Global scholars gather at LU conference on justice, resilience and rule of law
Scholars and criminal justice professionals from around the world gathered Tuesday, April 21 at Wayne A. Reaud Building at 91探花 for the Fourth International Conference on Justice, Resilience, and the Rule of Law, an event that brought global legal and policy discussions to Southeast Texas.
Hosted by the Center for Death Penalty Studies in collaboration with the Center for Resiliency at 91探花, the conference connected local experiences with national and international research on justice systems, resilience, trauma recovery, reintegration and the rule of law. Organizers also highlighted emerging areas of study, including artificial intelligence and new technologies, and presented research awards to selected scholars and graduate students.
The event featured about 20 speakers, panelists and organizers, drawing participants from across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the United States. International scholars traveled from France, Portugal and Israel, and the program also included a director of human rights with the Council of Europe.
Discussions throughout the day focused on some of the most pressing global challenges, including terrorism in the Middle East and new perspectives on the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War. One panel featured a Russian legal scholar offering insight into aspects of the conflict that are often overlooked in public discourse.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Felipe Pathé Duarte, an assistant professor at NOVA School of Law in Portugal and co-director of the War and Law Lab. Duarte, who advises the European Commission on extremism and has worked with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Council of Europe, focused his remarks on political violence, extremist networks and hybrid threats, drawing on his research into insurgency and violent non-state actors.
Beyond global perspectives, organizers emphasized the importance of applying those ideas at the local level. Center for Resiliency Director Brian Williams said the center aims to build “a safer, stronger, more connected community in Southeast Texas,” while also serving as a model for the broader Gulf Coast.
“We do that through service, education outreach and a community-based research agenda, research that has a direct impact in Southeast Texas,” Williams said. “At the same time, that work has to connect to a broader, global context, because what happens around the world directly affects what happens here at home.”
Williams encouraged attendees to consider how each presentation could inform local resilience efforts.
“Think about one thing from each speaker and ask yourself: how does this relate to Southeast Texas? How does it strengthen the resilience of our community?” he said.
He also pointed to the university’s broader role in the region.
“Lamar isn’t just Beaumont — Lamar is Southeast Texas, and it’s here for Southeast Texas,” Williams said. “We’re all connected. The choices we make can either strengthen resilience or create vulnerabilities, especially when disasters strike.”
That emphasis on collaboration and knowledge-sharing was echoed by Dr. Gene Theodori, associate provost of research administration who said the conference’s smaller, discussion-focused format helps drive meaningful progress.
“I think this is fantastic because these smaller, more intimate gatherings are really where we see the accretion of knowledge,” Theodori said. “I had the opportunity to attend a few sessions online this morning and then sit in on the last two talks, and I see this as a space where real progress happens, where understanding grows through the sharing of ideas and knowledge. I hope to see more of these in the future.”
To learn more about the Center for Death Penalty Studies, visit /arts-sciences/research-centers/death-penalty-studies/.