Events At Usip

Too often, peace processes only include dueling parties—leaving women; religious, indigenous, and ethnic groups; youth; and survivors of violence excluded from critical discussions that shape the future landscape of a country. Yet, sidelining their voices often results in a resurgence of conflict and fails to achieve comprehensive or sustainable peace. The U.S. Institute of Peace and Conciliation Resources hosted a discussion on overcoming challenges to inclusive peace processes and negotiated settlements. This event furthered policy conversations supported by evidence-based research on inclusion in peace efforts conducted by Conciliation Resources. The research draws on case studies and local perspectives with local partners from Colombia, Bougainville and Nepal. The event explored how inclusion is negotiated in war to peace transitions, common barriers to and trade-offs between inclusion and stability, and types of external and internal support that have been effective. The findings reflect upon strategie

Russia’s concerted disinformation campaign against the West is sowing confusion and distrust and undermining democratic institutions from Ukraine to the United States. Anne Applebaum—a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, thought leader and commentator on politics and foreign policy—and U.S. Institute of Peace Executive Vice President William Taylor will discuss the challenges to the West from Russian aggression and the weapons of disinformation and disruption, and what the United States and its allies need to do to respond. Speakers: Anne Applebaum Washington Post columnist, Pulitzer-Prize winning author and Professor of Practice at the London School of Economics William Taylor, Moderator Executive Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace  

The Western Balkans—Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, and Serbia—are re-emerging as a region of stagnation and instability due to poor governance, the influence of outside forces and tense relations between ethnic groups and neighboring states. A forthcoming report by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and the EastWest Institute highlights the need for immediate, decisive action by the U.S. and the European Union to head off instability and possible violent strife.  Join the U.S. Institute of Peace to hear from the authors of the report—all veterans of U.S. diplomacy in the Balkans and Europe—as they present a strategy for the United States and Europe, working in a revitalized partnership, to forestall a downward spiral in the Western Balkans, which could potentially lead to fractured states and widespread instability on Europe’s borders. Speakers: Amb. Sarah Mendelson, Moderator Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy and Head of Heinz College in Washingto

The search for peace has become a central focus of Afghanistan policy in Washington and for Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban constitutional reform and status as a legitimate political party in late February on the condition that the group makes peace. In recent months, the Taliban have also publicly offered talks with the United States and prominent Afghan powerbrokers, and high-profile peace demonstrations in conflict-torn Helmand province have spread across much of the country. Speakers: Ambassador Timothy Carney Former U.S. Ambassador to Sudan and Haiti John Wood Associate Professor, National Defense University and former U.S. National Security Council Senior Director for Afghanistan Johnny Walsh Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace and former U.S. Department of State lead for Afghan reconciliation Courtney Cooper International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations and former U.S. National Security Council Director for Afghanistan Ahmad Mohibi Founder a

Since 2001, the United States and international donors have supported Afghanistan in its attempt to build a thriving private-sector economy. Despite 17 years of effort, progress has been mixed and much remains to be done. Please join USIP and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) for a presentation and panel discussion on how the United States can improve its private-sector development and economic growth efforts in Afghanistan and in other states emerging from conflict. At this report launch event, SIGAR will release its latest lessons learned report, Private Sector Development and Economic Growth: Lessons from the U.S. Experience in Afghanistan. This report examines how the U.S. government supported private sector development in Afghanistan since 2001 through efforts led by USAID, with additional significant roles played by the Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, and Treasury. It discusses the myriad challenges of supporting economic development in Afghanistan and offers

This panel will discuss the contours of a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula, to include U.S. operations, how China may respond, and opportunities for cooperation. Participants will also examine Beijing’s role in shaping the post-war situation on the peninsula. Panelists: Jennifer Staats, Moderator Director, East and Southeast Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace Abraham Denmark Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Lieutenant General Jan-Marc Jouas USAF (Ret.) Former Deputy Commander, US Forces Korea and United Nations Command Korea Oriana Skylar Mastro Assistant Professor of Security Studies, Georgetown University Jeanne Kirkpatrick Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

With international attention focused on a potential U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a surprise trip to Beijing in late March to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The North Korean leader’s visit to Beijing, his first foreign visit since assuming power in late 2011, came amid strained bilateral relations in recent years. Kim and Xi appear to have reinvigorated the historical bonds between the two countries and reaffirmed China’s crucial role in the future of the Korean Peninsula. Ambassador Mark Lippert will offer a keynote address that will explore the dynamics and tensions of the historical relationship between China and North Korea, the potential impact of Korean reunification on China, and China’s role in a limited military conflict and its aftermath. Speakers: Ambassador Mark Lippert, Keynote Speaker Current member of the Board of Trustees at the Asia Foundation and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Moderator Assistant Profess

This panel will assess China’s position on the ideal end state for the Korean Peninsula and whether a reunified peninsula under South Korean leadership would be beneficial or detrimental to Chinese economic, political, and security interests given South Korean, Japanese and U.S. likely responses. Panelists: Frank Aum, Moderator Senior Expert on North Korea, U.S. Institute of Peace Yun Sun Co-Director, East Asia Program; Director, China Program, Stimson Center Heung-Kyu Kim Director and Professor of Political Science, China Policy Institute, Ajou University, South Korea Michael Green Chair in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy and Director of Asian Studies, Georgetown University Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies

This panel will examine the historical China-North Korea relationship, changes in political and security relations, and role of past and present economic ties on the future of the bilateral relationship. Panelists: Dennis Wilder, Moderator Managing Director, Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues; Assistant Professor of Practice, Asian Studies Program, Georgetown University Stella Xu Associate Professor of History, Roanoke College Yafeng Xia Professor of History, Long Island University Brooklyn Junsheng Wang Visiting Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council Director and Associate Professor, Department of China’s Regional Strategy, National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China

Criminal and terrorist networks are exploiting today’s innovative technologies for their own gain, posing a direct threat to U.S. security and global stability. Illicit terrorist financing, including through bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, are now being used to fund terrorist groups and circumvent U.S. sanctions. ISIS and rogue nation-states like North Korea, and regional powers like Iran and Russia, sanctioned for their role in conflicts, may also look to illicit financing in order to exploit the international financial system. The National Security Strategy for 2018 says the United States will “use sophisticated investigative tools to disrupt the ability of criminals to use online marketplaces, cryptocurrencies, and other tools for illicit activities.” On April 17, Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) will discuss the growing threat of illicit exploitation of online terrorist financial networks and steps the U.S. should take to improve security and reduce global confli

Seven years of conflict in Syria have exacted an enormous human toll and led to widespread physical destruction. The psychological impact of the war, although less visible, has been just as devastating. The levels of trauma and distress impacting Syrian civilians, especially children have been staggering with nearly 500,000 killed, half the population displaced and more than 13 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance. The traumatic impact of the Syrian conflict is less often acknowledged, but could significantly impair the ability of Syrian civilians to recover and build a more peaceful future.  Join USIP and specialists from the Syrian American Medical Society, the U.S. State Department and Save the Children for a panel discussion, addressing an aspect of the Syrian conflict that often receives less attention than it deserves. Speakers: Nancy Lindborg, opening remarks President, U.S. Institute of Peace, Mona Yacoubian, moderator Senior Advisor, Syria, the Middle East and North Africa, USIP Ca

While threats of violence marred recent legislative campaigns in Colombia, the March 11 election was Colombia’s most peaceful in decades. Although the FARC’s new political party underperformed, its comprehensive demobilization was palpable and the National Liberation Army (ELN), the country’s second-largest rebel group, respected a temporary unilateral ceasefire. For the first time in 50 years, ballots were cast freely throughout the country and not a single incident of violence was recorded. With the composition of Colombia’s next Congress set, jockeying and coalition-building among the main candidates is fully underway ahead of the May 27 presidential polls. The outcome will have important implications for the precarious implementation of the 2016 FARC peace accord, which has yet to tackle key political and agrarian reforms, and the next president will also have to chart a way forward for the dialogues with the ELN as talks in Quito race against the clock to design a new indefinite bilateral ceasefire and

As a part of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ ongoing project on Civil Wars, Violence and International Responses, the second volume of a special issue of the journal Dædalus was released in January 2018 to explore trends in civil wars and solutions moving forward. Join us as experts discuss their findings and recommendations on how the United States can better respond to intrastate conflict and promote both development and stability to create lasting peace.

The role of the United States is seen as indispensable throughout the Middle East, and many are looking to understand new directions in U.S. policy in the region in the wake of the counter-ISIS military campaign. U.S. administration and military leaders will discuss the stakes, challenges and requirements of bringing stability to a region in which violence persists and gains against terrorists hang by a thread. Panelists: Stephen J. Hadley, Moderator Chair, Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace General Joseph L. Votel CENTCOM Commander Ambassador Mark Green Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development Brett McGurk Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, U.S. Department of State

Beyond Iraq’s domestic post-ISIS challenges, the region is faced with continued conflict and instability, particularly in Syria. This panel will explore developments among Iraq’s neighbors amid continuing tensions in the region. Regional experts will discuss developments in Syria, Turkey, the Arab Gulf states, Iran and Russia and their impact on the region’s post-ISIS landscape. Panelists: Kevin Baron, Moderator Founding Executive Editor, Defense One Dr. Elie Abouaoun Director, Middle East and North Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace Dr. Mark N. Katz Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University Alireza Nader Senior International/Defense Researcher, RAND Mona Yacoubian Senior Advisor for Syria, U.S. Institute of Peace

Following Iraq’s defeat of ISIS, the country must manage a web of internal challenges and conflicts, many deepened by the war. As the country prepares for a critical national election, its social fabric is torn by sectarian tensions, the ongoing displacement of over 2 million citizens, and the Kurdistan region’s 2017 independence referendum. The economy is stagnant; corruption is pervasive. Yet Iraqi pride in the military victory against the ISIS extremists has increased nationalist sentiments in many communities. Many hope the victory and the country’s energy shifting into politics would enable positive change. So what is the path ahead? Experts will discuss Iraq’s recovery from ISIS and the country’s future. Panelists: Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, Moderator President, Middle East Broadcasting Networks Ambassador Fareed Yasseen Ambassador to the United States, Republic of Iraq Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States Sarhang Hamasaeed Director, Middle Eas

  Women’s participation in drafting constitutions leads to more equitable legal frameworks and socially inclusive reforms, laying the groundwork for sustainable peace. Yet new research from Inclusive Security reveals that while 75 conflict-affected countries oversaw significant reform processes between 1995-2015, only one in five constitutional drafters in these environments have been women. While there have been slow increases in the number of women involved in constitution-making processes since the end of the Cold War, women still must overcome discrimination and perceived illegitimacy once they have a seat at the negotiating table. Drawing on in-depth case studies, research, and personal experiences, panelists will offer insights on how early action and alliance building have proven useful strategies for overcoming such obstacles, and recommendations for supporting and empowering women in constitution building in the future. Speakers: Rosarie Tucci Director of Inclusive Societies, U.S Institute of Peace

Women are struggling every day for peace and security in their communities, whether as parliamentarians seeking to preserve the constitutional rights of marginalized groups or as filmmakers prompting change through challenging community discourse. To amplify these voices, the U.S. Institute of Peace, with the U.S. Department of State, will host an event featuring three of the 2018 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage awardees. Participants will hear firsthand the paths these women of courage have taken to lead for positive change. This event will feature three women working across varied sectors – including politics, rule of law and the media – to advance social justice for all. In order to achieve positive, nonviolent change, entire communities must be engaged – and women and girls are critical to this process.  Participants: Kathleen Kuehnast, Moderator Director, Gender Policy and Strategy, USIP Roya Sadat Founder, Roya Film House and Founder, Afghanistan International Women’s Film Festiva

Deputy Secretary Sullivan will deliver a keynote address on U.S. Support for Humanitarian Assistance during an invite-only event at the U.S. Institute of Peace.  John J. Sullivan was confirmed by the United States Senate and sworn in as the Deputy Secretary of State on May 24, 2017.

As Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) play a leading role in advancing international human rights in Congress. The two Members of Congress will draw on their experiences promoting human rights in authoritarian and violent, conflict-affected countries at USIP’s Inaugural Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Panelists: Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) 14th Congressional District of Illinois, U.S. House of Representatives Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) 2nd Congressional District of Massachusetts, U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Lindborg, Moderator President, U.S. Institute of Peace