On February 16, USIP, the Institute of Current World Affairs and American Purpose hosted the final event in a series featuring prominent figures in Russia’s exile community. This conversation examined plausible scenarios for a post-authoritarian Russia, including questions on decolonialization, collective understanding of history and Russian identity, the interests of minority regions, and the possible role of the United States and other Western countries based on lessons learned from the post-Soviet 1990s.

Jorgan Andrews
State Department Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace

Natalia Arno
President and Founder, Free Russia Foundation.

Sergei Guriev
Provost and Professor of Economics, Sciences Po Paris University; Former Rector, New Economic School, Moscow

Mikhail Zygar
Founding Editor-in-Chief, Dozhd

Miriam Lanskoy, moderator
Senior Director, Russia and Eurasia, National Endowment for Democracy

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/life-after-putin-potential-scenarios-post-authoritarian-russia

On February 15, USIP, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department, hosted a conversation on the economic components of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the strategic alliances formed under this framework, and the milestones achieved since its inaugural date.

Lise Grande 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania, U.S. National Security Council

Assistant Secretary Donald Lu 
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs

Assistant Secretary Dr. Ely Ratner 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Camille Dawson
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Vikram Singh, moderator 
Senior Advisor, South Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/indo-pacific-strategy-action-commemorating-second-anniversary

On February 13, USIP hosted a discussion with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jessica Lewis on the future of security sector governance and how the United States works to improve partner transparency, accountability and oversight in its security sector assistance.

Jessica Lewis
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Lise Grande, moderator 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/future-security-sector-governance

On February 6, 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes rattled Syria and Turkey, necessitating a robust international response in an already challenging environment amid ongoing conflict and displacement. A year later, USIP hosted a conversation with individuals who experienced the disaster firsthand and were involved in the relief effort.

Bachir Tajaldin
Country Director, Syria and Turkey, Syrian American Medical Society

Mufaddal Hamadeh
President, Syrian American Medical Society

Alex Mahoney
Division Chief for Middle East Levant, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID

Mona Yacoubian, opening remarks/moderator
Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/one-year-later-earthquakes-syria-and-turkey

More than 7 million Sudanese civilians have been displaced and millions more are facing limited access to basic services — including food, water and medical supplies — since the war between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces broke out in April 2023. On January 31, USIP hosted remarks from USAID Administrator Samantha Power and a conversation with frontline Sudanese responders and analysts.

Lise Grande, opening remarks 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Samantha Power
Administrator, USAID

Sara Pantuliano
Chief Executive, Overseas Development Institute

Kholood Khair
Founding Director, Confluence Advisory

Omima Omer Jabal Yagwb 
Khartoum State ERR Jabal Awliya Program Office
 
Abuzar Osman 
Darfur State Overall ERR Coordinator

Susan Stigant, moderator 
Director, Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/frontline-civilian-response-sudan

Almost a decade following the ISIS-perpetrated genocide against them, the Yazidi community faces considerable challenges in seeking justice. On January 29, USIP and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide hosted a discussion on the current challenges facing the Yazidi community and possible ways to strengthen their ability to recover from genocide.

Lise Grande, welcoming remarks
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Victoria Taylor, keynote remarks
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Haider Elias 
President, Yazda Global Organization

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

Pari Ibrahim 
Founder and Executive Director, Free Yezidi Foundation

Ambassador Beth Van Schaack
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State

Naomi Kikoler, moderator 
Director, Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/nobodys-listening-supporting-yazidi-community-10-years-after-genocide

On January 24, USIP and El Faro English held a conversation on the marginalization and displacement of the Garifuna population in Honduras. The discussion examined how discrimination, climate change, and conflicts over land rights help drive migration to the United States and explored policy options that can help protect human rights and curb migration.

Mary Speck, introductory remarks
Senior Advisor, Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace 

José Luis Sanz, moderator
Correspondent, El Faro English

Ricardo Zúniga
Senior Expert, Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace

Andrew Selee
President, Migration Policy Institute

Julio Guity-Guevara
Managing Director, SUDECC Inc

Mirtha Colón
President, Central American Black Organization

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/afro-indigenous-peoples-honduras-exclusion-conflict-and-migration

USIP’s new report, “Mapping the Religious Landscape of Ukraine,” analyzes the nuanced connections between religion and Ukrainian society. On January 18, USIP held a conversation with the report’s authors and other experts on religion in Ukraine to discuss religion, politics and security in Ukraine today.

Peter Mandaville, moderator 
Senior Advisor, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace 
 
Denys Brylov
Co-Founder and Director, European Center for Strategic Analytics (Ukraine)
 
Tetiana Kalenychenko
Co-Founder and Director, European Center for Strategic Analytics (Ukraine)
 
Andrii Kryshtal 
Project Manager, Conciliation Resources
 
Catherine Wanner
Professor of History, Anthropology and Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University
 
Nicholas Danysenko
Emil and Elfriede Jochum Chair in Theology, Valparaiso University
 
Mary Glantz, closing remarks
Acting Director, Russia Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/religious-actors-and-peacebuilding-ukraine

On January 13, Taiwanese voters selected a new president and legislature. On January 17, USIP held a conversation on the significance of the election results and the implications for peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.

Evan Medeiros 
Senior Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace

Vincent Chao 
Spokesperson for William Lai and Head of International Affairs, Democratic Progressive Party (Taiwan)

Chen-Dong Tso
Professor, National Taiwan University (Taiwan)

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/what-taiwans-elections-mean-cross-strait-relations

On December 14, USIP — in partnership with the missions of Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America to the Organization of American States (OAS)— hosted a discussion with former U.N. special representatives that explored the challenges facing these renewed efforts to stabilize Haiti’s security and political environments.

Keith Mines, opening remarks
Vice President, Latin America Program

H.E. Enrique ter Horst
Former U.N. Special Representative for Haiti (1996-1998)

H.E. Juan Gabriel Valdés
Former U.N. Special Representative for Haiti (2004-2006)

H.E. Edmond Mulet
Former U.N. Special Representative for Haiti (2006-2007; 2010-2011)

H.E. Helen La Lime
Former U.N. Special Representative for Haiti (2018-2022)

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/lessons-learned-past-international-security-missions-haiti