Peace & Security

What does it mean to seek peace? What does it mean to seek security? Are both of these ideas attainable goals in the 21st century? And if so, what are the issues that stand in the way of achieving them? And most importantly, what role do students have in creating the peace and security that they and others seek?

The goal of the Peace and Security Program is to answer these questions and more. Our vision is that every young person in the United States exercises their power to bring about a peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world. Our mission is to create an intellectual foundation among students in the United States about peace and security issues, equip those students with the skills and resources to address those issues and mobilize them to act on behalf of creating the kind of peace and security that they and the global population desire.

Our focus is on US engagement, its history and what the role of the United States should be in trying to achieve a more peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world. We recognize the complexity of the issue, and its relationship and issues, such as foreign assistance, health rights, environmental protection and many others. We intersect with and integrate with work on these issues constantly, recognizing that our ability to connect issues and connect people is the only way that we will ever be able to move forward.

Whether it be trying to avoid a nuclear apocalypse, building bridges of understanding between different peoples, or struggling to end all US wars and occupations, we empower students to realize their power and act on behalf of a better future. We hold as a core value that no unjust action happens within a vacuum and thus what affects one, affects all. Therefore, it is our responsibility as global citizens to correct that injustice by whatever non-violent means we find appropriate.

Luckily, you have an immense opportunity right here to fulfill that responsibility and be a part of the movement to create a more peaceful and secure world. Our future and the future of countless individuals across the globe depend on us, so let’s not waste any time.

Let’s build an agenda for peace!

Find out more about the issues and our work on them:

What you can do

Organize an event on your campus. Bring in a speaker. Organize a debate. Stand up and demand change. Check out our event database for some great ideas to get you started.
Show a movie discussing the issue. Check out our film library for a list of free films you can borrow from AIDemocracy. Films come with discussion guides and free shipping. It couldn’t be any easier!
Request a mini-grant to make your film or event a success. We provide small grants to help pay for materials, food and speakers. Contact us to discuss.
Speak out to the network. Write a blog for our site. Post something on our Facebook Page. Share photos or video with us on YouTube. Share your opinions with other concerned students like you. Here’s how you can submit materials.
Ask for advice and support. Not sure how to get started? Need to talk through ideas for your event? AIDemocracy staff and student leaders are here to help
And more…

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan: bad news for aid agencies

February 13, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

According to announcements in November of 2011, the US will withdraw 30,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2013. Other NATO countries will withdraw 10,000 altogether. However, negative effects of this withdrawal are already felt in multiple areas, aid being one of them. Whether the Afghani government is able to take on these projects is questionable. Many aid agencies suffer losses as a result of the decreased US military presence. Financial allocation to aid agencies in Afghanistan decreased from $4 bn to $2 bn. CARE and Mercy Corps are some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, aid, budget, foreign aid

Small Yet Agile; The US Military in 2020

February 4, 2012 By Ana Ila 2 Comments

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced plans for changes that the US military will undergo due to the current budget cuts. According to Secretary Panetta, US forces will be more tech-centric and more rapidly deployable. As previously announced, the Pentagon will decrease spending by $487 billion over the next ten years. Savings would start in 2013, and defense budget would be cut every year, adding up to the $487 billion by the tenth year. The military will undergo several changes, the first being an increase in mobility. The US military … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Aid Workers, economy, Europe, military, security, Somalia, terrorism, US military, war

Cyber Security: Who owns the DoD’s networks?

February 3, 2012 By Ron 1 Comment

Cyber Security: a frequently discussed buzz word that everyone seems to have a general understanding of in today's internet-savvy world. What does cyber security mean? Well if you ask most people, it means protecting networks from hackers, viruses, malware, etc. They would be correct. Operation Buckshot Yankee in 2008 resulted from the largest hack of a government information system to date. So clearly, there's a threat. What you don't hear about is the other burgeoning threat to the US's cyber security: ownership of the networks. Private companies … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: cyber security, department of defense, internet, network, security

Too early for Taliban negotiations?

January 30, 2012 By Emily 2 Comments

“Our jihad has two targets. One is America and the other is the Foreign Ministry of the Taliban.” In his statement before the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden exemplified the incongruity between Taliban members who once harbored bin Laden and members of their Foreign Ministry, the branch which with the U.S. has historically negotiated. Today, America is once again hoping to engage the Taliban through negotiations with the Afghan government. Given the reality of America’s past attempts with the Taliban, it may seem rash to restart negotiations, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: 9/11, Afghanistan, Government, Guantanamo Bay, Islam, Middle East, NATO, Obama, Pakistan, Peace, security, Taliban, terrorism, United States

Iraq War: A successful business trip

January 24, 2012 By Usman Shabbir 4 Comments

Sun Tzu said “all war is deception". The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, BBC reports. The aura of victory spread over the Pentagon and the White house as the last remaining war heroes returned. This was after paying an opportunity cost of 4,487 US and 97,461 Iraqi causalities and a net investment of $801.98 billion (cost of the Iraq war). President Obama claimed that the US military was the “finest fighting force” further extending the claim of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: BBC, Corruption, democracy, economy, Iran, Iraq, military, Obama, oil, President Bush, privatization, US military, war, war on terror

“Come on people this is a war”

January 20, 2012 By Ana Ila 2 Comments

Conservative blogger, Pamela Geller, and Dana LoEsch, a CNN contributor and conservative radio host, have made the news with their appreciation of the desecration of the corpses of the Taliban soldiers by the US soldiers. Their actions are examples not only of cultural bigotry, but also of how little these individuals respect the international law of war. Yes, terrorists and the Taliban soldiers do not respect the international law and thus their rights do not apply under the same law either. Ted Lapkin claims in his paper, Does Human Rights Law Apply … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, Dana LoEsch, human rights, International Law, Pamela Geller, Taliban

Does the Keystone Pipeline really support national security?

January 19, 2012 By Ron 3 Comments

Many from the right have been harking on the immediate construction and opening of the Keystone Pipeline. Obviously, economic reasons are given as job creation is a huge topic during an election year, especially with 8.5% unemployment rate. Lately, there has been another issue raised, supporting the pipeline; national security. It's not a new concept, people have been citing America's dependence on foreign oil as a national security concern since 1979 when oil production dropped and increased prices caused economic shocks to rock the country. But does … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: alternative energy, climate, climate change, corporate responsibility, economy, energy security, global warming, Homeland Security, keystone pipeline, national security, natural resources, Obama

Choose 2012: Candidates Draw Lines on Security Issues

January 17, 2012 By Ron Leave a Comment

In today's world of flip flopping, mud slinging, and side-stepping, it can be hard to determine where a candidate actually stands on an issue. Couple that with the fact that actions and promises don't always align, and it's easy to get lost. I have done some research with the help of votesmart.org and www.issues2000.org (great resources) to give a summary of the candidates for the 2012 presidential race, including President Obama. The summaries include … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: elections 2012

Recent summit raises questions about North Korea’s growing nuclear program

January 13, 2012 By Emily 1 Comment

A summit the week of January 9 between South Korea and China raised discussion about a free trade agreement, diplomatic relations, and perhaps most importantly, North Korea’s nuclear program. As the two countries discuss the importance of a bilateral trade agreement, they will undoubtedly examine ways to confront the growing problem of North Korean nuclear proliferation. While both countries want peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, their views diverge on how to achieve these goals. Beijing’s foremost concern is protecting its own … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: aid, China, Food Aid, free trade, Government, humanitarian aid, Japan, North Korea, nuclear, nuclear proliferation, Peace, policy, refugee, Russia, sanctions, United States

U.S. Foreign Policy Alternatives in Iran Part 2: expanding upon recent success

January 9, 2012 By Emily 1 Comment

While President Obama’s new economic sanctions have already hit Iran’s oil sector, America and other states - both in the West and the Middle East - must continue to apply pressure if they wish to halt the growth of Iran’s nuclear program. First, America should continue to target specific financial institutions that directly support Iranian nuclear proliferation or terrorist groups. For example, America needs to pursue sanctions on banks Melli, Mellat, Saderat, and Sepah that financially support Iran’s nuclear program and the Qods Force, a … [Read more...]