Events At Usip

Despite progress in countering violent extremism, it still poses challenges that have grown more lethal and complex as new actors and conflicts arise. To face these emerging trends, policymakers and practitioners require global insights—grounded in research—into sources of resilience and vulnerability. The annual RESOLVE Global Forum brought together top scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to reflect on past efforts, explore prevailing myths, and discuss strategies to re-calibrate the way forward in addressing violent extremism.

During this crucial period of reform and uncertainty in Ethiopia, join Dr. Terrence Lyons, author of a new book, The Puzzle of Ethiopian Politics, in conversation with the U.S. Institute of Peace, to discuss how the very structures that enabled Ethiopia’s ruling party to overcome the challenges of a war-to-peace transition are the very source of the problems that it faces now.

While all parties take stock of the new situation and determine the best way forward to achieve stability in Afghanistan and the region, USIP brought together a distinguished panel of experts to assess where the peace process stands and identify possibilities for sustainable talks in the future.

Amid rising tensions over tariffs and more, frank and open discussion about U.S. policy toward China is needed now more than ever. To explore some of the key issues facing the U.S.-China relationship today, USIP will host a conversation with Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), co-chairs of the House U.S.-China Working Group.

On August 6, USIP discussed the cognitive underpinnings of language and perception in violent radicalization and rehabilitation. The panel explored examples of other social challenges where the deliberate use of language has been used to reduce stigma and create opportunities for pro-social engagement for highly stigmatized populations.

With more than 100 million people, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most important and populous countries. It’s also unusual: Ethiopia is Africa’s only explicitly ethnically federal state. But amid opening political space and historic national reforms, this model of federalism is coming under strain and the country’s broader national stability is being tested. How ethnic federalism endures, or is discarded, will be a critical question for the future peace and prosperity of the country. Speakers: Alemayehu Weldemariam Dr. Yohannes Gedamu Lecturer, Political Science, Georgia Gwinnett College Dr. Daniel Mains Associate Professor of Anthropology and African Studies, Oklahoma University Aly Verjee, moderator Senior Advisor, Africa Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan made his first visit to the United States since taking office last year.  Immediately following his meeting with President Trump, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted Prime Minister Khan to speak directly on developments in Pakistan and the U.S.-Pakistan relationship at this critical time.

With the prospects of U.S.-North Korea working-level negotiations rekindled after President Trump’s recent surprise meeting with Kim Jong Un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, sanctions relief remains one of the key sticking points. Pyongyang is demanding relief from economic and financial sanctions in exchange for steps toward denuclearization, raising questions for U.S. policymakers about whether and how to roll back the complex regime of U.S. and multilateral sanctions. USIP hosted this discussion that examined the scope and purposes of the North Korea sanctions regime, considered the constraints and opportunities for providing partial and complete sanctions relief, and provided a comparative look at other such regimes.   Speakers: Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt Member, U.N. Panel of Experts (Resolution 1874) Elizabeth Rosenberg Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security Joshua Stanton Blogger, One Free Korea Daniel Wertz Program Manager, National Committee on North Korea Frank Aum, moderator Sen

Five years after ISIS’ genocidal campaign in Iraq, Yazidis and other religious minorities are struggling to recover from the trauma of occupation and the heinous crimes committed by the terrorist group. On June 28, USIP partnered with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to host Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence, to discuss her work to help Iraq recover, the plight of the Yazidi people, and stabilization and resilience in the country. Speakers: Dr. Michael Yaffe, welcoming remarks Vice President, Middle East and Africa Center, United States Institute of Peace Nadia Murad, keynote speaker Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Founder and President of Nadia’s Initiative, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking Ambassador Kelley E. Currie Office of Global Criminal Justice, Department of State The Honorable Stanley Kao Representative of Taiwan Knox Thames Special Advisor for Relig

China continues to develop and invest in its military in the Indo-Pacific and around the world at a startling pace. However, Beijing has also increasingly pursued non-military means of coercion and power projection including infrastructure lending, internal political meddling, and leveraging economic dependence through programs like the Belt and Road Initiative. Along with the escalating geopolitical competition between the United States and China, these initiatives demand a robust and coordinated U.S. response. This response should not only reinforce the United States’ defense posture, but also support enduring interests and values in free and open trade and development, democracy, and human rights. Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) and Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), members of the House Appropriations Committee, discussed what Congress is doing to address this issue at USIP’s ninth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue.   Speakers Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) U.S. Representative from Hawai’i @RepEdCase Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) U

In early May, South Sudan’s ruling and opposition parties agreed to extend the pre-transitional period of the South Sudan peace agreement leading to the formation of a unified Government for an additional six months. The extension of this period presents an opportunity to reflect on the progress and challenges to establishing a just peace in the country. South Sudanese citizens are desperate for peace, but many are asking what channels exist to support a meaningful reduction of violence. Between January and March alone, 25,000 people fled the country, adding to the already two million South Sudanese refugees worldwide. Without full implementation of the peace process, national- and local-level conflicts will continue to threaten hard-won development gains and require greater investments in lifesaving humanitarian aid. This live-streamed discussion examined South Sudan’s peace agreement and the measures required to build peace in the young nation. Experts from USIP, the Enough Project, and Democracy Internati

The United States Institute of Peace, Embassy of Georgia, and the Heritage Foundation conducted the third annual U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership conference. The conference offered look at how the United States and Georgia can further strengthen the ties between the two nations. It also provided a unique chance for U.S. decision-makers, experts, scholars, and journalists to focus on geopolitical regional trends and challenges, and explore bilateral opportunities from both the regional and international perspective. Speakers:  Welcoming Remarks, Ms. Nancy Lindborg, President, United States Institute of Peace Keynote Address, The Honorable Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia   Session 1: Geopolitics and Security: Ensuring Regional Peace and Stability H.E. David Zalkaliani Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Mr. Michael J. Murphy Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian AffairsDr. James Jay CarafanoVice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institut

India’s just-completed parliamentary elections pose new questions: How will the next government in New Delhi engage Pakistan, and how might Islamabad respond? To share assessments of the likely trajectory of India-Pakistan relations following India’s election and the necessary steps to improve ties, USIP hosted a panel including two USIP senior fellows leading the Institute’s research on the best current options for reducing and resolving the 70-year-old India-Pakistan conflict. Participants: Ambassador Jalil Jilani Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace Former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Tara Kartha Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace Former Director of Indian National Security Council Secretariat Josh White Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University Johnny Walsh, moderator Senior Program Officer, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace

A $600 billion black market, cybercrime has transformed the digital world into a sophisticated platform to steal and profit from personal data, undermine civil rights, manipulate elections, disseminate anti-democratic propaganda, and steal intelligence. Yet, cyberspaces remain largely unregulated. The U.S. Institute of Peace and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative brouht together representatives from academia, national security, and the private and public sectors, to identify rule of law strategies to more effectively address this ever-changing landscape. Welcome and Introductions: David Yang Vice President, Applied Conflict Transformation, U.S. Institute of Peace Alberto Mora Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative Judge Margaret McKeown Board Chair, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative   Keynote: “Setting the Stage for the Clash of Norms in Cyberspace” Sujit Raman Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

America’s capacity to manage global challenges and advance its interests—amid pandemics, record levels of displacement, terrorism emanating from fragile states and a connected global economy—requires effective use of U.S. national security tools. To meet the challenges posed by the growing influence of China and Russia, U.S. diplomatic and development efforts must evolve and adapt to a complex 21st Century world while ensuring the effectiveness of resources and methods. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, will discuss how U.S. diplomacy and development are working to achieve America’s goals and adapt to the changing global landscape at USIP’s eighth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue.  Speakers: Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) U.S. Representative from California Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) U.S. Representative from New York Nancy Lindborg, moderator President, U.S. Institute of Peace

Despite high hopes after the first summit in Singapore, U.S.-North Korea negotiations remain deadlocked after a failed second summit in Hanoi. China, as North Korea’s largest neighbor and main trade partner, has played an important role in previous negotiations and should be encouraged to play a constructive role in moving talks forward. The United States hopes Beijing’s economic and diplomatic leverage with North Korea can help bring Pyongyang back to the negotiation table. USIP’s China-North Korea Senior Study Group convened over several months to consider how Washington can best engage Beijing to advance progress on denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Speakers: Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy Founding Director Emeritus, Kissinger Institute on China and the United States Former U.S. Ambassador to China Co-chair, USIP China-North Korea Senior Study Group Ambassador Joseph Yun Senior Advisor, USIP Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Co-chair, USIP China-North Korea Senior

A peace process to end the 18-year war has gathered steam, with talks between the U.S. and Taliban appearing to make substantial progress on foreign troop presence and counterterrorism. Negotiations among Afghans on the country’s political future have not begun, however, and last week’s conference in Doha that might have launched these discussions collapsed at the last minute. During this moment of rapid developments, rare opportunity, and considerable uncertainty, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a distinguished panel of experts examine what’s next for the Afghan peace process. Speakers: Scott Worden, welcoming remarks Director, Afghanistan and Central Asia Program, U.S. Institute of Peace Belquis Ahmadi Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace Jarrett Blanc Senior Fellow, Geoeconomics and Strategy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Lotfullah Najafizada Director, TOLOnews TV Scott Smith Technical Advisor, Afghanistan, U.S Institute of Peace Johnny Walsh, moderator Senior Expe

Across North Africa, instability is at its highest level since 2011. In Algeria, President Bouteflika’s resignation was a necessary step to democratization, but it remains to be seen if the political structure can survive protesters’ demands for reform and ensure a peaceful transition of power. On May 1, USIP hosted a conversation with the Tunisian Minister of Defense Abdelkrim Zbidi, where he discussed the dynamics of North Africa and how the U.S. and Tunisia are working together to promote regional security. Speakers: Abdelkrim Zbidi Minister of Defense, Republic of Tunisia Thomas Hill Senior Program Officer, North Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace Michael Yaffe Vice President, Middle East and Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace

China will host its second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on April 26-27, two years after hosting its inaugural forum that was attended by dozens of world leaders and put a spotlight on Beijing’s massive signature initiative and its global leadership ambitions. This conference features two panels: The first discusses cross-regional trends and concerns about BRI, alternatives to the Chinese model of investment and development, and strategies for increasing the sustainability of international development efforts. The second panel examines the on-the-ground impact of BRI in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa and implications for conflict dynamics in these regions.   Panel 1: Toward High-Quality Projects: Comparing BRI’s Implementation to Global Standards Samantha Custer Director of Policy Analysis, AidData Scott Morris Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Development Policy Initiative, Center for Global Development Pauline Muchina Public Education and Advocacy Coordinator, Africa Region, American F

Congress charged the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent, bipartisan leader in reducing and preventing conflict, with convening The Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States. The Task Force has developed a proposal for a new cost-effective, evidence-based, and coordinated preventive approach. Modest U.S. investments—if they are strategic, coordinated, well-timed, and sustained—can empower communities over time to better resist extremism on their own and motivate international donors to support this cause.   Panelists: Ambassador Diane Corner Counsellor of Foreign and Security Policy, British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Martin Dahinden Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States of America Habib Mayar Deputy General Secretary of the g7+ Ulrika Modéer UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy Sam Worthington President and CEO, InterAction Raj Kumar, moderator Founding President and Editor-in-Chief, Devex