Number of results to display per page
Search Results
17362. Central Asia’s Growing Role in Building Peace and Regional Connectivity with Afghanistan
- Author:
- Humayan Hamidzada and Richard Ponzio
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- In its 2017 strategy for South Asia, the Trump administration called on Pakistan to reduce support for the Taliban and encourage them to enter into peace negotiations. Yet as crucial as Pakistan will be to peace in Afghanistan, a similarly persuasive argument can be made for Afghanistan’s northern neighbors—the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In this Special Report, Humayun Hamidzada and Richard Ponzio examine the vital economic and political roles these countries can play to support a just and lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region.
- Topic:
- Regional Cooperation, Taliban, Negotiation, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan
17363. The Religious Landscape in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
- Author:
- Melyn McKay
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- This Peaceworks report maps the religious landscape of Myanmar’s Rakhine State, focusing in particular on the current and potential influence of religion in peace and reconciliation efforts. Part of a broader USIP initiative to map the religious landscape in conflict-affected environments, it presents key findings and offers recommendations to enable policymakers and peacebuilding practitioners to better navigate and engage within Rakhine’s religious landscape.
- Topic:
- Religion, Conflict, Peace, and Reconciliation
- Political Geography:
- Southeast Asia and Myanmar
17364. Ceasefire Monitoring in South Sudan 2014–2019: “A Very Ugly Mission”
- Author:
- Aly Verjee
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- More than five years after South Sudan’s first ceasefire agreement, ceasefire monitors are still on the ground. The hope was that their work would help overcome the mistrust between rival factions, halt ongoing violence, and deter further violations. Drawing on interviews with monitors, combatants, politicians, civil society representatives, diplomats, peacekeepers, and others, this report examines the history of ceasefire monitoring in South Sudan and offers recommendations for donors supporting future monitoring processes in South Sudan and elsewhere.
- Topic:
- Peacekeeping, Conflict, Violence, Peace, and Ceasefire
- Political Geography:
- Africa and South Sudan
17365. Breaking, Not Bending: Afghan Elections Require Institutional Reform
- Author:
- Scott Smith and Staffan Darnolf
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Afghanistan’s presidential election is scheduled to take place on September 28. In planning the election, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) must overcome a number of practical challenges to avoid repeating the mistakes of the 2018 parliamentary elections—elections that undermined the legitimacy of the state and reduced Afghans’ confidence in democracy as a means for selecting their leaders. Based on a careful analysis of the IEC’s performance during the 2018 elections, this report offers recommendations for creating more resilient electoral institutions in Afghanistan and other postconflict countries.
- Topic:
- Politics, Reform, Elections, Democracy, Conflict, Institutions, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Afghanistan, South Asia, and Central Asia
17366. Negotiations, Continued: Ensuring the Positive Performance of Power-Sharing Arrangements
- Author:
- David Lanz, Laurie Nathan, and Alexandre Raffoul
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Most negotiated peace settlements since the 1990s have featured some aspect of power sharing, including those in Northern Ireland, Burundi, Bosnia, and Nepal. However, by freezing a sometimes unstable status quo, power sharing can create challenges to maintaining peace over the longer term as issues arise that rekindle enmity or create new suspicions among the parties. This report argues that power-sharing arrangements can be made more durable by providing robust forums, either permanent or ad hoc, that allow parties to resolve differences as they arise and to reaffirm their commitment to peace.
- Topic:
- Treaties and Agreements, Political Power Sharing, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Bosnia, Nepal, Burundi, and Northern Ireland
17367. Syria Study Group Final Report
- Author:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- The United States cannot avoid or ignore the conflict in Syria. From the outset of hostilities, minimizing American involvement in the war and safeguarding U.S. national security interests have proven to be incompatible goals. This will remain the case for the foreseeable future. The essential question before American policymakers is not whether the United States should keep or with- draw its forces in Syria, but what strategy and mix of tools will best protect the United States from the conflict’s reverberations and advance American interests. This report sets out such a strategy.
- Topic:
- National Security, Conflict, Syrian War, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Middle East, Syria, North America, and United States of America
17368. Donor Assistance in the Transparency and Accountability Movement
- Author:
- Davin O'Regan
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Focusing on transparency and anti-corruption issues, this report discusses the findings from a series of participatory workshops and more than seventy interviews with social movement actors and organizations in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ukraine. It looks at the different ways social movement actors in these countries were influenced by foreign financial support and training, including in terms of the goals they set, the tactics and activities they pursue, and whether receiving foreign support compromises their legitimacy with their domestic constituents.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Social Movement, Accountability, and Transparency
- Political Geography:
- Kenya, Africa, Europe, Ukraine, and Nigeria
17369. Conflict Prevention in Kenya: Combating Corruption through Nonviolent Action
- Author:
- Tabatha Thompson and Hussein Khalid
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- The relationship between corruption and violent conflict is complex and significant. Corruption affects access to basic services, contributes to resource scarcity, and fuels organized crime. It was included on a European Commission checklist for the root causes of conflict, and it was cited as a potential driver of extremism in the 2019 report of the Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States. Focusing on several social movements in Kenya, this report reviews the efforts of collective civic action to combat corruption and advance transparency, accountability, and good governance.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Corruption, Governance, Violent Extremism, Violence, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Kenya and Africa
17370. Loya Jirgas and Political Crisis Management in Afghanistan: Drawing on the Bank of Tradition
- Author:
- Scott Smith
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Many times over the past century, Afghan political elites have utilized a loya jirga, or grand national assembly, when they have needed to demonstrate national consensus. Based on traditional village jirgas convened to resolve local disputes, loya jirgas have been used to debate and ratify constitutions, endorse the country's position and alliances in times of war, and discuss how and when to engage the Taliban in peace talks. In light of the growing political uncertainty in Afghanistan, this report examines the strengths and weaknesses of the loya jirga as an institution for resolving national crises.
- Topic:
- Politics, Governance, Taliban, Democracy, Crisis Management, Peace, and Jirga
- Political Geography:
- Afghanistan, South Asia, and Central Asia
17371. Local Cross-line Coordination in Syria
- Author:
- Natasha Hall, Benjamin Smith, and Thomas McGee
- Publication Date:
- 10-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Throughout the eight-year-long conflict in Syria, the movement of people and goods—including vital foodstuffs, medicines, equipment, and fuel—has often been severely restricted by periods of prolonged fighting. Yet in many areas, local arrangements, historical circumstances, and key actors have facilitated trade and movement across the lines of conflict. This report examines four cross-line areas in Syria and draws lessons for how these local dynamics might affect the resolution of the larger conflict and these communities in the long term.
- Topic:
- Conflict, Syrian War, Mobility, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Middle East and Syria
17372. Managing the Secure Release of Sensitive Detainees in Libya
- Author:
- Fiona Mangan, Lillian Dang, and Nate Wilson
- Publication Date:
- 10-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- During the 2011 uprising that ousted dictator Muammar Gadhafi, revolutionary fighters in Libya rounded up large numbers of Gadhafi loyalists and detained them in prison facilities and makeshift detention centers around the country. The release of such high-profile detainees, either after they have been acquitted of crimes or served their sentences, is a sensitive political issue. This report examines the domestic and international laws and standards governing the secure release of these detainees and provides a number of policy ideas for addressing the shortcomings of Libya’s current release procedures.
- Topic:
- Crime, Prisons/Penal Systems, Arab Spring, and Justice
- Political Geography:
- Libya and North Africa
17373. Insurgent Bureaucracy: How the Taliban Makes Policy
- Author:
- Ashley Jackson and Rahmatullah Amiri
- Publication Date:
- 11-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- The system of shadow Taliban governance and the experiences of civilians subject to it are well documented. The policies that guide this governance and the factors that contribute to them, however, are not. This report examines how the Taliban make and implement policy. Based on more than a hundred interviews and previously unreleased Taliban documents, this report offers rare insight into Taliban decision-making processes and the factors that influence them.
- Topic:
- Non State Actors, Governance, Taliban, and Bureaucracy
- Political Geography:
- Afghanistan, South Asia, and Central Asia
17374. Engaging the Post-ISIS Iraqi Religious Landscape for Peace and Reconciliation
- Author:
- Ann Wainscott
- Publication Date:
- 11-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Religious actors in Iraq wield considerable influence, and Iraqis perceive them as playing an important role in moving the country toward peace. This report analyzes the influence of Iraq’s religious actors—who has it, why they have it, and how they exercise it—to illuminate their crucial role in supporting peace and reconciliation efforts and to help policymakers and practitioners understand how to engage them in efforts to advance peace.
- Topic:
- Religion, Violent Extremism, Islamic State, Peace, and Reconciliation
- Political Geography:
- Iraq and Middle East
17375. Strategic Implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
- Author:
- James Schwemlein
- Publication Date:
- 12-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- Great power politics is resurgent in South Asia today. China’s growing military ambition in the region is matched in financial terms by its Belt and Road Initiative, the largest and most advanced component of which is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. What remains unclear is how the United States should navigate the new dynamic. This report, which is based on research and consultations with experts worldwide, addresses the question of how the India-Pakistan rivalry will play into the emerging great power competition.
- Topic:
- Economics, Power Politics, Infrastructure, and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan, China, South Asia, Asia, North America, and United States of America
17376. Myanmar’s 2020 Elections and Conflict Dynamics
- Author:
- Mary Callahan and Myo Zaw Oo
- Publication Date:
- 04-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- In late 2020, Myanmar will hold a general election for more than a thousand seats in Union, state, and regional legislative bodies. The next year and a half will also see two high-level, conflict-laden processes capture domestic and international attention—the 21st Century Panglong peace conference and possible attempts to repatriate Rohingya refugees. This report evaluates the environment in which the peace process, Rohingya repatriation, and the election intersect and identifies opportunities for mitigating conflict in the run-up to the election.
- Topic:
- Governance, Elections, Democracy, Refugees, Conflict, Violence, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and Myanmar
17377. Options for Reintegrating Taliban Fighters in an Afghan Peace Process
- Author:
- Deedee Derksen
- Publication Date:
- 04-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- A central issue for Afghanistan in achieving stability is making long-lasting peace with the Taliban. The success of any such agreement will depend in large part on whether Taliban commanders and fighters can assume new roles in Afghan politics, the security forces, or civilian life. This report explores that question, drawing on lessons from how similar situations unfolded in Burundi, Tajikistan, and Nepal.
- Topic:
- Taliban, Violent Extremism, Conflict, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- Afghanistan, South Asia, Central Asia, Tajikistan, Nepal, and Burundi
17378. The United Wa State Army and Burma’s Peace Process
- Author:
- Bertil Lintner
- Publication Date:
- 04-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- The United Wa State Army, a force of some twenty-thousand fighters, is the largest of Burma’s ethnic armed organizations. It is also the best equipped, boasting modern and sophisticated Chinese weaponry, and operates a formidable drug empire in the Golden Triangle region. This report examines the history of the Wa people, the United Wa State Army’s long-standing political and military ties to China, and the Wa’s role in Burma’s fragile peace process.
- Topic:
- Armed Forces, Ethnicity, Conflict, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- China, Asia, Burma, and Southeast Asia
17379. China’s Role in North Korea Nuclear and Peace Negotiations
- Author:
- USIP China-North Korea Senior Study Group
- Publication Date:
- 05-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- This is the second in the Senior Study Group (SSG) series of USIP reports examining China’s influence on conflicts around the world. A group of fifteen experts met from September to December 2018 to assess China’s interests and influence in bringing about a durable settlement of the North Korean nuclear crisis. This report provides recommendations for the United States to assume a more effective role in shaping the future of North Korea in light of China’s role and interests. Unless otherwise sourced, all observations and conclusions are those of SSG members.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Nuclear Weapons, Conflict, Negotiation, and Peace
- Political Geography:
- China, Asia, South Korea, and North Korea
17380. Ukrainian Activism for Transparency and Accountability: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
- Author:
- Olena Tregub
- Publication Date:
- 05-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- In the wake of the Euromaidan protests that toppled the government of Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, Ukrainian activists and civil society organizations have pressed hard for anti-corruption reforms and greater openness and transparency in the public sector. Five years later, however, corruption remains a fixture of civic life—and a majority of Ukrainians believe the fight against corruption has been a failure. This new report reviews the changes that have taken place in the anti-corruption movement since the Euromaidan and identifies practical actions the international community can take to support reform efforts in Ukraine.
- Topic:
- Security, Corruption, Governance, Reform, Democracy, Rule of Law, Protests, Accountability, Transparency, and Justice
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Ukraine