Corporation
of New York
Vol. 1/No. 3
Fall 2001
Also in this issue:
Beyond Census 2000: As a Nation, We are the World
Beating the Odds: Providing Education for Women and Girls in Africa
Early Childhood Education: Distance Learning for Teachers Adds a New Dimension
7 Cities Lead the Movement to Change American High Schools
Past Issues:
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“Just imagine for a moment that in the space of three years the U.S. lost its superpower status, that 15 states seceded from the Union taking 40 percent of the population with them, that our allies switched their allegiance to our former enemy, that the economy collapsed, factories closed, that most people lost their life savings, that Social Security and Medicare were abolished, and that prices soared while wages remained stagnant. That might begin to give you some small idea of what ordinary Russians have experienced in the last decade.”
With these words, CNN anchor Judy Woodruff introduces a documentary called Russia: Facing the Future, which, along with a companion volume of the same name, is the culmination of an initiative undertaken by Carnegie Corporation of New York, designed to present a fresh and holistic assessment of the current state of Russia.
Known as the Russia Initiative, the 18-month-long endeavor brought together Russian and American scholars in four task forces, each focusing on a particular aspect of Russia’s security, economy, democratization, social cohesion and state building. Over 100 leading scholars from inside and outside Russia participated in task force meetings over the course of the 18-month-long effort.
Key among the findings was the importance of America remaining engaged with Russia. Despite American malaise since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia retains nuclear capabilities rivaling America’s at a time when the future of Russia’s military is hazy, the transformation to democracy is fragile and overall social cohesiveness is deteriorating.
The documentary premiered at the Library of Congress in early May 2001 before a select group of congressional and cabinet members and staff and diplomatic representatives, including Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Yuri V. Ushakov, and was later broadcast by Maryland Public Television and World Link TV. It has also been featured in a series of eight national “conversations” centered around Russian-American relations.