Events at USIP

Latest Episodes:

Sudan After the Sanctions Jun 05, 2018

Show notes

The U.S.-Sudan relationship is at an historic juncture, with the prospect of a broader normalization of relations with the United States coinciding with economic and political turbulence in Sudan. Amid the goals of the U.S. engagement process, the demands of Sudanese citizens for a peaceful, better governed country remain unfulfilled. Join USIP to explore the findings of “Sudan after Sanctions: Sudanese Views of Relations with the United States,” authored by USIP’s Aly Verjee, examining the perceptions and hopes of Sudanese citizens for future relations between Sudan and the United States.

Innovation and Technology in Rule of Law - Afternoon Sessions Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

Questions about the promises and dangers of technology have recently dominated headlines—but less often covered are the stories of practitioners and start-ups leveraging their know-how to build peace. On May 31, the Justice Sector Training, Research and Coordination Program and the U.S. Institute of Peace will host a symposium to tackle the difficult questions of how technology can be used to strengthen rule of law, security, community engagement, and relationships between states and the people they serve in developing and conflict-affected areas.

Session Two: Innovations in Engagement: From Mobile Apps to Social Media

Rohini Srihari, Moderator Chief Data Scientist, PeaceTech Lab

Jeffrey Aresty President, InternetBar.org

Karen Naimer Director, Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones, Physicians for Human Rights

Antoine Heuty Founder and CEO, Ulula LLC

Zaid Zaid Public Policy, Strategic Response, Facebook, Inc.

Session Three: Innovations in E-Governance: From Case Management to Consensus Building

Andrew Solomon, Moderator Senior Rule of Law Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development

Jeff Apperson Vice President, National Center for State Courts

Julia Glidden General Manager, IBM Global Business Services - Global Government Industry

Nino Vardosanidze Senior Legislative and Oversight Manager, Good Governance Initiative, Tetra Tech ARD (Republic of Georgia)

Innovation and Technology in Rule of Law - Opening Session Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

Session One: Innovations in Law Enforcement: Digital Investigative Analysis & Forensic Science: Advances and Setbacks

Lindsay Freeman, Moderator Human Rights Center Research Fellow, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley

Mark D. Mogle Deputy Assistant Director for Forensics, International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Justice

Mark Grantz Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service

Joe Varani Digital Investigative Analyst, Cybercrime Lab, U.S. Department of Justice

Countering Youth Engagement in Violence May 24, 2018

Show notes

Violent extremism has become one of the major challenges to stability in fragile states, characterized by weak, non-inclusive institutions, and lack of economic opportunity. Youth are often perceived as particularly vulnerable to recruitment into extremist groups. The U.S. Institute of Peace has funded several impact evaluations of peacebuilding interventions over the last few years, including two rigorous evaluations of Mercy Corps’ youth programming in Afghanistan and Somalia aimed at reducing support for armed opposition groups. This discussion will tackle the potential for implementing these programs at scale and its potential effect on broader conflict dynamics in places like Afghanistan and Somalia.

Speakers: Joseph Hewitt, moderator Vice President of Policy, Learning, and Strategy, USIP

Scott Worden Director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs, USIP

Aubrey Cox Program Officer, Youth, USIP

Abdullahi Boru Halakhe Senior Officer Policy and Advocacy-Africa, International Rescue Committee

Beza Tesfaye Senior Researcher, Mercy Corps

Can Power-sharing Arrangements Deliver Peace? May 24, 2018

Show notes

Power-sharing arrangements are often applied as a means to address conflict between two parties. But practitioners and policymakers alike agree that the foundation for such arrangements requires considerable strategy and planning, including articulating clear objectives and expectations. Under what conditions do power-sharing arrangements work? What are the key ingredients to help unity governments succeed? Do power-sharing arrangements build political trust by delivering to citizens?

Speakers: Jeff Helsing Associate Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace

Rosarie Tucci Director, Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace

Susan Stigant Director, Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

Caroline Hartzell Professor, Political Science Department, Gettysburg College

Matthew Hoddie Associate Professor, Towson University

Clark Letterman Survey Research Specialist, Research Triangle Institute International

U.S.-Georgia Partnership - Conference Panel Two - Strategic Gateway for Regional Expansion May 23, 2018

Show notes

This year marks the centennial of Georgia’s independence and the establishment of the First Republic in 1918 and the 10th year since the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. Please join the U.S. Institute of Peace, Embassy of Georgia and the Heritage Foundation in welcoming The Honorable Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, for the Second Annual U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference. Renowned experts will explore the current state of regional affairs, focusing on the geopolitical interests of the United States and Georgia.

Panelists:

H.E. Dimitry Kumsishvili First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Mr. Brock Bierman Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, USAID

Ambassador Elisabeth Millard Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs

Mr. Christian Danielsson Director General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission

Mr. Jonathan Katz, Moderator Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States

Closing Remarks:

H.E. Levan Izoria Minister of Defense of Georgia

U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership - Conference Panel One - Geopolitics and Security May 23, 2018

Show notes

Keynote Address:

The Honorable Giorgi Kvirikashvili Prime Minister of Georgia

Panelists:

H.E. Mikheil Janelidze Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

Ms. Fiona Hill Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC)

Mr. James Carafano Vice President of Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy and the E. W. Richardson Fellow, The Heritage Foundation

Mr. Robert Karem U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

Mr. Luke Coffey, Moderator Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

Data Democracy - People and Power in the Digital Age May 22, 2018

Show notes

Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys and former chairman of Aadhaar, India’s massive biometric identification system. Join the U.S. Institute of Peace, PeaceTech Lab and emerge85 for a discussion with Nilekani on India’s emerging data economy, which seeks to restore individuals’ control over their personal data while fueling public and private sector innovation.

Exploring this new paradigm is important not just for India. Data is a key focus of international development and governance efforts. Organizations and governments worldwide are harnessing data to improve delivery of goods and services, increase communication, and bolster accountability, but there are challenges.

Speakers: Nandan Nilekani, Featured Speaker Co-Founder, Infosys

Sheldon Himelfarb, Moderator Founder & CEO, PeaceTech Lab

North Korea and the Fine Print of a Deal - A Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue May 22, 2018

Show notes

The United States is engaged in high-stakes negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program as the White House prepares for the summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. But nuclear capabilities and missiles are not the only items on the negotiating table. An eventual settlement could include some difficult concessions and require significant oversight and legislative action on the part of Congress.

Both Members of Congress and military veterans, Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Representative Steve Russell (R-OK), will examine the importance of this ongoing diplomatic effort, possible outcomes of negotiations, and the role they hope Congress plays in the coming months at USIP’s third Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue on May 22.

Speakers: Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) 5th Congressional District of Oklahoma, U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) 33rd Congressional District of California, U.S. House of Representatives

Nancy Lindborg, moderator President, U.S. Institute of Peace

After ISIS, Will Iraq's Elections be The Next Step to Stability? May 21, 2018

Show notes

Iraqis just went to the polls to elect a new national parliament. In a surprise turn, a coalition led by controversial cleric Moqtada al-Sadr—a staunch opponent of U.S. influcence in Iraq won the most seats. Listen in as Joshua Johnson, Host of NPR's 1A, leads a panel discussion on Iraq's new leaders and the many challenges they face.

Speakers: Joshua Johnson, Moderator Host, NPR's 1A

Sarhang Hamasaeed Director, Middle East Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

Denise Natali Director, Center for Strategic Research, National Defense University

Kenneth Pollack Resident Scholar, U.S.-Middle East Security and Foreign Policies, American Enterprise Institute