by: Thomas Schmitt

Friday 17 May, 2013

Today the brave Brandt School companions woke at the first light of day and ventured sleepily down to Domplatz to begin the long journey to the depths of Siberia.   After noticing that one of our numbers was missing, we had our bus driver make a quick swing by Plauener Weg to board a belated Bulgarian, and then we were on our way.   Most of us got a little extra sleep on the long ride to Dusseldorf Airport, but the long lines for check-in gave us reason to fully awaken.  But after that, everything went rather quickly, and suddenly we were securely seated surrounded by Siberians speaking a strange Cyrillic Sprache.   The flight attendants spoke nary a word of English (I forgot to check their German skills), and neither could most of us read any of the printed words around us, so the flight began with an alien feeling for many of us.  But we were all kind of excited anyway.

Some read.  Some slept.  Some drooled as they read or slept.  Daniela and I noticed the big batch of bundled babies burbling on board, but blessedly barely bawling!  Russian babies are shockingly well-behaved, we marveled.  What’s in those milk bottles?   Some of us noticed the lack of in-flight entertainment systems and bemoaned the departure from known civilization.  If only they knew what was in store…

The flight landed with quite a jolt around midnight local time.  Having traveled east, our bodies and minds were still set for 7 o’clock in the evening, so thankfully we still had a little energy to finish the journey.  We were going to need it.  Long lines at customs and funny looks from the border control agents began to wear us down.  It’s never a good thing when an agent takes a look at your passport and then has to leave his desk to go enquire about you.  It makes the heart beat fast.  Anyway, we were all allowed to wend our way through.  But bad news at the baggage belt:  Kind Karen couldn’t collect her case!  It wouldn’t be a real group trip if someone’s bag didn’t go missing, right!?   Curiously, the only thing left on the baggage belt was her opened padlock.  No bag.  What the %&$#!!?  Luckily, the lovely linguistically-skilled ladies, Ana and Natasha from Novosibirsk State University, had arrived just in time to help Karen discuss the issue with airport security.  After some time, Karen rejoined the patiently waiting group and we offered our sympathies, because it was clearly quite frustrating for her.  But we were all losing steam and needed to find some beds.

A long (slow) journey on the bus brought us to Akademgodorok, the academic suburb built in the forest about 30km from the city of Novosibirsk.  It was almost 3am when we arrived.  We pulled up to a well-lit building that looked fairly modern.  “This is actually quite nice,” I thought.  But then Prof. Hoffmann and Silke hopped out of their seats and exclaimed, “This is just our hotel.  Your dormitory is the next stop.  Sleep well!”  Oh.  It’s like that, so I see.

We assembled ourselves in the hallway of our dormitory building to claim our keys.  Thankfully all were stationed on the first floor.  There would be no hauling luggage up flights of stairs in the middle of the night.   Most of us were two to a room (two lucky ones got their own room, and I think this warrants them cooking for the rest of us one night.  Hmm, ladies…what do you say?  I’m free on Thursday).  Anyway, “room” is a rather generous term to use here.  I will say this: at least they were clean.   And the first question we all seemed to seriously supply within seconds, was “Where in the world is the wifi?”  Welcome to Siberia, kids.  You’re a long way from Erfurt.

Okay, so not everything has been perfect upon getting here.  But we’re managing.  And in truth, we are gaining a grand glimpse of how student life goes in greater Russia.  The rooms aren’t quite as big as in Erfurt.  There isn’t always hot water (or even a drain for the shower, so it seems in some rooms).  One isn’t always connected to the internet.  We’ll learn to adjust, just like the students here have always done.   And Karen will go shopping for new clothes.

Thankfully, there was an all-night super-market nearby (Take that, Germany!  Open 24-hours!!!), so that we could stock up with water (don’t drink it out of the tap, warns Julia) and some other quick necessities.  And then we were finally to bed – just as that sneaky Siberian spring sun started to slide skyward.

Saturday 18 May, 2013

About noontime of the next day, we began to roll out of bed for a quick tour of the immediate area.   I slept quite well, actually.  Thanks for asking!  (Sorry to my roommate for snoring).  Ana and Natasha returned with big, friendly smiles to lead us about the main buildings of Novosibirsk State University.  Before coffee however, not many of us could understand what they were saying, even though they explained everything in excellent English.  You know how it is.  Imagine a Hoffmann lecture before being properly caffeinated.   (I joke, of course.  Surely he knows that.  I hope).

It was quite busy about the university buildings, which was surprising since it was Saturday.  Another student guide remarked that many exams were taking place, and pointed out the many short skirts as proof.  No comment.  I’m not sure if it was a joke or not.  But the rain was pouring and pummeling the prickly public policy party, so the lovely ladies led us to lunch.

After lunch, we gathered once again for a trip into the city proper to see a real Russian cultural event: the opera.  It is quite a long journey to from Akademgodorok to the center of Novosibirsk.  So by the time we arrived, we needed perhaps a little pick-me-up.   We enjoyed coffee and beers in the salon of the Novosibirsk State Opera, as we snapped photos and chatted with the full contingent of friendly NSU students who would be our hosts and partners for the week.  And then we settled into our seats for the three-act, famous Russian epic:  Knyaz Igor.  This exceptional epic opera, in my opinion, epitomizes the opulence of Russian opera for which the people opt.  Additionally, it showcased the historical west-east identity crisis that underpins the current center-local struggles that we will be discussing during our visit to the region.  But man, was it ever long!

By the time we journeyed back to Akademgodorok and finally got some food in our bellies, we were too tired to venture out to find the local nightlife.  These totally tired travelers were too tired to be tempted to try trekking out towards typical student trouble (bars).   Our plump pillows once again provided the perfect place for these public policy participants to plop down for a proper night’s rest.

by: Lamin O. Ceesay

Introduction

Monday 13th May, 2013 marked the beginning of yet another formal inauguration of the Haniel Spring School seminar series at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy in Erfurt. This inaugural lecture was one out of two preparatory seminars to be conducted at the Brandt School before a team of 10 students would join their Russian counterparts at Novosibirsk State University for a ten day seminar from 18^th -26^th May this year. The topic for this year´s seminar series is “The Effects of Centre-Local Relationships on Public Policy”. Novosibirsk State University, the host institution for this year´s programme, is said to be one of the best and famous research and teaching institutions in Russia. It is located in Akademgorodok 20 kilometers from the city of Novosibirsk, a cultural and industrial center of the region of Siberia.

Opening Remarks

This year´s inaugural/preparatory lecture on the topic: “Siberia-Perceptions in the Past and Present”, was conducted by Prof. Holt Meyer, an American professor lecturing at the University of Erfurt. The event was chaired by Ms. Silke Adamitza on behalf of Ms. Julia Tantoh, Programme Coordinator, Haniel Spring School, at the Brand School. In her brief introductory remarks, Ms. Adamitza welcomed students and formal presented Prof. Holt Meyer.

Prof. Holt Meyer´s Lecture on “Siberia-Perceptions in the Past and Present”

At the beginning of what I would describe as a marathon and a captivating lecture, Prof. Meyer informed students that he would prefer to reshape the caption of the lecture from “Siberia-Perceptions in the Past and Present” to “Conceptions, Practices and Reflections on Siberia Yesterday and Today” to fit well with his planned deliberations. That being said he informed participants about his carefully selected articles as points of departure/reference for the lecture which included: Mark Bassin (1991), Alexia Bloch (2005) and Art Leete (2005).

1. a.     Siberia in Russia in the Early and the Late 19^th Century

                        I.         Siberia in Russia in the Early 19^th Century

Russian west of Urals´ conception of Siberia in the early 19^th century, according to Prof. Meyer, was nothing less than just a mercantile Russian colony for the purpose of exploiting the rich natural resources to develop mainland Russia. The euphoria among the leadership and the citizens at the time was the quest for an easily obtainable and highly lucrative mercantile commodity-pelt and fur which were in abundance in the Siberian Taiga. The Professor also talked about the role played by the different leaders of Russia at the time, singling out the role played by Aleksandr I. Russians, he went on, branded the region of Siberia as “our Peru” or “Our Mexico”, a “Russian Brazil” or “our East India” simply because the region was a good source of income for them. The rich natural environment and Siberia´s Lena River to the Russians was comparable only to River Nile of Africa and that there was a popular perception among them that this river would foster the growth of Russian imperial aspirations. However, in spite of all these wonders and natural richness, Russians, the Professor noted, never viewed the people of Siberia as one of them rather they referred to them as their Asiatic colony.

1. ii.             Siberia in Russia in the Late 19^th Century

By the late nineteenth century with the shift in preference for fur in the international market, change in fashion and style of dress and the decreased number of pelts in Taiga, the Professor confirmed, “Russian Peru lost much of its economic significance”. Russian East´s previous “generous vision of Siberia as a `gold mine`” and enthusiasm with time turned into cynicism and the eventual labeling of the region as a burden on the motherland USSR. The popular description of Siberia at the time by both Russian politicians and the educated elites was, according to Professor nothing but “a vast Asiatic wasteland of barren, snowy expanses and frozen tundra” replacing those glorious and inspiring views for decades.

However, writings of those “self-conscious political opposition” banished in Siberia suddenly changed this negative perception about Siberia. Disenchanted with serfdom and the autocratic status of Russia, Decembrists in exile began to actively searching for an “alternative social and political models” outside European Russia for the transformation of Russia, found this unique model in Siberia. They therefore embraced Siberia and started popularizing it through poetic writing and newspaper publications. “Decembrists” were young officers banished to Siberia after their revolt against the accession to power by the then Russian leader Nicholas I in 1825.

This new discovery once again Professor noted, swung the pendulum in favor of Siberia “from a barren realm of ice and darkness” to a “source of hope and inspiration” for the Decembrists. Decembrists were impressed by Siberia´s “untapped natural resources, the abundance and richness”, as well as moved by her qualities like the absence of institution of serfdom, and the free nature of Siberian society from both chattel labor and a powerful landed aristocracy. Consequently as noted by Professor Meyer, they likened the region to North America a democratic and egalitarian society as opposed to autocratic European Russia.

1. b.     The Practices of Russians in Siberia at the time the Soviet Union

Using the writings of Alexia Bloch (2005) and Art Leete (2005), Professor Meyer looked at how Russians pursued their imperialist ideas of assimilation of Siberians people using collectivized child rearing within the idea of “Kollektiv”.  He also discussed briefly the different views about the virtues of “residential school” as a form of social safety net and as an instrument of state control. The idea generated divergent views among students as some viewed collective rearing/residential school as liberating women and providing them with “new set of opportunities and to excel in academic and professional settings”, while others disagreed and said it was oppressive as well as destroyed the traditional community structures and culture. Professor Meyer also discussed the role of religion and religious sacrifice like mass killings of animals as an instrument used by Siberians to thwart Soviet imperialist ideas of collective herding of reindeer.

1. c.     Reflections on Siberia at the End of the Soviet Era

On Siberia at the end of Soviet era, Professor Meyer posed a contentious question: “Is Siberia better-off now or before?” This generated a typical academic debate with divided opinions. Some students based on the narrative accounts of women in Alexia Bloch´s (2005) article maintained that people especially women were better-off under USSR era because resources were equally distributed each according to their needs. While some students maintained that people were worst-off in the USSR era as the period was characterized by oppression and lack of democracy, rule of law, and curtailed freedom of speech or expression. Some even raised doubts about the genuineness and sincerity of the narrative accounts of women in the article.

Conclusion

At the end of the lecture Ms. Silke Adamitza presented a gift to the Professor Meyer as a token of appreciation of his lecture.

As a result of the Brandt School 2012-2013 project group entitled “Welcoming Skilled Migrants to Thuringia”, in cooperation with the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Labor and Technology, positive changes to create a more welcoming culture in Thuringia are underway.

The group of eleven students from a total of nine different countries, met with the Thuringian Minister of Economics, Labor and Technology, Matthias Machnig,at a press conference this past Friday, May 10^th to discuss the results of the project and the future implementation of proposed policy recommendations.

See the full story here.

by: Julia Tantoh (Program Coordinator Eastern Europe)

The Brandt School’s Haniel Spring & Fall Schools in Eastern Europe:

Over the past few years, the Brandt School’s Haniel Spring & Fall School seminars have complemented the MPP-curriculum giving MPP-students a unique opportunity to participate in intensive week-long courses abroad. The seminars, which are organized in cooperation with local partners in the Eastern European region and generously supported by the Haniel Foundation, deal with highly relevant public policy topics and challenge MPP students to test and perfect their methodological and analytical skills in an intercultural context.

The first Haniel Fall Schools took place in the Russian capital Moscow in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, MPP students traveled to St. Petersburg. The 2013 Haniel Spring School will be held in Novosibirsk in Siberia. Thereby, the Haniel Spring & Fall Schools leave behind Western Russia and continue on to Russia’s West Siberian Plain.

1) Marufa Akter’s project in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Open Sky School

2) Yudy Andrea Novoa Lopez’s Project in Colombia: The Nation Network Foundation

3) Laura Dadomo’s Project in Argentina: Prevention and Health Care for Women

 
A special thanks to all those who worked hard in creating these projects and putting together these videos!