Civil-Military Relations

Ms. Cole has been at the forefront of managing USIP's relationships with U.S. federal agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on a wide range of issues. Most recently, Cole was lead writer of the first civilian "doctrine" ever produced, "Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction," released in October 2009.

In Afghanistan and Iraq, Congress provides oversight and resources for U.S. programs to reform local military and police forces. This process is critical to U.S. success, but is little understood. USIP's Security Sector Reform Working Group examined the role of Congress in ensuring that security assistance is effective, serves U.S interests and creates democratic security forces.

The Asia Foundation will release findings from its fifth public opinion poll, "Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People," the most comprehensive survey conducted in all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces.

In the aftermath of violent conflict in countries such as Nepal, public distrust of the police can undermine justice and security sector reform efforts and weaken the rule of law.  How can justice and security sector reform be approached in a way that strengthens the rule of law?

Dr. David Kilcullen and Dr. Andrew Wilder explore the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the relationship between successful counter-insurgency operations and state-building efforts.

Over the past decade, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has trained members of police and military forces around the world to prepare them to participate in international peacekeeping operations or to contribute to post-conflict stabilization and rule of law interventions in their own or in other war-torn countries. Most of the training takes place outside the United States, from remote, rugged bases to centrally located schools and academies, from Senegal to Nepal, from Italy to the Philippines.

On June 12, Iran held an historic, and as it has turned out, highly contentious presidential election.  While the government  declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the decisive winner, his challengers--led by Mir Hossein Mousavi--have accused the regime of massive voter fraud, thus setting up a unprecedented conflict between a regime and major segments of society. These developments come on the heels of efforts by the Obama administration to engage Iran.  USIP hosted a fascinating discussion of the implications of Iran's presidential election for  the country's domestic politics, and even more so, for the course (and fate) of  U.S.-Iranian engagement.

Effective and sustainable state-building requires a balanced application of all instruments of foreign assistance, particularly defense, diplomacy and development (the 3Ds).