Events at USIP

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Joining Democracy and Peace Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

In support of the White House’s Summit for Democracy, USIP hosted a conversation with civil-society leaders from five democracies that are affected by diverse and challenging conflicts — Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ukraine. The discussion examined the prospects for democracy and peace in these countries, how the goals of greater democracy and greater peace are linked, what lessons the leaders learned in joining together democracy and peace, and how the international democratic community can better support their efforts.

Speakers

Lise Grande, moderator President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Uzra Zeya, keynote remarks Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

Farhad Alaaldin Chair, Iraq Advisory Council, Iraq

Maria Jimena Duzan Host, “A Fondo” podcast, Colombia

Glenda Gloria Executive Editor, Rappler, Philippines

Idayat Hassan Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Nigeria

Oleksandra Matviychuk Chair, Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/joining-democracy-and-peace

Averting a Fiscal and Humanitarian Disaster in Afghanistan Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

In the three months since the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan’s numerous economic and humanitarian challenges have reached a catastrophic tipping point. On December 3, USIP hosted a discussion with leading international experts and aid workers on the current economic and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, as well as how the U.S and international community can better assist Afghans at this time of significant need.

Speakers

Scott Worden, welcoming remarks Director, Afghanistan & Central Asia, U.S Institute of Peace

Vicki Aken Afghanistan Country Director, International Rescue Committee

William Byrd Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace

Abdallah Al Dardari Resident Representative in Afghanistan, United Nations Development Program

Khalid Payenda Former Acting Finance Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Kate Bateman, moderator Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/averting-fiscal-and-humanitarian-disaster-afghanistan

Libyan General Elections 2021: Discussion Series with Libyan Leaders - A Conversation with Dr. Aref Ali Nayed Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

USIP is hosting a series of public discussions with Libyan leaders connected to the elections scheduled in the coming months. The third discussion, on November 18, featured Dr. Aref Ali Nayed, who is the chairman of Ihya Libya (Reviving Libya) — a registered political party — and has served as the former ambassador of Libya to the United Arab Emirates and is also the chairman of both Kalam Research & Media and the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies.

Speakers

Dr. Aref Ali Nayed Chairman, Ihya Libya

Mike Yaffe, moderator Vice President, Middle East and North Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/libyan-general-elections-2021-discussion-series-libyan-leaders-1

Learning from U.S.-Vietnam Cooperation on Wartime Remains Recovery Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Accounting for missing personnel is an essential component of postwar reconciliation and building a secure peace. With support from Congress, USIP launched the Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative in August 2021. The initiative supports reconciliation between the U.S. and Vietnamese governments and peoples, as well as among Vietnamese inside and outside the country, and aims to document and promote the ongoing cooperation to address legacies of war as the basis for a comprehensive partnership build on trust and shared interests. On December 2, USIP hosted a discussion that looks at U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in the search for, and identification of, wartime Vietnamese remains along with personal stories of Vietnamese families who lost relatives in the war.

Speakers

Ambassador George Moose, welcoming remarks Chair, Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace

Kelly K. McKeague Director, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

Sr. Col. Đoàn Quang Hòa Deputy Chief of Office, National Steering Committee 515

Hải Nguyễn Director, Global Vietnam Wars Studies Initiative, Harvard University

Tim Rieser Foreign Policy Aide to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

Thảo Griffiths Independent Consultant on War Legacies, Hanoi

Hoàng Thanh Nga Deputy Chief of Mission, Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United States

Andrew Wells-Dang, moderator Senior Expert, Vietnam, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/learning-us-vietnam-cooperation-wartime-remains-recovery

Security Dilemmas in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Community-Based Armed Groups Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Since 2018, the RESOLVE Network has been researching the complex interactions between armed groups, civilians, state actors and international security — with particular attention to discerning women’s roles, agency and choices in conflict. On December 1, USIP and the RESOLVE Network held a virtual conversation that examined how community-based armed groups impact the wider conflict ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speakers

Dr. Alastair Reed, welcoming remarks Senior Expert and Executive Director, RESOLVE Network

Nicoletta Barbera, introductory remarks Senior Program Officer, Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Lauren Van Metre, moderator Senior Advisor, Peace and Security, National Democratic Institute

Dr. Jakana Thomas Associate Professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego

Rida Lyammouri Associate Fellow, Clingendael Institute; Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Bogi Bozsogi, concluding remarks Executive Coordination and Network Manager, RESOLVE Network

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/security-dilemmas-sub-saharan-africa-role-community-based-armed-groups

Beyond AUKUS and the Quad: What’s Next for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

The Biden administration has focused considerable attention on the Indo-Pacific region, declaring it central to advancing a range of U.S. economic, political and security interests. The Quad grouping held its first ever in-person Leaders’ Summit in September. And that same month, the Australia-United Kingdom-United States agreement opened the door to sharing sensitive defense technologies with Australia. On November 19, USIP held a special event with U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Dr. Kurt Campbell, about the AUKUS partnership, the Quad’s development, and next steps for U.S. Indo-Pacific policy in the aftermath of the Biden-Xi virtual summit.

Keynote

Lise Grande, opening remarks President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Kurt Campbell, keynote remarks Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, U.S. National Security Council

Stephen J. Hadley, moderator Former Chair, Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/beyond-aukus-and-quad-whats-next-us-indo-pacific-strategy

Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism: Global Trends and Dynamics Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

Attention to racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE) and far-right extremism around the globe has increased significantly over the past few years as white supremacist and REMVE-motivated attacks and rhetoric have proliferated. As a part of RESOLVE’s sixth annual Global Forum Series, the RESOLVE Network held a virtual conversation on November 16 about REMVE trends and activities in lesser discussed contexts. This discussion explored manifestations of REMVE movements and ideologies in Australia and India, focusing on their similarities and differences, transnational links, narratives, and overall implications for efforts to address threats posed by their activities.

Speakers

Alastair Reed, opening remarks Senior Expert and Executive Director, RESOLVE Network

Amarnath Amarasingam Assistant Professor, School of Religion, Queen’s University; Member, RESOLVE Research Advisory Council

Julian Droogan Senior Lecturer, Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism

Lise Waldek Lecturer, Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University; Member, Executive Committee for the Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalisation to Terrorism Research Network

Cynthia Miller-Idriss, moderator/chair Professor, American University Director, Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab at American University

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/racially-and-ethnically-motivated-violent-extremism-remve-global-trends-and-dynamics

Libyan General Elections 2021: Discussion Series with Libyan Leaders - A Conversation with Fadel Lamen Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

On November 2, USIP held the second in a series of public discussions with Libyan leaders connected to the elections scheduled in the coming months. These events will dive into complex questions regarding efforts to prevent electoral violence, the electoral process itself and leaders’ visions for restoring peace and stability in Libya. This second event featured Fadel Lamen, who most recently served as director-general of the Libyan National Economic and Social Development Board. He is the founder of Afaak Al-Watan, a new Libyan political party with a future-focused agenda aiming to empower youth and women as critical contributors. Lamen is also an architect of the Libyan Political Agreement, which is currently governing Libya’s transition under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Speakers

Fadel Lamen Founder, Afaak Al-Watan

Mike Yaffe, moderator Vice President, Middle East and North Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/libyan-general-elections-2021-discussion-series-libyan-leaders-0

Celebrating 21 Years of UNSCR 1325 Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

Twenty-one years ago, the United Nations unanimously adopted U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which requires parties to a conflict to ensure the protection of women and girls as well as the full and meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict resolution. On November 9, USIP and the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues co-hosted a discussion on the progress made on women, peace and security issues and a look forward to the years ahead.

Speakers

Katrina Fotovat, moderator Senior Official, Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, U.S. Department of State

Ambassador Nancy Soderberg Senior Resident Director for Kosovo, NDI Former Alternate Representative to the United Nations

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

Mari Traore Project Officer, Women Preventing Violent Extremism, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/celebrating-21-years-unscr-1325

Now Comes the Hard Part: Can the Taliban Govern Afghanistan? Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

For the Taliban, it seems that defeating the Afghan military and overthrowing the elected government as U.S. troops departed was the easy part. Now, the insurgency faces the daunting challenge of governing a weak and divided country. On November 4, USIP hosted a discussion with Afghanistan experts on how the Taliban are likely to respond to internal and external pressure to govern more inclusively as conditions inside Afghanistan worsen, as well as what the United States and the region can do to avoid the worst consequences of failed governance and mitigate a looming disaster.

Speakers

Stephen Brooking Former Peace Process Special Advisor, U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

Naheed Farid Chairperson of House Standing Committee for Human Rights, Civil Society and Women Affairs

Lotfullah Najafizada Director, TOLO News

Scott Worden, moderator Director, Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/now-comes-hard-part-can-taliban-govern-afghanistan

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