Unites States Institute of Peace: Weekly Bulletin 9/2/2022

 

A Year After the Fall of Kabul You Can’t Choose Your Neighbors: The Taliban’s Testy Regional Relationships A year after the Taliban takeover, its relations with its neighbors remain tepid as the region realizes that they now own a greater share of Afghanistan’s problems and the Taliban understand that neither recognition nor financial aid are going to come from the region easily, says USIP’s Scott Worden. Why Was a Negotiated Peace Always Out of Reach in Afghanistan? Over two decades, there were several opportunities to negotiate peace between the U.S., Afghan government and the Taliban. In this Peaceworks report, Steve Brooking, the first British official sent into Afghanistan after 9/11, examines why the three sides were unable or unwilling to reach a negotiated settlement. Belquis Ahmadi on Afghanistan a Year After the Taliban Takeover A year on, the situation in Afghanistan is “looking really grim” as women and girls have lost the gains made over the past two decades and the country’s humanitarian crisis continues to spiral, says USIP’s Belquis Ahmadi. “The Taliban are trying to erase women from society.” Building Peace with Russia: Lessons from Gorbachev As the war in Ukraine continues, Western diplomacy and peacebuilding will face the challenge to construct new frameworks for peace and stability in Europe and worldwide. USIP’s James Rupert says the rise and fall of Mikhail Gorbachev as the West’s interlocutor on peace will offer lessons to remember. Read the analysis Pakistan’s Deadly Floods Come Amid Deluge of Crises After experiencing its hottest months in decades this spring, Pakistan has been hit by torrential rains and devasting floods, all while the country faces major political and economic tests. USIP’s Tamanna Salikuddin and Jumaina Siddiqui  assess the fallout and explain how the international community can help. Read the Q&A Will Other Central American Leaders Follow Nicaragua’s Authoritarian Lead? Nicaragua’s government hasn’t blinked in the face of heavy sanctions, continuing to crack down on dissent — this time against the Catholic Church. The U.S. needs a new approach for democratic backsliding in Central America, or risk other leaders following suit, say USIP’s Arturo Matute and Mary Speck. Read the Q&A Resolution of Korean Forced Labor Claims Must Put Victims at the Center Ambiguity in the 1965 South Korea-Japan normalization treaties presaged today’s forced labor dispute, leaving the two sides without an effective framework to settle the issue. But an unequivocal emphasis on human rights can provide a lasting resolution, says the Sejong Institute’s Nathan Park. Read the latest in the series Israel-Gaza Conflict: A Short Confrontation with Disproportionate Implications After each confrontation in Gaza, the international community repeats their call to break the cycle of violence — but only pays lip service to achieving that objective. Without a tangible political horizon for Palestinians, the cycle of violence in Gaza is likely to continue, says USIP’s Ambassador Hesham Youssef. Read the analysis The Importance of Settling Clan Feuds for Peace in the Philippines’ Bangsamoro Region Bangsamoro family feuds and clan wars often instigate or perpetuate cycles of violence in the southern Philippines. But regional authorities have begun offering alternative mechanisms for resolving these disputes in the hopes of establishing peace and security, says Abdul Majid P. Nagamura. Read the latest in the series Youth Should Participate in a Shared Vision for Venezuela The complex and intertwined crises in Venezuela have left many young people disconnected from political decision-making. As crucial 2024 elections approach, young Venezuelans should be engaged in crafting a new vision for the country they will inherit, says USIP Youth Advisory Council’s Sophia Santi. Read the blog Stay Informed! Sign up for USIP announcements. About | Experts | Events | Education & Training | Careers Connect with USIP

U.S. Institute of Peace 2301 Constitution Ave. NW WASHINGTON, DC 20037 United States