Think-Tank & American University

America-Russia: Towards Political, Security, and Economic Alliance

Our mission is to generate ideas for U.S.-Russia Alliance to jointly meet the world's enormous security, economic, ecological, climate, and other challenges.

This is why we consider it so important to frankly discuss in a serious forum the most pressing issues facing our countries and the world. Most importantly, this discussion must take place in a constructive, cordial fashion. Thus, we are striving to make room on our site for analysts who at a minimum declare as their goal the aspiration to work toward forming a stable alliance between Americans and Russians, between Washington and Moscow, between the United States and Russia. Our objective is to create not only another expert discussion forum, but also a kind of reality even if only virtual, exemplifying constructive, harmonious relations between our two nations. In addition to the virtual Forum we plan regular face to face meetings in Washington, Moscow, and perhaps some other cities.

Project Description

The current state of U.S.-Russia relations in no way reflects their real potential, nor does it serve the vital national interests of the two countries. In a world where the United States and Russia face so many common threats and challenges, they all too often view each other more as a foe than a friend.

The roots of this animosity go back to the time of the Cold War with both countries being cast as inevitable opponents incapable of finding common ground on any issue. Even today, the United States and Russia are separated not only by history and culture, but also by their geopolitical goals and domestic priorities. Contributing to the problem is the shortage of direct communication between civil institutions and business groups interested in better relations between the two countries.

No two nations can ever achieve total harmony in their world views. This, however, should not prevent the United States and Russia from trying to develop a constructive working relationship. Closer U.S.-Russia cooperation is not only in the best interests of both countries but the history of the past 10 years also provides ample evidence that a coordinated U.S-Russian response to world challenges tends to reduce tension and produce positive results.

Communication is a key factor here. In order to better U.S.-Russia relations, the quality of bilateral dialog must be dramatically improved. Political and civil institutions in both countries must have a solid platform to discuss issues, exchange opinions, and resolve outstanding problems.

With this in mind, we have created this website US-Russia.org whose mission is to promote political, economic, and civil cooperation between the United States and Russia. We are committed to fighting old stereotypes, building trust and identifying areas of common interest. And while we perfectly understand that talking about U.S. - Russia alliance may sound too ambitions and unrealistic the common challenges that both nations face are so enormous that we do not see how these challenges can be successfully met without genuine cooperation on many fronts. There is no doubt that achieving this goal will have a huge positive impact for the United States, Russia and the rest of humankind.

Among the practical tasks of US-Russia.org are:

1. Creating a public forum for identification of problems complicating the bilateral relationship and actions capable to resolve these problems;

2. Establishing effective permanent venues for explaining the positions of each country to its counterpart’s decision makers;

3. Facilitating the dialog among civil, business, academic groups and individuals interested in improving U.S.-Russia relations;

4. Confronting misinformation and fighting stereotypes in the mass media of both countries;

5. Promoting and assisting joint public projects and personal contacts to advance the goals and objectives of the US-Russia.org

US-Russia.org brings together people of different nationalities, cultural backgrounds and political views to advance the goal of U.S.-Russia rapprochement, and we welcome the participation of those who are willing to join this effort.

To join or for additional information please write to: Forum@RussiaHouse.org

Contact us:

Think Tank in USA:

1800 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009;

Tel. 202-364-0200;

e-mail: russia@russiahouse.org

See also:

russiahouse.org

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University

American University in Moscow (AUM) was founded in 1990 with the endorsement of Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and George H. Bush, Gorbachev’s science advisor academician Yuri Ossipyan, and Mayor of Moscow Gavriil Popov. Financial support for the university came from several American companies and private individuals, most generously from Russia House and the late Robert Krieble. At that time it was the first private business school in the USSR. Many Russian students who graduated from the university with the equivalent of MBA degree became successful businessmen and entrepreneurs and have made their contribution to Russia ’s transition to a free market economy. The program grew too fast and a few years later it was transferred to the International University in Moscow.

Presently AUM is concentrating on conference, research, and publishing activities to promote U.S.-Russia educational, cultural, and business cooperation. We also offer an online course on U.S.-Russia relations in cooperation with the Department of

​Global Affairs​ at Moscow State University​ and the National Research Nuclear University​. ​However students from any other American or Russian university can enroll as well and those who register and send regular well written essays (around 600 words) will receive a university certificate.