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.
Governance, Corruption, and Conflict
Corruption exists in all societies but its cost are particularly high for states emerging from conflict. Not only can it retard development but it can also create further instability. This study guide will help students understand the relationship between corruption and conflict and learn about ways to address corruption and promote good governance.
The Impact of New Media on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management
New media tools such as smartphones can help hold governments accountable and coordinate relief efforts, for example, but they can also convey inaccurate information and promote violent agendas. This study guide examines both the positive and negative effects of the new media and its potential for use in peacebuilding.
Nonviolent Civic Action
Nonviolent civic action includes such activities as boycotts and demonstrations undertaken by a group of people to persuade others to change their behavior. In this study guide, students will learn how nonviolent civic action has been used in the past to effect change without violence.
Undergraduate Curriculum Development Guide
In response to increasing requests by colleges and universities on how to develop programs focusing on global peace, conflict, and security, the Education and Training Center has developed this guide to undergraduate programmatic development. It includes not only models, but also advice on strategies that can be used in the planning stage.
Transitions to Democracy
This guide from the 2004 National Peace Essay Contest assists teachers in increasing students' understanding of the nature of democracy and historic and contemporary efforts at democratization.
Preventing Violent International Conflict
This guide from the 1999 National Peace Essay Contest uses case studies from Poland in 1815 and Czechoslovakia in 1938 to examine the effectiveness of the international diplomacy in preventing violent international crises. It also contains a review of basic concepts and bibliographic materials.
Justification of War
When is war justified? The teaching guide on the justification of war, helps teachers address this age-old question with their students. Through use of the guide, students explore the causes of war, apply the principles of a just war to modern conflicts, analyze how leaders justify wars, and develop an editorial position on the justness of a conflict.
Controlling the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
This study guide assists teachers in increasing students' understanding of the prevalence and spread of nuclear weapons and familiarizes students with historic and contemporary measures to control nuclear proliferation and stimulates their thinking of potential strategies for doing so in the future.
Rebuilding Societies After Conflict
This guide from the 2003 National Peace Essay Contest assists teachers in increasing students' understanding of post-conflict reconstruction and ability to analyze the post-conflict reconstruction process in both historic and contemporary conflicts.
International Terrorism: Definitions, Causes and Responses
Dealing with terrorism has become the centerpiece of U.S. foreign policy today. Yet terrorism, its definition, causes, and methodsof dealing with it, has rarely been dealt with in high school courses. The Institute has developed this guide to assist teachers in helping their students identify and understand terrorism. The teaching guide provides teachers with lesson plans, bibliographic sources, and factual material that address the varying views and definitions of terrorism, some of terroris...