Iraqis just went to the polls to elect a new national parliament. In a surprise turn, a coalition led by controversial cleric Moqtada al-Sadr—a staunch opponent of U.S. influcence in Iraq won the most seats. Listen in as Joshua Johnson, Host of NPR's 1A, leads a panel discussion on Iraq's new leaders and the many challenges they face.

Speakers:

Sarhang Hamasaeed

Denise Natali

Kenneth Pollack

On May 21 there was a provocative town hall debate with foreign policy experts Kenneth Pollack, from the American Enterprise Institute, the National Defense University’s Denise Natali, and USIP's Sarhang Hamasaeed, moderated by Joshua Johnson of the public radio program 1A. The discussion focused on how Iraq’s leaders can overcome years of sectarian violence and find unity, as well as what a future alliance with the West may look like.

Joshua Johnson, Moderator
Host, NPR's 1A
@jejohnson322

Sarhang Hamasaeed
Director, Middle East Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace
@sarhangsalar

Denise Natali
Director, Center for Strategic Research, National Defense University
@dnataliDC

Kenneth Pollack
Resident Scholar, U.S.-Middle East Security and Foreign Policies, American Enterprise Institute

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/after-isis-will-iraqs-elections-be-next-step-stability

The U.S. Institute of Peace and Conciliation Resources held a discussion on overcoming challenges to inclusive peace processes and negotiated settlements. This event furthered policy conversations supported by evidence-based research on inclusion in peace efforts conducted by Conciliation Resources.

Opening Remarks  

Introduction by Moderator

Presentation of Findings

Application and Experiences on the Ground

Policy Implications

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/can-inclusive-peace-processes-work

On May 7, USIP hosted Anne Applebaum for an engaging and timely discussion about Russia's influence on democratic processes in both Ukraine and the United States.

Anne Applebaum
Washington Post columnist, Pulitzer-Prize winning author and Professor of Practice, Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics
@anneapplebaum

William Taylor, Moderator
Executive Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/war-other-means

The Western Balkans—Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, and Serbia—are re-emerging as a region of stagnation and instability due to poor governance, the influence of outside forces and tense relations between ethnic groups and neighboring states. The U.S. Institute of Peace hosted the authors of a report—all veterans of U.S. diplomacy in the Balkans and Europe—as they present a strategy for the United States and Europe, working in a revitalized partnership, to forestall a downward spiral in the Western Balkans, which could potentially lead to fractured states and widespread instability on Europe’s borders.

Amb. Sarah Mendelson, Moderator
Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy and Head of Heinz College in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Mellon University, and former U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations

Amb. Frank G. Wisner
International Affairs Advisor, Squire Patton Boggs and former U.S. ambassador to Zambia, Egypt, the Philippines and India

Jonathan Levitsky
Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton, and former Counselor to Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations

Amb. Cameron Munter
CEO and President, The EastWest Institute and former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Pakistan

Tom Graham
Senior Fellow and Managing Director, Kissinger Associates, Inc.

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/time-action-western-balkans