for me to lead this organization.
Libya Institute Accord Advances On-the-Ground Work for Transition
The U.S. Institute of Peace entered an agreement today with the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS) to consolidate and formalize USIP’s work on the ground in helping strengthen Libya’s governing institutions and civil society.
USIP Report Examines Barriers to Dismantling Pakistani Militancy
A new Institute report offers an in-depth look at a security issue still confronting U.S. and other policymakers despite years of effort: the formidable internal obstacles to defeating violent militants in Pakistan.
New Iran Diplomacy Heightens Pressure from Opponents
A second round of talks with Iran is coming up later this week in Geneva, and the temperature is rising in the region and beyond. The pressure is intense on all sides in the negotiations.
USIP-Supported Afghan Radio Drama Continues with Election Themes
An Institute-supported Afghan radio drama using themes of youth empowerment and the rule of law will continue to be broadcast across Afghanistan through the fall amid initial survey findings that indicate it has gained a wide audience and is encouraging Afghans to consider the implications of the issues raised for their society and young democracy.
Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki Urges Greater U.S. Support
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in an October 31 address at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, called for more support from the United States in countering an ongoing wave of terrorism in Iraq that has been attributed primarily to al-Qaida-backed extremists, as well as for American patience as Iraq tries to build its young democracy amid the country’s deep internal political disputes.
Dying to Be Men: Symposium Digs for Roots of Gender Violence
Colonel Birame Diop is considered a rare success in his family’s neighborhood in Senegal -- a pilot in his country’s Air Force who went on to serve as a top adviser to the Chief of Staff and a global expert on the role of military in society.
Turkmenistan Tennis Champ, "Skategirl" from Peru Advance Women’s Influence
A national tennis champion from Turkmenistan crafted a program to expose more girls to her sport. In Karachi, Pakistan, one of the city’s only female sports journalists aims to strengthen underprivileged girls with athletics. The skateboarding founder of Peru Skategirl developed a strategy for her South American country to prove that "skateboarding is not just a male sport."
A 'Most Desolate Place' Gets a New Lease on Life in Kenya
A colleague once remarked about northern Kenya as we flew over it en route to South Sudan, “I’ve been to many parts of the world, but I believe this is the most desolate place I have ever seen.” The recent discovery of an enormous supply of underground water in the area could transform that “most desolate place” in ways few could have envisioned.