Peace and Justice Studies Draws Concerned Students
With its vision of peaceful resolution to the world’s strife, the Peace and Justice Studies minor at USF offers a broad curriculum of political theory, economic justice, and sociological analysis. And given current events, students say, its courses of study are more necessary than ever.
“The fact that we’ve gone to war twice (in Afghanistan and Iraq) since I’ve been in college makes it important to focus on diplomatic and preventative methods or on how to work through conflicts without resorting to violence,” said Abby Stepnitz, a junior. Stepnitz is one of 14 students currently in the program. To earn the minor, students must complete five courses from a choice of economics, sociology, politics, philosophy, and theology classes.
In recent years the minor has added a greater focus on global injustice and security, as those issues have taken center stage in international politics. Courses such as sociology of war and global conflict resolution address current events in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. “Being a Jesuit institution, there is a particular interest in the justice part of the equation,” said Stephen Zunes, associate professor of politics and chair of the minor. “There really cannot be peace without justice.”
Founded in 1989 by Politics Professor Robert Elias, the interdisciplinary minor is sponsored by the politics department “to address global problems and prospects for change,” according to a program brochure. Classes include Social Issues and Christianity Today, Nonviolence in Theory and Practice, and Global Economic Justice. Students must also participate in an internship or a fieldwork course.
One graduate of the minor, Teresa Crawford ’98, was catapulted to the forefront of global politics when her San Francisco internship took her to Kosovo to help organize nonviolent opposition to Serb oppression. The group was arrested and detained by the Serbs, then later released after the U.S. embassy and others petitioned the government. Afterward Crawford gave testimony about her experience before a Congressional caucus. “It was a consciousness-raising experience in how outside forces can affect conflict areas,” Crawford said. “The (USF minor program) gave me a well-rounded foundation (in international conflict resolution).” Crawford went on to co-found her own international nonprofit, The Advocacy Project, which helps establish grass-roots democratic networking through technology.
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