RSU and Harvard University have same level of digital infrastructure. Assoc. Prof. Andžāns shares experience as visiting researcher to the US

Linda Rozenbaha,
RSU Public Relations Unit

He got to experience the spirit of the upcoming US elections by attending a rally for Nikki Haley, who was a presidential candidate at the time, and witnessed the Super Tuesday primaries first hand. Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Andžāns had the opportunity to meet politicians and political science stars, whose books he read during his studies.

Andžāns is a popular expert in the Latvian media, commenting on the upcoming US presidential elections.

He is currently implementing his third international long-term research fellowship emphasising that international experience is very important in science: ‘It is generally accepted that a good scientist must go abroad either as a postdoctoral fellow or a visiting researcher. It’s not enough just to read books. The first time I was a visiting researcher was in 2019-2020 to Johns Hopkins University in the US. Last year I went to Germany, to the Academy of International Affairs NRW in Bonn, and this year I went to Harvard University.’

The Baltic States have a very good image in the US

We like to criticise ourselves in the Baltics, often with good reason, but on a global scale, we look very good. Additionally, our economic indicators are much better than those of many other countries with which we were forced to be together with in the Soviet Union. 

The Baltic States are model democracies, an island of good governance and relative prosperity.

The active organisations of our compatriots in the US – the American Latvian Association, the Joint Baltic American National Committee, etc. – play a role in exerting political influence, like I mentioned before. Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian officials frequently make visits to the US Congress, both to executive departments, and other levels. In research interviews with policy makers and observers, I found out that the Baltic States’ support for Ukraine has played a role,’ summarises Assoc. Prof. Andžāns.

He adds that there’s no telling what it would be like if the Baltic States did not support Ukraine... Part of the public in the US refer to the war in Ukraine as ‘some kind of distant war’ and don’t see why they should be interested in it at all. Interviews with political researchers, especially those who study international relations, confirm that the active participation of Baltic people in various events and meetings, appearances in foreign media, increase public understanding of why one should not be indifferent to what is happening in Ukraine.

‘I interviewed policy makers and observers. I also analysed various political processes, looking at how many and what kind of visits by Baltic officials have taken place and what resolutions have followed. As I said, it is clear that this is something that cannot be measured mathematically,’ the researcher adds. He outlines how Baltic support for Ukraine has over time had a snowball effect, followed by other countries: ‘The Baltic States were among the least hesitant in providing military support right from the start of the war, sending necessary armaments. At the time, Germany only helped by providing helmets and similar useful things, which was helpful, but Ukraine needed other things much more.’

In addition to conducting his research, Assoc. Prof. Andžāns wrote publications, including two for the Harvard University website. One was related to the opinions of Russian speakers in Latvia about the war in Ukraine, and the other was about the reinstated mandatory military service in Latvia.

Impressions at the world’s richest university

Just like at RSU, many processes at Harvard can also be completed digitally, making them convenient and fast. Most of the software they use is the same or similar to that used at RSU.’

As one of the world’s richest universities in terms of traditions and investments, Harvard has many science superstars among its faculty and visiting lecturers. ‘In the fields of political science and international relations, research papers are read by diplomats, politicians, and officials, which gives the researchers particularly high visibility. Legendary academics whose books and publications I read as a student, regularly give lectures at Harvard. For example, Joseph S. Nye Jr., who coined the concept of “soft power”. A true legend! I also had the opportunity to participate in a class by Stephen M. Walt – a member of the realist school of thought in international relations. . I could mention many other professors at Harvard who are authors of world-famous books and other publications. Most of the professors there are truly outstanding,’ says Assoc. Prof. Andžāns.

Māris Andžāns (left) describes it as a great pleasure and honour to meet the living legend Prof. Joseph Nye whom he describes as a very open person despite his achievements and status

Andžāns observed that students at this prestigious university take their studies very seriously. After all, they pay tens of thousands of dollars for their studies. Often, students dedicate themselves to full-time studies, not working on the side during their bachelor studies, as well as during their masters’ or doctoral degree programmes in social sciences. ‘Theoretical, methodological knowledge is at a very high level there. They have the best teaching staff, and the students also strive to be the best, because a diploma from Harvard University opens many doors. In a way, the system in America is less fair, because careers depend very much on which university you have a degree from – it is much more difficult to find a good job if you haven’t obtained it from an Ivy League or similarly highly recognised university (like Yale, Pennsylvania, Columbia, etc.).

I had the opportunity to meet people who would very likely not have responded if I did not write from a Harvard University email address or provide a Harvard University business card,’ says the researcher.

He also notes that the university organises many discussions with current and former politicians: for example, Senator Bernie Sanders, former US presidential candidate, as well as former New York mayor Bill de Blasio.

In Andžāns opinion, people in Latvia are very passive. In the USA, they go to rallies and express their support for politicians they like loudly. Rallies are often like concerts, shows, with music and a range of other speakers.

Everything in America is a show – both sports and politics.

‘People are very active in putting up placards outside their homes, revealing who they support, and flying flags. It really helps explain the thinking of the people living there. Overall, in America, opinions on politics are very polarised, and it is particularly difficult to discuss domestic issues,’ Andžāns concludes.

Assoc. Prof. Andžāns will immediately pass on the knowledge and insights he has gained to students at RSU: ‘We will start the upcoming international security study course with seminars on the impact of the US presidential elections on global and Baltic security. Here, I will have the opportunity to share the fresh knowledge I have gained from my trip. I will also be able to deepen the courses on international security with new theoretical and practical insights. This trip has also helped open up more opportunities to help students from RSU go to the US in the future.’

* The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently in first place. The University of Cambridge is second and the University of Oxford is third.