RUSSIAN-AMERICAN PROGRAM
40 years after its establishment as the Esalen Soviet-American Exchange Program, the program now called the Russian-American Project (RAP) continues to produce meaningful partnerships among leaders in Russia and the United States. In recent years, RAP has worked to understand and contextualize the worsening relations between Russia and the West through conferences held in New York, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. At these summits, RAP seeks pathways to saner and more amicable relations, and the potential for collaboration on issues of shared concern.
CURRENT WORK
In 2018 and 2019 Track Two initiated the Whom Do We Trust Conference series to invite younger generations into our work. 2018 looked at the emerging topic of "fake news" and particularly how it has impacted young people's perceptions about international relations between Russia and America. In 2019 we dove deeper into four global threats that arose during the 2018 conference - threats that are having an undue impact on the psychology and attitudes of young people. These included nuclear threats, climate change, mass migrations and cyber threats. Working with our partners, this program was highly successful in bringing Russian and American students together for a highly interactive event over three days in St. Petersburg, Russia. The theme of trust and what sources can be trusted when exploring information regarding the positions of different countries and cultures on these major threats will continue to be a part of Track Two's work, as will be introducing younger generations to the opportunities offered by non-governmental diplomacy.
