Fifteen Utah Valley University (UVU) students recently visited the United Nations in New York City as part of the university’s Russian studies program and Cold War course, gaining firsthand exposure to diplomacy, international affairs, and the lasting impact of the Cold War on global politics.
Fifteen Utah Valley University (UVU) students recently visited the United Nations in New York City as part of the university’s Russian studies program and Cold War course, gaining firsthand exposure to diplomacy, international affairs, and the lasting impact of the Cold War on global politics.
Supported by a grant from the U.S. Russia Foundation and in partnership with UVU’s Office of Global Engagement, the students met with government officials from the foreign missions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Latvia. Through those conversations, students learned more about the political, economic, and security priorities shaping the region and saw how world events continue to influence international relationships today.
UVU’s Russian studies program emphasizes experiential learning and interdisciplinary study across history, political science, and area studies, with a focus on Russia and the broader post-Soviet region in the 20th and 21st centuries. In partnership with the UVU Center for National Security Studies, the Russian Studies program creates opportunities for students to connect language study and coursework with real-world international issues.
NSS 3350, The Cold War – Culture and Politics examines the confrontational environment of the Cold War that influenced geopolitics for nearly five decades. The course explores the confrontation between capitalism and communism, investigating the origins of the conflict, the formation of opposing blocs, and the relationship between the center and the global periphery of the conflict.
“This trip to the U.N. was a unique opportunity for our students to hear directly from diplomats working within what Vladimir Putin considers Russia’s sphere of influence,” said Professor Frederick H. White. “Many of the issues we are studying this semester, particularly those connected to unresolved tensions from the Cold War, were discussed directly with the officials who deal with them today.”
In addition to visiting the United Nations, students explored Brighton Beach, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for its Russian-speaking immigrant community from the former Soviet Union. The experience gave students additional cultural context as they connected classroom learning with language, food, and the lived experiences of people from the region.
“I had the amazing opportunity to join a trip to New York with a dedicated group of students from Dr. White’s Cold War class and the UVU Russian studies program,” said student Daniel Nelson. “Meeting with U.N. mission representatives relevant to our course gave us a unique understanding of these issues and allowed us to engage with them in a meaningful way.”
Students returned to Utah with a deeper understanding of the United Nations, international diplomacy, and the complex geopolitical tensions that continue to shape relations between the United States, Russia, and the broader post-Soviet region.
For additional information about UVU’s Russian studies program, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/lang/russian/.
