Peter Ackerman
Encyclopedia
Peter Ackerman is the founding chair of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
and the managing director of Rockport Capital Incorporated. He chaired the board of trustees of Freedom House
from September 2005 until January 2009. He is a member of the Board of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
He was born in New York City
, New York
. As an undergraduate he attended Colgate University
. After he graduated from Colgate, he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy where in he earned a Ph.D.
in 1976 in International Relations
, studying under Gene Sharp
and Robert Pfaltzgraff. Dr. Ackerman's thesis, Strategic Aspects of Nonviolent Resistance Movements, examined the nonviolent strategy and tactics used by people who are living under oppression and have no viable military option to free themselves.
From 1978 to 1990, Ackerman was Director of International Capital Markets at investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert
.
In 1990 Dr. Ackerman moved to London
where he was a visiting scholar at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
. During this time he co-authored with Christopher Kruegler the book Strategic Nonviolent Conflict. Dr. Ackerman was also a content advisor in the television version of Steve York
's 1999 film A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict
and co-authored with Jack DuVall
a book of the same title. In 2002 Dr. Ackerman also helped produce the documentary Bringing Down A Dictator
, the sequel to A Force More Powerful, which chronicled the fall of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic
by nonviolent
means. In 2005 he became a director of the Institute for Strategic Studies' IISS-US office.
International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is an independent, nonprofit educational foundation, founded by Jack DuVall and Peter Ackerman in 2002...
and the managing director of Rockport Capital Incorporated. He chaired the board of trustees of Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
from September 2005 until January 2009. He is a member of the Board of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As an undergraduate he attended Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. After he graduated from Colgate, he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy where in he earned a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1976 in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, studying under Gene Sharp
Gene Sharp
Gene Sharp is Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He is known for his extensive writings on nonviolent struggle, which have influenced numerous anti-government resistance movements around the world.-Biography:Sharp was born in Ohio, the son of an...
and Robert Pfaltzgraff. Dr. Ackerman's thesis, Strategic Aspects of Nonviolent Resistance Movements, examined the nonviolent strategy and tactics used by people who are living under oppression and have no viable military option to free themselves.
From 1978 to 1990, Ackerman was Director of International Capital Markets at investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert
Drexel Burnham Lambert
Drexel Burnham Lambert was a major Wall Street investment banking firm, which first rose to prominence and then was forced into bankruptcy in February 1990 by its involvement in illegal activities in the junk bond market, driven by Drexel employee Michael Milken. At its height, it was the...
.
In 1990 Dr. Ackerman moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he was a visiting scholar at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
. During this time he co-authored with Christopher Kruegler the book Strategic Nonviolent Conflict. Dr. Ackerman was also a content advisor in the television version of Steve York
Steve York
Steven H. York is a documentary filmmaker who has worked in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America on subjects ranging from religious fundamentalism to American history to nonviolent conflict.- Life and career :...
's 1999 film A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict
A Force More Powerful
A Force More Powerful is a 1999 feature-length documentary film and a 2000 PBS series written and directed by Steve York about non-violent resistance movements around the world. Executive producers were Dalton Delan and Jack DuVall...
and co-authored with Jack DuVall
Jack DuVall
Jack DuVall has a background in universities, television, federal United States administration and politics, and the United States Air Force. He was Executive Producer of Steve York's 1999 film A Force More Powerful together with Dalton Delan, and developed it into a television series and a book...
a book of the same title. In 2002 Dr. Ackerman also helped produce the documentary Bringing Down A Dictator
Bringing Down A Dictator
Bringing Down A Dictator is a 56-minute documentary film by Steve York about the nonviolent defeat of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. It focuses on the contributions of the student-led Otpor movement. The film originally aired on national PBS in March 2002...
, the sequel to A Force More Powerful, which chronicled the fall of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
by nonviolent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
means. In 2005 he became a director of the Institute for Strategic Studies' IISS-US office.