UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE

The 'United States Institute of Peace' or 'USIP' was established in 1986 by the United States Congress to study the "prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts" United States Institute of Peace . Funded by Congress, the United States Institute of Peace seeks to remediate violent conflict and instability by promoting a democratic approach to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and resources. United States Institute of Peace .
Designed to be nonpartisan and independent, the Institute aims to produce research and engage in a training and active peacebuilding iniatives. United States Institute of Peace .

Contents

History

Leadership

Criticism

Programs

Iraq Study Group (ISG)

References

See also

External links

History

Establishment of an official government institution dedicated to the cause of international peace can be traced back to debates by the framers of the United States Constitution. In 1976, the first cornerstone for the campaign that led to the creation of the U.S. Institute of Peace, though, was laid when Senator Vance Hartke of Indiana and Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon introduced a bill to create the George Washington Peace Academy. After hearings in the Senate on the Hartke-Hatfield bill, it was decided that further study was needed. In 1979, a provision was successfully added to the Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriation Bill for the establishment of the Commission on Proposals for the National Academy of Peace and Conflict Resolution. United States Institute of Peace .
Consisting of appointees named by President Jimmy Carter and the leadership of the House and Senate, the Commission worked for over a year and half. Chaired by Senator Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii, the Matsunaga Commission, conducted a wide survey and study of the theories, techniques, and institutions involved in the resolution of international conflicts. The commission met with military and government officials, leading educators, conflict resolution professionals, and representatives from various religious, ethnic, and scientific communities. In addition to these sessions, the commission heard from thousands of citizens through a series of public meetings held across the nation that resulted in over 6,000 pages of transcripts. United States Institute of Peace .
In 1981, after the completion of its deliberations, the Matsunaga Commission issued a final report recommending the creation of a national peace academy. Based upon the recommendations included in the report, bills were subsequently introduced in both houses of Congress under the bipartisan sponsorship of Senators Mark Hatfield, Spark Matsunaga, and Jennings Randolph, and Congressman Dan Glickman. United States Institute of Peace .
A vigorous public campaign led by Milton C. Mapes of the National Peace Academy Campaign supported these efforts. Mapes died before the bill passed. United States Institute of Peace .
Robert J. Conlan was hired and reorganized the campaign under his leadership in The National Peace Institute Foundation. After considerable debate about the appropriate form of the new institution, the United States Institute of Peace Act was finally passed and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. United States Institute of Peace .

Leadership

The Institute is governed by a bipartisan Board of Directors appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The president and executive officers of the Institute are in turn selected by the Board of Directors. United States Institute of Peace .
'Board of Directors'

★ J. Robinson West (Chairman), Chairman PFC Energy, Washington, D.C.

★ María Otero (Vice Chairman), President ACCION International, Boston, MA

★ Betty F. Bumpers, Founder and former President, Peace Links, Washington, D.C.

★ Holly J. Burkhalter, Director of U.S. Policy, Physicians for Human Rights, Washington D.C.

★ Chester A. Crocker, James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

★ Laurie S. Fulton, Williams and Connolly, Washington, D.C.

★ Charles Horner, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Washington D.C.

★ Mora L. McLean, Esq., President, Africa-America Institute, New York, NY

★ Barbara W. Snelling, former State Senator and former Lieutenant Governor, Shelburne, VT.

Criticism

The USIP is not a traditional federal agency and is actually an "independent nonpartisan national institution" –-living both in the government and nonprofit worlds. Some have claimed this could create conflicts of interest.^[1].

Programs

The USIP has various programs housed in different research departments:

★ Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention^[2].

★ Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution^[3].

★ Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations^[4].

★ Centers of Innovation^[5].

★ Rule of Law^[6].

★ Religion and Peacemaking^[7].

★ Virtual Diplomacy^[8].

★ Education Program^[9].

★ Training Program^[10].

★ Muslim World Initiative^[11].
The USIP offers free online certificate training courses in conflict analysis and resolution^[12] and holds events that are open to the public (audio archives of events are frequently available).^[13]. Moreover, the USIP sponsors an annual national peace essay contest^[14] for high school students.
Courses include actual case studies of genocide in Rwanda and escalating armed conflict in Kosovo.^[12]

Iraq Study Group (ISG)

Main articles: Iraq Study Group

On March 15, 2006, Congress announced the formation of the Iraq Study Group, facilitated by USIP and supported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Center for the Study of the Presidency(CSP), and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. The task force delivered an independent assessment of the situation in Iraq, the Iraq Study Group Report, on December 6, 2006.^[13].
The ISG is led by co-chairs James Baker III and Lee Hamilton and is composed of five Republicans and five Democrats. United States Institute of Peace .

References

1. General opinion of political analysts such as Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright
2. Official Website, USIP Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention
3. Official Website, USIP Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution
4. Official Website, USIP Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations
5. Official Website, USIP Centers of Innovation
6. Official Website, USIP Projects to uphold the Rule of Law
7. Official Website, USIP Activities concerning Religion and Peacemaking
8. Official Website, USIP Projects on Virtual Diplomacy
9. Official Website, USIP Education Program
10. Official Website, USIP Training Program
11. Official Website, USIP Muslim World Initiative
12. Official Website, USIP Online Conflict Analysis Certificate Course
13. Official Website, USIP Events for the Public
14. Official Website, USIP National Peace Essay Contest for High School Students
15. Official Website, USIP Online Conflict Analysis Certificate Course
16. Official Website, USIP Events for the Public

See also

★ United States Department of Peace

★ Peaceworkers UK : British NGO providing training for potential peaceworkers in nonviolent, civilian techniques of conflict transformation

External links

★ U.S. Institute of Peace Web site

★ History of USIP

★ Iraq Study Group

★ 'Group Watch' Profile for the ''United States Institute of Peace''