Itinerary:

Participants will depart the US east coast (JFK or Newark) via a group flight. Upon arrival in Tallinn, they will be met and transported to their accommodations in Estonia.

Participants will spend one week in Estonia, then travel by bus to St. Petersburg and back, and then by plane to Kiev and back. These costs are all included in the program fee.

Curriculum:

All courses are taught in English.

Estonia:
The program will include three lectures: Soviet collapse from the Baltic perspective; the issue of Russian-speaking minority; the politics of memory; Estonia and the European Union; challenges of economic transition; challenges of judicial reform. Visits to the Parliament, National Court and one of the largest commercial banks are part of the academic program.

Cultural program will include: visits to the Estonia National Art Museum, Museum of Occupation, Estonian History Museum, city tours of Tallinn and Tartu, attendance of a performance at the National Ballet and Opera Theatre “Estonia.”

Russia:
The program will include the lectures: Russia and the West; Russian debate on Globalization; Russia and the Northern Dimension; Russian economic and institutional reforms; Russian accession to WTO; Russian civil society; Russia and the programs of arm control. Meetings with officials at St. Petersburg City Government, representatives of a media firm and tour of an industrial factory are part of the academic program.

Cultural program will include: attendance of a performance at Mariinsky Theatre, excursion to the Hermitage and Tsarskoye Selo, city tour of St. Petersburg.

Ukraine:
The program in Ukraine will include the lectures: History of Ukraine to the present; Cultural Identity of Independent Ukraine; the transition period of Ukraine: challenges to the system of social protection and equity; political system in Ukraine; presidential and parliamentary elections; Ukraine and the international community. Meetings with Ukrainian politicians and foreign diplomats are part of the academic program.

Cultural program will include: attendance of a performance at Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre; city tour, visit to Lavra Cave Monastery, optional visit to Chernobyl.

Transportation:
Transportation in Estonia is by bus. Likewise travel to St. Petersburg is by bus and the bus stays in St. Petersburg for the whole week and provides transportation for the group. Travel to Kiev is by plane from Tallinn.

Credits:
Participants will earn three (3) credits.