Dr. Steven D. Roper is the Executive Director of the Peace, Justice and Human Rights (PJHR) Initiative and Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). His research explores the design and the implementation of transitional justice with a focus on conflict resolution mechanisms; further, his research also examines transitional justice and human rights issues in diverse regions including East Europe and the former Soviet Union, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

 

As stated on the FAU PJHR web site, "The Peace, Justice and Human Rights (PJHR) Initiative grew out of the Peace Studies Program which was established at Florida Atlantic University approximately twenty years ago. The commitment of the University to the themes of the Initiative is profound and led to PJHR being included as one of nine key platforms in the University's current strategic plan. PJHR is a multidisciplinary effort that brings together scholars, practitioners, students and community leaders that are invested in the themes of human rights, peace and social justice. This is a University-wide commitment to issues of global importance that affect the South Florida area."

 

Beginning his presentation, Steve told us that his wife had the very special opportunity to go to Brazil as part of a Rotary International Peace Fellowship, which gave this opportunity to talk to our Rotary club an even greater importance for him.  He recognizes the role that Rotary has in promoting peach and understanding throughout the world, and especially here in Boca Raton because we experienced a special proclamation by our Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer just prior to Steve making his presentation.  Mayor Singer read and presented the Proclamation of an International Day of Peace in Boca Raton to our club President Ana Londono.  The Proclamation encouraged the community to join Rotary International in promoting peace and civility, especially on Friday September 21, 2018.

 

Dr. Roper went on to explain how institutional design shapes behavior and how social forces influence choices in constitutional features.  He identified the conflict between peace and justice within oppressive governments resulting when the government becomes the perpetrator of crimes against the governed.  He observed much of this during the 1990s while in eastern Europe when it was undergoing renewal of governmental structures. 

 

Applying these observations her in south Florida today, he points out that our social situation surfaces questions of balance between justice and peace through concerns about environment and technologies that place government control in conflict of individual freedom creating the friction between peace and justice.  What seems necessary and correct to a large enough body to establish regulation may severely encumber individuals or another group that disagrees with the notion of necessary or correct.  Steve identified the particularly rich environment for these types of discussion and study that exists here in south Florida because of the diversity of culture as well as the technology and environment.  This means that discovery of peaceful solutions here can generally be applied more globally as well.

 

He told us how the PJHR initiative is applied across all schools within the university so the efforts can be studied, discussed and applied across a variety of fields as well.  Steve points out that the PJHR Initiative provides events that lead to better understanding and improved tolerance of one another's viewpoints and approaches to solutions.  He called attention to several interesting events scheduled that are open to public as well.  These events are described on the FAU PJHR home page and the schedule appears on the FAU PJHR website calendar.  We encourage all to review and participate in this local initiative to promote peace and civility; and perhaps as PDG Phil Lustig points out it's time for our Rotary clubs to consider again the opportunity for establishing a Rotary Peace Center here in south Florida beginning with the FAU PJHR as exemplary.

 

Following Steve's presentation, our club President Ana Londono presented him with our club pen and a token of appreciation for an informative and encouraging discussion.  In addition to his work in the area of human rights, Dr. Roper has an extensive experience in international education and has served as a consultant on the Bologna process and models of national accreditation. He is the author of four books and over fifty articles and book chapters. Dr. Roper is Editor-in-Chief of Human Rights Review.