Mission

The Claude Pepper Center for Intercultural Dialogue strives to assist the nations of the world through research, education, and service in the construction of a civilization where diversities enhance, rather than threaten, the global human community. The Center has responded to the call of the United Nations “Alliance of Civilizations” initiative on behalf of Florida State University.

Goals

The Center has offered:

• To forge a coalition of business leaders, government officials, and academics to develop improved human capacity to resolve conflict and reach a lasting peace in post-conflict periods;
• To nurture understanding and appreciation of different value systems through post-secondary education;
• To encourage research and scholar/student exchanges within the United States and the international community;
• To encourage other institutions and centers of learning, as well as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), to join an informal network in support of the Alliance;
• To facilitate intercultural dialogue at Florida State University and within the local community.

In our disjointed world, there cannot be a nobler aim and vocation than the realization of values which unify humanity, despite the great diversity of climes and cultures. Ibrahim Anwar, “The Need for Civilizational Dialogue,” Occasional Papers series, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, October 6, 1994.

Our world has become one of multiple paradoxes and inequalities. It is a result of many great achievements of the last century that have immensely improved the conditions of human lives. At the same time, today’s world is a result of some of the greatest failures of society, where humanity itself was brought into question. As the world becomes more divided, the development of advanced technology and communications simultaneously draws communities closer, unmasking global injustice and oppression. This results in frustrated communities where conflict and violence replace peaceful approach to the underlying issues.1 The perception of conflict becomes framed around culture and its tenants, fueling the argument of an inevitable clash of civilizations.

This concept was introduced in Samuel P. Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, which attracted world-wide attention after its publication in 1996. Huntington concludes that a rule for peace in a multi-civilizational world resides on the commonalities rule: peoples of all civilizations should acknowledge and strengthen common values, practices, and norms in order to achieve peace and cooperation. Recognizing the need to bridge “the world’s divide”, the United Nations formed the “Alliance of Civilizations” initiative, proposed by the Prime Ministers of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. An international group representing governmental, educational, religious, and business interests, appointed by the Secretary-General, delivered its report in November, 2006. It called for the creation of a “global culture of dialogue,” and invited universities to contribute to the effort. The Alliance Report to the Secretary General identifies five areas of concern:

• Adhering to the principles embedded in international treaties, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter;
• Providing young people of the world with opportunities that lead to hope and equal opportunities;
• Providing people of all ages with the education needed for personal success, as well as the respect and appreciation of those from different backgrounds;
• Promoting press freedom and responsibility to avoid denigrating or demonizing certain groups;
• Developing policies and programs that enable migrants to become contributing participants to the communities in which they settle.

1

As seen in the “Alliance of Civilizations” Report of the High-Level Group, 13 November 2006. See the complete report at http://www.unaoc.org/repository/report.htm.