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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioPeace Corps at 50

David L. Caprara, September 21, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Peace Corps at 50This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, which was signed into law on September 22, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. David Caprara reflects on the legacy of the Peace Corps and the impact it has had on volunteering, both at the local level and internationally. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSargent Shriver’s Lasting—and Growing—Legacy

David L. Caprara, January 20, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Sargent Shriver’s Lasting—and Growing—LegacyDavid Caprara reflects on Sargent Shriver's half-century of service. His legacy, says Caprara, has reached and changed millions of lives and leaves us a foundation to build on his accomplishments to scale-up service as a direly needed “soft power” alternative to establish international understanding and collaboration in a volatile world. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioInternational Volunteer Service: A Smart Way to Build Bridges

David L. Caprara, Kevin F. F. Quigley and Lex Rieffel, June 2009, The Brookings Institution

International Volunteer Service: A Smart Way to Build BridgesPresident Obama has proposed expanding the Peace Corps and building a global network of volunteers. To achieve this goal, David Caprara, Kevin F. F. Quigley and Lex Rieffel examine alternative service models and offer policy recommendations to the Obama Administration to further enhance U.S. volunteer opportunities with the goal of strengthening America’s multilateral development engagements. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioInternational Service and the Obama Administration

David L. Caprara, February 19, 2009, The Brookings Institution

International Service and the Obama AdministrationPresident Obama has stated his commitment to enhancing service and volunteer opportunities for Americans both at home and abroad. David Caprara, the director of Brookings’s Initiative on International Volunteering and Service, explores the administration’s agenda in this Q&A. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioA Better Place for the Peace Corps

Lex Rieffel, Fall 2008, World View, Volume 21, Number 3

A Better Place for the Peace CorpsThe Peace Corps, although the standard of excellence for international volunteering, remains constrained by budget issues and low numbers of volunteers. In a recent World View article, Lex Rieffel proposes the creation of a Corporation for International Study and Service that includes the Peace Corps as one solution and outlines potential benefits. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTen Times the Peace Corps: A Smart Investment in Soft Power

Kevin F. F. Quigley and Lex Rieffel, September 2008, The Brookings Institution

Ten Times the Peace Corps: A Smart Investment in Soft PowerReversing the negative attitudes toward the United States that prevail in many parts of the world will require a mix of hard power and soft power instruments. Brookings Fellow Lex Rieffel and National Peace Corps Association President Kevin F. F. Quigley provide recommendations for scaling up the Peace Corps and argue that such an effort could contribute measurably to strengthening America’s relations with the rest of the world. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioGlobal Service Fellowships: Building Bridges through American Volunteers

David L. Caprara, Harris Wofford and John Bridgeland, March 2007, Brookings Institution

David L. Caprara, John Bridgeland, and Harris Wofford argue that as policy-makers search for ways to share the best of America with the world, they should start with our international volunteers, who embody this country's spirit of generosity, resourcefulness and hope. With the support of Congress and the Bush Administration, volunteers can become the first face of America to communities in many nations, while advancing concrete initiatives that lift up the lives of the poor throughout the world.
  Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Best Diplomats: American Volunteers

David L. Caprara, January 07, 2007, washingtonpost.com

Editorial by David Caprara in the Washington Post, advocating volunteerism as effective public diplomacy. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioInternational Volunteering: Smart Power

Lex Rieffel and Sarah Zalud, June 2006, The Brookings Institution

Lex Rieffel and Sarah Zalud argue that Americans engaging in volunteer work in other countries encourage more favorable attitudes among foreigners toward America and generate greater understanding among Americans of foreign perspectives. A more robust cross-cultural dialogue could make the United States less dependent on hard power, which has high budget costs. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioReaching Out: Americans Serving Overseas

Lex Rieffel, December 07, 2005, The Brookings Institution

Working Paper by Lex Reiffel (12/7/05) Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioReconsidering the Peace Corps

Lex Rieffel, December 2003, The Brookings Institution

Policy Brief #127: ""Reconsidering the Peace Corps"" by Lex Rieffel. (December 2003) Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Peace Corps in a Turbulent World

Lex Rieffel, October 2003, The Brookings Institution

Working Paper by Lex Rieffel, Global Poverty Reduction Initiative (10/15/03) Read More

In Brief

The Peace Corps sends American volunteers to nations across the globe to aid in development, health and education efforts and to increase understanding of America by other peoples, as well as educate the volunteers about the peoples of the world. It was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.

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