The Center for the Study of Democracy in Partnership with The Patuxent Partnership to Host Ambassador James F. Collins
The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, in collaboration with The Patuxent Partnership, will host a discussion led by Ambassador James F. Collins on Thursday, Oct. 25. Collins will discuss U.S.-Russia relations and what to expect over the next four years. Having served as the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from 1997 to 2001, Collins is an expert on Russia and the entire Eurasia region, U.S. foreign policy, as well as arms control and nonproliferation.
The discussion will be held in the college’s Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall, starting at 5:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
A recent poll taken by the Levada Center, a non-governmental Russian research organization, shows the percentage of respondents with a positive view of the United States dropped to 46 percent, from 67 percent last year. The proportion of negative views rose to 38 percent from 27 percent over the same period.
“This new poll is troubling because Russia is an important partner for the U.S. Having good relations with Russia is important because Russia can influence other parts of our foreign policy in the world,” said Michael Cain, professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Democracy.
Before his appointment as ambassador to Russia, Collins served as ambassador-at-large and special adviser to the secretary of state for the New Independent States in the mid-1990s. Also, from 1990 to 1993, Collins was deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He also held positions in the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and the Consulate General in Izmir, Turkey. Collins is currently director and senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Russian and Eurasian Program, and diplomat in residence.
Collins is the recipient of the Secretary of State’s Award for Distinguished Service; the Department of State’s Distinguished Honor Award; the Secretary of State’s Award for Career Achievement; the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service; and the NASA Medal for Distinguished Service.
For ten years the Center for the Study of Democracy has been committed to promoting education and discussion on both policy and political issues of interest to St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the wider Maryland community. The Center regularly hosts political discussions with government officials and political candidates, public political debates, as well as conferences and forums on important policy issues.
For more information please contact Kristen Bergery, program assistant, Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Office: (240)-895-6432, Email: kabergery@smcm.edu.