United States Institute of Peace
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The United States Institute of Peace was established in 1986 by the United States Congress to study the "prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts" [1]. 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.
Designed to be nonpartisan and independent, the Institute aims to produce research and engage in a training and active peacebuilding iniatives.
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[edit] 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.
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.
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.
A vigorous public campaign led by Milton C. Mapes of the National Peace Academy Campaign supported these efforts. Mapes died before the bill passed.
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.
[edit] 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.
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.
- Seymour Martin Lipset, Hazel Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University
- Mora L. McLean, Esq., President, Africa-America Institute, New York, NY
- Barbara W. Snelling, former State Senator and former Liutenant Governor, Shelburne, VT.
[edit] 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. This may create conflicts of interest.
[edit] Programs
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USIP offers free online training in conflict resolution, holds events that are open to the public (audio archives of events are frequently available). In addition, USIP sponsors an annual national peace essay contest for high school students.
[edit] Iraq Study Group (ISG)
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.
The ISG is led by co-chairs James Baker III and Lee Hamilton and is composed of five Republicans and five Democrats.
[edit] References
- ^ United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved on February 3, 2007.
[edit] See also
- United States Department of Peace
- Peaceworkers UK : British NGO providing training for potential peaceworkers in nonviolent, civilian techniques of conflict transformation
