The Foreign Service Journal, October 2005

8 AFSA NEWS • OCTOBER 2005 I n a unique newpartnership demonstrating howmuch theU.S.- Russian relationship has changed fromSoviet days, diplomats fromEmbassyMoscowhave been team-teaching future Russian diplomats at the prestigious Moscow State Institute for Foreign Relations (called MGIMO in Russian). During Aca- demic Year 2004-2005, Amb- assador Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Chief of Mission John Beyrle and 18 other embassy officers lectured on U.S.-Russia relations to approximately 60 interna- tional relations students, many of whom aspire to become diplomats. The course also involved students in embassy events, such as the “ElectionNight 2004” recep- tion at the ambassador’s res- idence, and gave them a chance tomeet and talk with American foreign policy spe- cialists including Walter Russell Mead, who was a guest of the embassy for a week inMay. The final class was hosted by DCM John Beyrle in his resi- dence and featuredMead, the visitingCouncil on ForeignRelations Senior Fellow, who provided the students with an overview of the philosophical roots of American foreign policy and engaged them in a discussion about its future direction. Each student was given a copy of the AFSA book, Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign ServiceWorks for America. Next year, this book will serve as supplementary readingmaterial for this course. (Note: Copies of the book were also purchased by the embassy for American Corners and Centers throughout Russia.) The course is the brainchild of formerMoscow Public Affairs Officer Anne Chermak, who served as a visiting professor at MGIMO for the academic year 2003-2004. She created the first yearlong American-taught course on U.S. diplomacy at Russia’s most prestigious foreign affairs institution. The weekly course was so popular thatMGIMOasked the embassy to offer the course again this year, even though the diplomat-in-residence position was not continued. The public affairs section coordinated the weekly class, thereby gaining a unique opportunity towork direct- ly with Russia’s next generation of leaders. Embassy officers volunteered to cover topics including the his- tory of U.S. diplomacy as well as foreign policy in various geo- graphic regions and functional areas. The students visited the embassy for a video conference with the U.S. mission to NATO. This proved a fascinating opportunity for the officers to speak directly with these stu- dents and dispel misconcep- tions about U.S. intentions. As the class size was relatively small, officials typically began with a brief lecture, followed by intense discussion. The students — a critical audience for embassy outreach efforts — enjoyed the chance to hear from front-line American diplomats, and expressed appreciation to the embassy for organizing the course. The Americans, inclu- ding the ambassador, equally enjoyed the experience, which gave thema novel opportuni- ty to engage with some of the best and brightest Russian students of international relations. o Legislative Action Fund Don’t forget to make your contribution to AFSA’s Legislative Action Fund. AFSA’s legislative affairs department follows developments on the Hill and is always working to protect and improve Foreign Service benefits, for active employees and retirees. Please mail your contribution to AFSA Legislative Action Fund, PO Box 98026, Washington, DC 20090-8026. Checks should be made payable to AFSA Legislative Action Fund. Please support the LAF by giving generously. o AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Briefs • Continued from page 2 AFSA BOOK IN MOSCOW CLASSROOM Teaching Future Russian Diplomats BY DEBORAH SISBARRO, EMBASSY MOSCOW Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Officer Deborah Sisbarro (left) handing out copies of Inside a U.S. Embassy to Russian students.