During the week of February 8th, the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey hosted international legal expert Dr. Alexander Vylegzhanin.
Professor Vylegzhanin, who is the director of the department of International Law at MGIMO University in Moscow, delivered two lectures in Russian to students, Russian-speakers from the MIIS community, and DTRA faculty and staff from DLI. The firstlecture addressed the role of the Central Arctic Ocean in Contemporary International Law, while the second one explored the mutual interests of Russia and the United States in the Bering Strait from a legal perspective. Both lectures delved into the legal precedents, accords, international organizations that govern how States can use the Arctic. They also addressed the ways in which environmental changes and the current strained relationship between Russia and the United States impact the use and development of this region. Following his lectures, Prof. Vylegzhanin conducted individual consultations with students on their own research interests.
Prof. Vylegzhanin is the first lecturer of the Spring 2016 Visiting Experts Series organized by GIRS. The Visiting Experts program is a foundational element of the GIRS initiative, alongside three other objectives: a field research trip to the Russian Far East for MIIS and Middlebury students led by Professor Tsuneo Akaha; coordinating and supporting MIIS students in undertaking summer research and internship opportunities in Russia; and translating weekly public opinion polls conducted by the Levada-center from Russian to English. For more information on the list of upcoming experts for this semester and on the Initiative itself, please visit: http://www.miis.edu/academics/researchcenters/russian-studies
Kathryn on a recent snowboarding trip to Guduri, Georgia (photo credit Kathryn Smart)
In May 2015, I packed my bags and left from Monterey to Grozny, Chechnya with the financial help from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. My research about culture, politics, and religion in the Chechen Republic would last through the summer and Fall 2015 semester. When I arrived, I had an apartment waiting for me in Microrayon, a neighborhood in the northern part of the city. This region was completely rebuilt after being destroyed during the First and Second Chechen Wars. The Russian soldiers were able to take over Grozny by entering this region, destroying everything in their path. It amazed me that I was living in the very neighborhood that I read so much about in journalistic novels and history books.
Immediately upon my arrival, I noticed the respect everyone had for each other. When we were boarding the bus to our plane from Moscow to Grozny, the men waited in the cold, while the elderly, women, and children boarded the bus first. Another example of how people respect each other is while we are walking around the city. I quickly learned that if a man or an elder wants to cross in front of my path, I must stop and wait for them to fully cross in front of me before I continue on my way.All these little ways to show respect were difficult to remember while I was going about my everyday routine. I was scolded at a few times for disrespecting people, but when I would ask them to switch to Russian from Chechen, most people understood that I was a foreigner and not intentionally disrespecting anyone.
Photo credit Kathryn Smart
When people discovered that I was an American, who was studying their traditions and culture, they were so welcoming and accepting. Most Chechens are so proud of being Chechen, and when a foreigner was interested in their culture, they only became more proud. Never was I negatively accepted by anyone in Chechnya, which further supports that they are one of the most hospital cultures. Whenever I needed help with something, any person off of the street was ready to help me, and most of these people tried to convince me to stay in Chechnya forever.
After living and studying in Grozny for a couple months, I agreed to live with my Chechen tutor in a nearby village called Zakan Yurt for the month of August. This was a very difficult month. This village is one of the few villages that must be passed through in order to get to president Ramzan Kadyrov’s native village. Additionally, a powerful minister lives in Zakan Yurt and people must live very conservatively. My family kept me inside of their home for the entire month, because a proper girl does not wander around with nowhere to go. Although there is a beautiful river and a stunning mosque in this village, I was never given a chance to see them.
Photo credit Kathryn Smart
Upon my return back to Grozny, I started my research about Chechen politics and religion. No one wanted to talk to me about politics and when someone opened up about a controversial topic they would add, “Please do not write this anywhere or say that I said that.” It was evident that people were genuinely afraid to talk about politics. In addition to politics, people were also hesitant to talk about religion, even though it was more acceptable to talk about it, but, nevertheless, people still became uncomfortable.
Although there are many different political and religious views throughout Chechnya, it is understood that Chechens live base on the concepts of respect and honor. All Chechen traditions have developed out of respect for men and elders, while the people follow the Islamic concepts of right and wrong for the sake of their families’ honor. In current times, however, there are split opinions about how proper Chechens should live their lives. Some Chechens believe that they should follow old Chechen traditions, even if they are not consistent with Islam, while others believe that even though they are Chechens, they must abandon certain parts of their culture to correctly follow the teachings of Islam. This disunion among the Chechen people makes it difficult to fully understand the Chechen people as a whole.
Dr. Tatiana Zakaurtseva, First Vice-Rector of the Institute of Contemporary International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, will present two lectures at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in mid November. Her presentations, which will be delivered in Russian, will focus on tracing the evolution of contemporary Russian foreign policy doctrine, as well as assessing Russia’s role within BRICS. These lectures will be held from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies on Tuesday, November 17 and Thursday, November 19. Prof. Zakaurtseva’s lecture on Tuesday is dedicated to the memory of preeminent Russian political scientist Dr. Natalya Bazhanova.
Dr. Zakaurtseva is one of the foremost Russian experts on modern American history, theory, the history of international relations, foreign policy, and regional issues in the Eurasia space. She has published more than 50 articles, book chapters, and textbooks on these subjects, and she is active in numerous domestic and international fora within her field, including the Expert Council on Foreign Relations of the Russian Federation. Dr. Zakaurtseva’s visit to MIIS was organized by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies at MIIS, whose Visiting Experts program brings leaders in Russian foreign and domestic policy to Monterey. Dr. Zakaurtseva is the last of six lecturers to visit the MIIS campus this semester through the GIRS program. The Visiting Experts program is a foundational element of the GIRS initiative, alongside three other objectives: a field research trip to the Russian Far East for MIIS and Middlebury students led by Professor Tsuneo Akaha; coordinating and supporting MIIS students in undertaking summer research and internship opportunities in Russia; and translating weekly public opinion polls conducted by the Levada-center from Russian to English. For more information on the list of upcoming experts for this semester and on the Initiative itself, please visit: http://www.miis.edu/academics/researchcenters/russian-studies
Dr. Pavel Gudev, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for North American Studies Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO RAN), will present four lectures at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in early November.His presentations will address the importance of the Arctic to both Russia and the United States as an area of strategic interest, as well as maritime conflict.Three of the lectures will be delivered in Russian, and these will be held from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies on Tuesday, November 3rd, Thursday, November 5th, and Tuesday, November 10th respectively. From 12:15-1:50 PM on November 10th, Dr. Gudev will deliver an additional lecture in English entitled, “Russia and the United States in the Arctic: Mutual Interests and Concerns.”Dr. Gudev is a leading expert on global ocean governance, ocean policy, arctic politics maritime law and security, and frameworks of ocean politics.He is the author of more than 50 articles and book chapters addressing these topics.
Dr. Gudev’s visit to MIIS was organized by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies at MIIS, whose Visiting Experts program brings leaders in Russian foreign and domestic policy to Monterey.Dr. Gudev is the fifth of six lecturers who will visit the MIIS campus this semester through the GIRS program.The Visiting Experts program is a foundational element of the GIRS initiative, alongside three other objectives: a field research trip to the Russian Far East for MIIS and Middlebury students led by Professor Tsuneo Akaha; coordinating and supporting MIIS students in undertaking summer research and internship opportunities in Russia; and translating weekly public opinion polls conducted by the Levada-center from Russian to English.
For more information on the list of upcoming experts for this semester and on the Initiative itself, please visit: http://www.miis.edu/academics/researchcenters/russian-studies
Matthew Rojansky, director of the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, will deliver a lecture at MIIS on Wednesday, October 21 from 12:15-1:50 PM in the videoconference room (V499) at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies. His lecture will be entitled, “Russia, Ukraine, and the West: Causes and Consequences of the Current Conflict.”Mr. Rojansky’s campus visit is organized by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies at MIIS, whose Visiting Experts program brings experts on Russian foreign and domestic policy to Monterey.
Prior to his work at the Kennan Institute, Mr. Rojansky served as Deputy Director for the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In this capacity, Mr. Rojansky was responsible for founding Carnegie’s Ukraine program and for leading a multi-year project to support US-Russia cooperation in healthcare.He also created a track-two task force to promote the resolution of the Moldova-Transnistria conflict.As executive director of the Partnership for a Secure America, a position he held from 2007-2010, Mr. Rojansky coordinated high-level bipartisan initiatives with the goal of repairing the US-Russia relationship, strengthening US commitment to nuclear arms control and non-proliferation, and leveraging global science engagement for diplomacy. In addition to his work at the Kennan Institute, Mr. Rojansky is also an Adjunct Professor at both Johns Hopkins SAIS and American University.
Mr. Rojansky is the fourth of six lecturers who will visit the MIIS campus this semester through the GIRS program.The Visiting Experts program is a foundational element of the GIRS initiative, alongside three other objectives: a field research trip to the Russian Far East for MIIS and Middlebury students led by Professor Tsuneo Akaha; coordinating and supporting MIIS students in undertaking summer research and internship opportunities in Russia; and translating weekly public opinion polls conducted by the Levada-center from Russian to English.For more information on the list of upcoming experts for this semester and on the Initiative itself, please visit: http://www.miis.edu/academics/researchcenters/russian-studies
During the week of February 8th, the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey hosted international legal expert Dr. Alexander Vylegzhanin. 
