The Stimson Center is pleased to welcome conflict, mediation, and governance expert Steve Ross as a Senior Fellow to the DC-based foreign affairs think tank. In joining the Stimson Center, Ross further expands Stimson’s robust expertise on the Indo-Pacific region, bringing a specific focus to the complex crisis in Myanmar and its ongoing impact in neighboring Bangladesh. Read Steve’s full bio.
Ross’s first project at Stimson will explore the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and the conflict’s implications for the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced in Rakhine and the nearly one million Rohingya refugees forcibly displaced to Bangladesh. The project will also explore the conflict’s ongoing impact on the future of politics, governance and human rights throughout Myanmar, as well as the geopolitical implications of the conflict and mass displacement on the region – and the wider world.
Learn more about the project: https://www.stimson.org/project/myanmar/crisis-rakhine-state/
Ross’s expertise builds upon a foundation of more than a decade of Stimson Center work in Myanmar. “As one of the only institutions in the United States with a dedicated body of research and analysis on Myanmar’s complex politics and uncertain future, Stimson is very fortunate to welcome Steve to our team,” said Stimson Center President and CEO Brian Finlay.
“Steve’s understanding and commitment to the range of stakeholders – civil society, government, and international organizations – required to shape a better future for the people of Myanmar’s Rakhine State is unparalleled. His expertise on conflict mitigation and stabilization, together with his reputation as a trusted authority and principled mediator, make him an invaluable addition to Stimson’s body of research and engagement on peace and conflict, particularly in Myanmar,” said Finlay.
“I am delighted to be joining the Stimson Center to continue my work on Myanmar and Bangladesh at a critical time in the Rakhine crisis,” said Steve Ross. “This conflict within a conflict is deserving of greater attention and, with its unmatched track record in the Indo-Pacific, Stimson provides the ideal platform for analysis, engagement, and dialogue to achieve real world impact. I look forward to working with this excellent team to realize gains in peace and security in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and beyond.”
Ross joins the Stimson Center following his recent tenure at The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, where he led the Center’s work to address conflict in Myanmar and to respond to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh. Prior to joining the Richardson Center and building a private consulting practice, Ross was based in Myanmar from 2014 to 2017, where he led a project for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue to prevent and mitigate conflict in Rakhine State while simultaneously supporting The Carter Center’s long-term election observation mission for the 2015 elections.
Ross has also contributed to conflict prevention and stabilization efforts at the State Department, conducted detailed analyses of conflict in Afghanistan and the impact of transnational terrorism on United Nations field missions, managed programming to improve adherence to the rule of law globally, and supported good governance programming while working in Cambodia. He holds a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Tufts University.
About the Stimson Center
The Stimson Center promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation. For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.
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