Anita Kondoyanidi

Royden Davis Lecturer, Department of History
Home country: Russia
Courses Taught: “Cultural Cold War”  

To start, can we talk a little about your path to Georgetown?
I am probably an interesting case because I came here as a student and now I am ABD and a Royden Davis lecturer. My dream has always been to study at a big research institution, a place where the life of the mind really matters. As a graduate student in the Center for Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies first, I met extraordinary professors, who know a lot about the region and who really practice what they preach. Dr. Angela Stent was my mentor and still is, in many ways, Dr. Charles King is a voice of reason and I still seek his opinion on many political and historical issues. CERES has many wonderful professors. And of course, while a Master’s student, I took many history courses from Professor Catherine Evtuhov and the late Richard Stites. That was when I realized my passion for Russian history and it was Richard Stites who became my mentor. He taught me how to look at different historical events from distinct perspectives. Poles and Russians, for example, would view the NATO expansion differently and these differences turn into diametrically opposite policy decisions. That is why history matters so much for any future policymaker. So for me, Georgetown is the place where I took classes from professors of exceptional quality. The second thing I liked about Georgetown were my classmates. We have terrific students here at Georgetown, from different parts of the world. I remain friends with people from Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, Austria, Spain, Albania, Bosnia and France. It is really a diverse population and students here are self-motivated. Speaking as a professor, you don’t have to motivate Georgetown students. They really want to learn. It’s a unique learning experience at Georgetown because the entire atmosphere is all about inquiry. And then again I got exposed here to so many interesting people, starting with Noam Chomsky and ending with Madeleine Albright, whom I’ve listened to in lectures.

Shifting gears a bit, in terms of the research you’ve done at Georgetown. What is your primary focus and what motivates you when you are doing it?
I am writing right now about Maxim Gorky, the Soviet writer and public figure. My fabulous mentor is Professor Michael David-Fox. I am interested in the idea of revolution and particularly why Russians today do not want to have another revolution. They do not want to have a Maidan, for example; according to the most recent Levada center poll, 94 percent of Russians are against any form of revolutionary upheaval in Russia. Gorky is a fascinating case because when the Bolshevik takeover happened in 1917, he was the first one who sounded the alarm that Russian culture was in danger. I am trying to learn how someone who upheld freedom and opposed Bolsheviks’ tactics became a puppet of the Soviet government. So I’m looking at two things. First, the revolution itself and what it meant for Russians then and now. And second, what is the relationship between the intellectual and the authorities? Once the revolution happens, the people who suffer the most are ordinary citizens and intellectuals. They find themselves completely powerless. Another area of research that I pursue is cultural diplomacy. I think that comes out of my fascination with policymaking and the role of culture in establishing mutual understanding. I think cultural diplomacy is essential and I think that Georgetown students, many of whom may become diplomats or politicians, benefit a lot from learning how cultural diplomacy played an instrumental role in ending the Cold War. 

Moving to a different subject, if you weren’t in academia, what do you think you would be doing?
I would work in arts management. I would try to establish various cultural paths and exchanges between different countries. Only culture can facilitate dialogue during difficult times. Or, I would have been a diplomat because I am endlessly curious about other cultures, enjoy negotiations and finding a compromise that works for all sides. So there are two big passions that I have: one is culture, both elite and popular, and the second is diplomacy. I try to approach teaching from a diplomatic perspective. Professors need to be able to understand their students, listen to them, and encourage them to realize their full potential.

Interview by Evan Hollander