A collaborative U.S.-Russia relationship could carry with it the opportunity to resolve global threats and crises. During these challenging times, innovative solutions and a range of comprehensive political agendas are needed. At this important moment the next generation of U.S. and Russia leaders must propose perspectives for a secure and predictable global system to achieve results. The Sustainable Peace Analysis Network will bring together expertise and best practices in the field to share with emerging leaders.
The fellowship will include an online training course for 12-16 U.S. and Russian professionals and researchers dedicated to U.S.-Russia relations analysis. The project aims to engage the young leaders from the U.S. and Russia in the international political cooperation dialogue, enhance skills participants’ skills to support their civil activism internationally and in their local communities, and shape the next generation of the U.S. and Russia’s international security and politics professionals.
We welcome applicants who share previous professional or/and academic experience in Russia-U.S. relations, aspects of international security, global politics, sustainable peace analysis, crisis management. Graduate degree minimum is desirable with exceptions addressed on case-to-case basis. Ideal U.S.-Russia Leaders Fellowship candidates possess advanced communication skills, knowledge of diplomatic etiquette & protocol, high quality of academic writing, ability to work in a team, and take initiative individually. All accepted candidates are expected to participate in all stages of the Fellowship.
All sessions will be held on Zoom and will include a talk with an invited expert in U.S.-Russia relations. Prior to all sessions, participants will be asked to complete an assignment.
Session 1: U.S.-Russia Relations History: Historic Allies or Lifelong Enemies. Online zoom session with an invited expert in U.S.-Russia relations. Prior to the session the participants are to complete the assignment. Write an essay response on a suggested article. (First week of February. Day 1)
Skills session 1: Conflict Transformation: Practical Workshop. Online zoom workshop on the key aspects of negotiation technique and seeing challenges as opportunities. The workshop is based on the Council of Europe Compass guide to Human Rights education for youth methodology. (First week of February. Day 2)
Session 2: U.S.-Russia relations & Modern International Security: Exploring the capacity to act. Online zoom session with an invited expert to discover global vision and response to the International Security challenges of today. Participants are formed into small working groups of 3 and assigned to interview an expert in International Security, Arms Control; and prepare a report based on their findings and present at the next Session. (First week of April. Day 1).
Skills Session 2: The art of interviewing: The questions that speak for the answers. Participants are engaged into a practical workshop to discover the tools and techniques needed for a successful interview. The phases of preparation for the interview, collecting information prior to speaking are well-attended as the participants are encouraged to reach out to the eminent experts in the field. Their interview findings are recommended to be used for article/journal publications to raise upon the urgent international security topics. (First week of April. Day 2).
Session 3: U.S.-Russia: Existential Threats vs Missing Predictability. Online zoom session with an invited expert to tangle upon the aspects of U.S.-Russia relations and the existing challenges. After the keynote speech and discussion, the participants are formed into small working groups and assigned collective project tasks to consider a separate challenge for U.S.-Russia relations and propose a roadmap solution. (First week of March. Day 1).
Skills Session 3: Roadmap solutions design workshop. A webinar aimed to deliver the common ground for understanding the road mapping technique which is to be applied by the course participants in their U.S.-Russia challenges solutions design. The session intends to assist the participants in their small groups. (First week of March. Day 2).
Session 4: Final meeting: What’s next – not a rhetoric question. The summary of the course is delivered, the participants share their interview findings. The contest is announced for the participants (the prize is tbc). Contest topic: U.S.-Russia – the gallery of cooperation. The task is to compose a slide-show representing the author’s vision of the logical sequence regarding U.S.-Russia relations. The works will be judged based on the creativity, conceptual innovation, quality of the whole work in general. The photos have to be developed either as a video slideshow or a digital photo gallery with explanatory notes assigned to each photo. All intellectual rights and photo credits have to be well-respected. Individuals as well as groups of participants are eligible to participate. (First week of May).
Contest results announced in the final week of May.
By the end of the program the participants have learned:
SPAN Fellowship Term: February 1, 2021 – May 15, 2021
To apply, send the following to applications@spanwork.org by December 15, 2020:
The official working language is English. Participants are expected to possess advanced spoken and written English to fully engage in agenda-related matters.
Any further questions or inquiries about the Fellowship can be directed to Sergei Belov, SPAN Communications Officer, at s.belov@spanwork.org.