PODCASTS

A podcast on our never ending quest to understand Russia, Ukraine and the surrounding region.

The podcast explores Russia: its history, politics, culture and society, and its relations with the surrounding countries, the United States and beyond.

Each episode our Congressional Relations team brings our nonpartisan research to life through interviews with experts and practitioners covering the world.

Get the inside scoop and the outside perspective on the latest developments from Canada, Latin America, and everywhere in between.

The Journey to “You’ Begins A wise man once said to me,” if you want to be successful here, it matters less how you perceive yourself.” ” What matters is how others perceive you.” “Manage their perceptions.” Of course, in “black sheep” fashion, I didn’t listen. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t last last in that organization. It was a lesson I would learn the hard way latter in life, and still holds true today. Today, I’ll share my story of acceptance of this truth with you. It began when I was while speaking to a local of a country I was visiting. They told me, “We judge you based first on the actions of those who came before you.” “If you want to build good relationships with us, you will have to prove you are worth it, and that you are not like some military, jerks, and spies that come before you.” I didn’t like it but, if I want to work with them and live there, its a reality I’d have to accept. Say What? One might ask, why didn’t you heed the advice? Well, I’ve known from a young age that it was not easy to change a person’s perception, unless they were at least open to allow it. When I was a young boy, a white classmate accused me of hitting him. Although everyone knew I didn’t do it, no one would vouch for me. The teachers did not believe me and I couldn’t understand why not. I’d never been in trouble, bothered anyone, or did anything wrong. Yet, they perceived me to be the liar and punished me accordingly. As I grew older cameras were my best friend. Technology was the only unbiased observer willing or available to tell the truth. So, at work, now as a young man, I knew I could do only so much to change their minds about me. Cameras and technology cannot prove all truth. Additionally, there were others actively attempting to manage my boss’s perception of me for the worst. They won, and this would trigger the start of my journeys around the world and the trip to realization. Oorah! Travel Traveling As U.S. Marine The beginning of the journey began with travel in the U.S. military. Unlike many of my peers, I didn’t experience combat while stationed abroad. I had the luxury of traveling during a peaceful period and loved it. During my “free” time (not on duty) I spoke with many non-U.S. citizens and heard new and different perspectives on the United States and our international presence. However, it was clear why I was in their country and their perception of me was the same as any other military personnel. Corporate World Travel Once I completed my service obligation, I chose to travel once again, but this time as a corporate representative. I continued asking questions and speaking with locals of those countries. Again, they voiced their opinions on U.S. foreign policy, but now the views were more nuanced, not entirely positive, yet still respectful of the U.S. and our foreign policies. Again, it was clear to those I spoke with why I was in their country. Their perception of me was similar to any U.S. business person representing a large international firm. Plain Clothes Travel All the previous years, I traveled and saw myself as simply a country boy from cattle land Texas, with no real opinion of the people or the countries I encountered. It was a naïve position and not until my travel as simply a U.S. citizen did the issue of perception become more apparent. When traveling as an simple a citizen of the United States, not affiliated with the military or a large company, my experiences and interactions became less pleasant. People were more open and more readily voiced their feelings about “foreigners” in their country, their dislike of U.S. citizens, and their issues with U.S foreign policy. In my opinion, my presence was contributing to their economy, which I thought was a good thing. I didn’t cause problems for them personally or act in a disruptive manner while present. So, I couldn’t relate to their perspective of the United States nor of me. I knew very little about any U.S. foreign policy, the history of these countries, or U.S. relations with them. So, I began applying the wisdom I mentioned in the beginning of this piece, took courses in international relations, and it clicked! TWA -Traveling While Afro While traveling as simply a U.S. citizen, I had not considered deeply enough the fact that the world considered both my U.S. citizenship and my race as Afro-American. Some countries appreciated and respected my citizenship and race. Other countries resented both. Being a digital nomad has its pros and cons. As person from the U.S. not with the military or a large company, for me, my presence garners attention and sometimes suspicion. People ask, if not for vacation, why are you here? How are you able to travel? How is it you have money? Aren’t most Afro-Americans poor? You are not a star or athlete. You are not a student, government official, or military. Did you come for drugs? Did you come for our women? Are you a spy? The Shift As I thought back to the words of my boss from earlier years, I had not considered perspective. While serving in the Marines, the last thing a native citizen probably wanted to do was express an opinion that would infuriate U.S. forces stationed in their country, regardless of why we were there. When traveling as business person, especially as a financial auditor and the representative of an international corporation, no one would ever voice a negative opinion of the United States or our foreign policy. I interacted primarily with people that landed “sweet” positions with large U.S. based corporations. It would have been unwise for them to speak negatively of the United States, our policies, or of my presence at that time. (Especially during