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Gregory Dubinsky ’07 will work with experts in
Washington DC after graduation. He was named a Carnegie Junior Fellow, the
first Wesleyan has had since 1991. |
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| Posted 04.17.07 |
Senior Named Carnegie Junior Fellow
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Gregory Dubinsky ’07 will have the opportunity
to work with two Russian scholars as a newly-accepted Junior Fellow at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think-tank based in
Washington, DC that focuses on promoting cooperation between nations.
Dubinsky, a government and intellectual history double major, is one of only
seven students in the country to receive this honor. Each year the Carnegie
Endowment offers the one-year fellowships to seniors and individuals who
have graduated during the past academic year.
The senior applied for the program to learn more about U.S. foreign policy
issues, particularly as they apply to countries and cultures where there has
historically been a gap in mutual understanding. He remembers reading Samuel
Huntington's controversial article “The Clash of Civilizations” and
wondering how countries’ own self-perception affect their interactions with
other nations
“Russia was always fascinating to me in this regard because of how
profoundly important and troubled its historical struggle to define itself
in relation to Western civilization has been,” he explains.
The Carnegie applications are judged on the quality of the written essay,
related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations and
personal interviews. Dubinsky submitted an essay on the importance of oil
and gas to Russian foreign policy and its implications for Russia's
relationship with the West.
This essay parallels his senior thesis, which is focused on exploring the
connection between identity and foreign policy in Russian political and
intellectual history in the nineteenth century and since 1991. In this
study, Dubinsky wanted to find out how Russians' sense of themselves has
affected their country's relationship to the United States and Europe,
particularly as cooperation with Russia has become increasingly important to
tackling the major global security issues of the day.
“I hope to continue in that vein at the Carnegie Endowment by trying to
understand contemporary Russian politics in a deeper and more revealing
historical context,” he says. “The atmosphere of intellectual inquiry at
Wesleyan has prepared me well to ask critical questions about how cultures
understand themselves and others.”
As a Junior Fellow, Dubinsky will provide research assistance to associates
working on the Carnegie Endowment’s Russian/Eurasian projects. In the past,
Junior Fellows have had the opportunity to conduct research for books,
co-author journal articles and policy papers, participate in meetings with
high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize
briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government
officials.
He’s been paired with Mark Medish, vice president for Studies on Russia,
China and Eurasia and special assistant to the president during the Clinton
Administration, and Jim Collins, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, senior
associate and director of the Russian and Eurasian Program, and diplomat in
residence.
Wesleyan has not had a Junior Carnegie Fellow since 1991.
Peter Rutland, chair of the College of Social Studies and professor of
government, nominated Dubinsky for the Junior Fellowship and encouraged him
to apply. Dubinsky is grateful to Rutland for his support and guidance.
Dubinsky will begin his fellowship Aug. 1 and work full-time at the Carnegie
Endowment, based in Washington DC, for one year. He will receive $2,750 per
month and full benefits.
After graduation, Dubinsky plans on taking a trip to the Northwest to
unwind, and he hopes to start learning Mandarin this summer in New York.
Meanwhile, he’s excited about moving to Washington.
“I'm looking forward to meeting interesting people and learning more about
how things get done in the capital,” he says. “Living in Washington should
be a lot of fun and I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
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By Olivia Bartlett, The Wesleyan Connection
editor |
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