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What is The Real Russia Project?
The goal of Discovery Institute's Real Russia Project is to offer an accurate picture of life in Russia, promote realistic U.S.-Russia relations, and remain a credible source of information and expertise for U.S. policymakers, business leaders, media, and the general public. The project serves a vital role in educating Americans about Russia and in fostering better understanding between the two countries. An amicable and engaged relationship between the U.S. and the Russian Federation is in the interest of both countries and contributes to global prosperity and stability. Since 2005, the Real Russia Project has been lauded for its objective and bilateral perspective, one which is neither reflexively opposed to nor supportive of Russia, but which offers insightful analysis and critique helpful to political, economic, and cultural understanding. Project Activities to Date The Real Russia Project began in April 2005. The project has received support and praise from academic and business leaders across North America and Europe, all who stress the need for a U.S.-based program offering verifiable, objective and accessible information about the state of affairs in Russia. Project Director Yuri Mamchur created Russia Blog shortly after founding the Real Russia Project. The blog presents up-to-date news, facts and commentary on current events in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. Its readers include business and political leaders, academics, and students conducting research on U.S.-Russia foreign policy. Russia Blog is a touchstone of the Real Russia Project and has become a respected source for U.S. and Russia news outlets. American outletsoFoxNews, Bloomberg, CNN, Voice of America, Radio Liberty, The American Spectator, Yahoo News, Google News, Real Clear Politics, and Johnsonis Russia Listohave picked up the blogis reporting. Russian news agencies have also covered the projectis findings. Mr. Mamchur and other contributors have written 750 original posts, attracting more than 3,500 readersi comments. The blog attracted nearly 3,000,000 individual visitors in 2007 and has become the most popular page on Discovery Instituteis Web site. Aside from daily reporting and analysis on Russia Blog, the Real Russia Project produces more traditional analytic policy reports. In Fall 2006, for example, the project produced and distributed "10 Western Media Stereotypes About Russia: How Truthful Are They?" The report received extensive coverage from major Russian, American, and European media outlets. Several news agencies in Russia (Bloomberg, RTR TV Channel, Russia Today TV Channel, Radio Echo Moskvi, and Radio Svoboda) invited Mr. Mamchur and Discovery Institute president Bruce Chapman to participate in broadcast interviews to discuss the findings. Seminars and policy discussions have also become a staple of the program. A forum held after the release of the "10 Stereotypesi attracted considerable attention from Russian and American media as well as scholars and experts. At that forum, held in Washington, D.C., program senior advisors Herb Ellison (an author and respected University of Washington professor) and Bill Robinson (an attorney and business advisor) served as panelists along with Mr. Mamchur. Smaller scale engagements have included speeches and sessions with Rotary clubs, U.S. congressional staff, and secondary and post-secondary students. Real Russia Project principals have met with supporters and skeptics alike, including representatives of the U.S. State Department, Congress, the White House, think tanks, and the Russian government. |
