Southern Peace Research and Education Center
Project Staff Positions and Contact Information
Rania Masri
rania@southernstudies.org
History and Mission of the Project
The Southern Peace Research and Education Center (SPREC) was launched in the wake of the 9/11 tragedies and resulting "war on terrorism." SPREC is grounded in the reality that prospects for a peace agenda in this country will prove futile unless a bold, alternative vision takes hold in the South. The Southern Peace Research and Education Center was launched to provide this new vision.
- We investigate the impacts of militarism on the South and country;
- We provide vital information and education to community leaders and policy-makers;
- We assist grassroots groups with information, analysis and strategy;
- We counter the media blockade of alternative voices through publications and media appearances;
- We unite activists across lines of races, class and gender to build an inclusive movement for peace.
The South At War
More than any other region of the country, the South is most tied to, and most impacted by, the "war on terror," and U.S. military ventures abroad. For example:
- Who is in the Army? The South represents only a third of the nation’s population, but supplies 42% of the country’s enlisted soldiers — and 56% of troops in the continental U.S. are stationed in the South.
- Pro-War Politicians: Southern politicians are Congress’s biggest hawks, tilting the foreign policy of the country away from peace and diplomacy. For example, 62% of Southern senators scored in the bottom fifth of the most recent legislative scorecard for Peace Action.
- Dependency on Military Dollars: The South is the most dependent region in the country on weapons production. In 2001, anchored by military industry boom centers in Virginia, Texas and Florida 43% of U.S. arms contracts went to Southern companies.
- What Kind of Jobs? Southern arms companies have a checkered record when it comes to economic and racial justice. Lockheed Martin, the leading weapons manufacturer, has been targeted with class-action lawsuits from African-American workers charging a "hostile" work environment, and the company’s machinists were forced to go on strike over poor job security and benefits.
- Impact on Community: Military bases in the South have increased by 83% since 1996 (followed by the West with gains of 62%). These bases uproot local populations, cause economic displacement, and have often posed environmental risks to community residents yet claim exemptions from environmental rules.
Project Facts Sheets, Reports and Publications - Free
April 2004 -- being updated, please come back soon!
Project Reports and Publications - Subscription 
April 2004 -- being updated, please come back soon!
Resources and Links
Institute for Southern Studies
How to Get Involved/Stay Informed
E-mail Rania Masri at rania@southernstudies.org
