Marking PWPA’s 50th Anniversary

by Dr. Thomas Selover*

Greetings & Acknowledgements

First, I want to extend a cordial welcome to all conference participants and to express profound gratitude to the PWPA-LA team for their dedicated organizational efforts in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA). It is with deep scholarly respect that I offer congratulations on this occasion to the foundational architects of PWPA, Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Their visionary leadership, initiated with the inaugural conference in Korea in May 1973, has consistently embodied a global commitment to intellectual discourse and peace-building.

Special recognition is due for the distinguished past and present leadership, including notable scholars such as Dr. Morton Kaplan and Dr. Nicholas Kittrie. Their intellectual contributions have been instrumental in sustaining PWPA's legacy across multiple international contexts. The longevity of PWPA is a testament to the dedication of its leadership; in this regard, I’d like to also express deep appreciation to Dr. Gordon Anderson and Dr. Frank Kaufmann for their continuous commitment to advancing PWPA's goals.

Scholarly Impacts

PWPA's foundational philosophy emphasizes the critical role of academic leadership in conflict resolution and constructive peace-building. This paradigm has materialized through an extensive portfolio of scholarly conferences and seminars over the years and around the world, designed to facilitate nuanced, interdisciplinary dialogues on global challenges.

A seminal moment in the organization's intellectual history was the 1985 International Congress in Geneva, chaired by Dr. Morton Kaplan. This landmark conference demonstrated remarkable prescience by critically taking up the theme of The Fall of the Soviet Empire: Prospects for Transition to a Post-Soviet World. The Congress's location—positioned across from the Soviet Embassy—symbolized the organization's commitment to intellectual courage and analytical rigor.

The 1987 International Congress, held in Manila, the Philippines, focused on the theme of China in a New Era: Continuity and Change. Subsequent biannual International Congresses highlighted Liberal Democratic Societies (London, 1989), Society in the 21st Century (Seoul, 1992), The Future of the Family (Seoul, 1995), Identity and Character (Washington, D.C., 1997), and The Global Economy (Seoul, 2000),

Beginning in 2017, PWPA International (based first in Korea, now in the USA) began a new series of initiatives in several regions, including substantive academic engagements in:

• Europe: France, Germany, Albania

• Asia: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Cambodia

• Africa: Côte D'Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal

Each regional initiative has been oriented toward advancing a contemporary philosophical framework emphasizing interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal value principles.

Contemporary Mandate

PWPA International remains committed to its mission to facilitate respectful, informed dialogue on pressing global issues. At a time when societal polarization, the erosion of consensus on fundamental values, and incivility in public discourse are increasingly prevalent, PWPA International provides a platform for constructive engagement, through in-person conferences and online events.

In an era characterized by increasing global fragmentation and discord, PWPA International seeks to promote constructive academic discussion on themes such as:

1. Reconciliation between scientific and religious paradigms

2. Family-oriented sociocultural research

3. Economic interdependence theory

4. Transnational political cooperation models

5. Comparative axiology and shared value systems

6. Emerging women’s leadership

7. The genesis of human potential and creativity

I would like to encourage all fellow participants to view conceptual or ideological differences not as obstacles but as opportunities for intellectual engagement to deepen mutual understanding and the pursuit of common goals.

Closing Remarks

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to each participant today for your contributions to this milestone occasion. Your engagement is vital to the success of PWPA International’s activities. I encourage all participants to contribute substantively to our ongoing dialogue by providing innovative suggestions for future academic initiatives. Let us proceed with intellectual curiosity, scholarly integrity, and a commitment to global understanding.

Thank you.

Dr. Thomas Selover serves as President of Professors World Peace Academy International. He is a former President of SunHak Universal Peace Graduate University outside of Seoul, South Korea. He holds a doctorate in comparative religion and East Asian philosophy from Harvard University where he focused on humane learning in the Confucian tradition. Dr. Selover has taught for over 25 years at universities and colleges in Canada and the US, as well as in China and Korea. His current research is on the philosophical and theological underpinnings of a society of interdependence and mutual prosperity.

* Adapted from an address given by Dr. Selover in Los Angeles in June 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Professors World Peace Academy (1973).