U.S. Institute of Peace Weekly Bulletin 10/28/2022

 

China After the Party Congress: Welcome to Xi’s People’s Republic of Control The National Party Congress not only featured the recoronation of Xi Jinping, but also a generational turnover of Communist Party leadership in favor of Xi’s centralized control and hardline policies. As a result, other countries should anticipate an assertive and combative China going forward, says USIP’s Andrew Scobell. For more on the key takeaways from the Party Congress, listen to Scobell on this week’s “On Peace.” Read the analysis Ukraine: The EU’s Unprecedented Provision of Lethal Aid is a Good First Step Just three days after Russia began its war on Ukraine, the EU announced that it would provide weapons to Ukraine, marking the first time in history that it has provided lethal weaponry. USIP’s Calin Trenkov-Wermuth and Jacob Zack say more must be done to bolster Ukraine’s defense and European security. Read the commentary How to Balance Hydropower and Local Conflict Risks For countries with rising energy demands, dams offer a path toward energy security that avoids fossil fuels. However, dams can also lead to displacement, environmental damage and local conflict if their development lacks equity and sustainability, say USIP’s Tegan Blaine, Chris Collins and Laura Leiva. Read the analysis In Myanmar, Sham Elections Aren’t the Path to Stability As the junta considers elections, conditions in Myanmar make a fair and democratic result impossible. A sham process only stands to benefit the regime, and the international community should avoid misplaced hopes that the results will augur change, say USIP’s Priscilla Clapp and Ye Myo Hein. Read the commentary Taliban Escalate New Abuses Against Afghan Women, Girls Amid their own struggle to consolidate power and women’s rights campaigns in Afghanistan and Iran, the Taliban are intensifying assaults on women and girls throughout the country. These new human rights violations may presage a wider escalation of violent extremism, says USIP’s Belquis Ahmadi. Read the commentary Missteps and Missed Opportunities for Peace in Afghanistan A look back at the past couple of decades reveals the United States, successive Afghan governments and the Taliban all missed several opportunities to achieve peace — leaving the country back at “square one” as it faces twin economic and humanitarian crises under Taliban control. Read the analysis Common Ground on International Religious Freedom Enhances U.S. National Security In this era of violent religious persecution abroad, there is a growing need for consistent and effective U.S. leadership to advance religious freedom internationally. USIP’s Peter Mandaville and Knox Thames explain how to maintain international religious freedom as a central tenet of U.S. national security. Read the commentary War Legacies and Peace in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia The legacy of U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia, once a major obstacle to normal relations, has gradually become the basis for a closer partnership. USIP spoke with experts on how reconciliation efforts can build a future based on trust and shared interests by addressing the lingering effects of war. Watch the videos Stay Informed! Sign up for USIP announcements. About | Experts | Events | Education & Training | Careers Connect with USIP This email was sent by: U.S. Institute of Peace 2301 Constitution Ave. NW WASHINGTON, DC 20037 United States