РОССИЙСКО-АРМЯНСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

About chair

The Chair of World Politics and International Relations at the Institute of International Relations and Socialpolitical Sciences of the Russian-Armenian University is one of the leading centers in Armenia and the region for training high-quality specialists in the field of international relations and diplomacy.

The Chair serves as an innovative scientific and practical center for research and the development of new knowledge in international relations and world politics, integrating this knowledge into the educational process and participating in the expert community to shape foreign policy decisions in Armenia and beyond.

Founded in May 2002 as part of the Faculty of Political Science at the Russian-Armenian University, the Chair has established itself over 18 years of successful operation as an innovative center that combines the best traditions with advanced technologies in scientific, pedagogical, and educational activities.

The educational process is based on a combination of classroom sessions and independent student work, as well as active student participation in extracurricular activities: scientific-practical events (meetings with guests from RAU, conferences, seminars, round tables), cultural activities (intellectual games like "What? Where? When?" organized at university, inter-university, national, and international levels, as well as "Voice of RAU" and "Talent of RAU"), and sports events (chess and checkers tournaments, as well as university, inter-university, and national competitions in football, basketball, and volleyball, supported by the RAU Sports Club).

The Chair actively collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, embassies, consulates, and international organizations accredited in Armenia, as well as research centers and the private sector.

MISSION
The mission of the Chair is to cultivate well-rounded, confident, and competitive professionals with a high level of civic responsibility, possessing modern knowledge, skills, and experience that meet the contemporary demands of specialists in the field of international relations.

In the spirit of the values and traditions of RAU, the Chair aims to foster active, responsible, and initiative-driven students, creating an atmosphere and spirit of freedom and creativity.

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
The following research directions are active in the chair:

Studies in Armenian studies: The Armenian Question, Armenia – Diaspora
The role of small countries in world politics
Research on Russia and Eurasia
Traditional, public, and digital diplomacy
New technologies and international relations
The emerging new world order
Regional security in the South Caucasus
American studies
European studies
Middle Eastern studies
Geopolitics of China and the Asia-Pacific region

PROGRAMS
The Chair implements educational and research processes at three levels: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.
Since September 2016, it has been operating a unique joint master's degree program in collaboration with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, academic mobility programs are being implemented.

Programs

DESCRIPTION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
BACHELOR'S PROGRAM
The educational program aims to prepare specialists with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in international politics, diplomacy, and international law. Students study comprehensive aspects of international relations, including the analysis of global and regional issues, international cooperation, and conflict studies. The program also includes the study of foreign languages, enabling graduates to work effectively in a multilingual and multicultural environment.

Our graduates are in demand in various fields:
- Diplomatic services and consulates
- International organizations
- Non-governmental organizations, media, and analytical centers
- The corporate sector, particularly in companies operating in international markets
- Academic and research institutions

MASTER'S PROGRAM
Program Director: Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor Nora Vachikovna Gevorgyan.
The Chair offers three master's programs (two in Russian and one in English):
- "International Relations and Diplomacy"
- Joint master's degree program with MGIMO (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Contemporary Diplomacy and International Affairs

Master's Program in "International Relations and Diplomacy"
The program offers the opportunity to study a wide range of issues, including the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, traditional and new approaches to diplomacy, relations between states and governments, psychological aspects of decision-making, international organizations and NGOs, international law, conflicts and post-conflict peacebuilding, as well as the impact of technology on strategy formulation in contemporary international relations.
The program also allows for regional specialization, focusing on the South Caucasus, Russia and Eurasia, China and the Asia-Pacific region, the European Union, the United States, and the Middle East.
It consists of a series of mandatory courses, elective subjects, practical research work, and the writing of a master's thesis.
The program serves as both a systematic continuation and deepening of the foundational education for graduates with a bachelor's degree in "International Relations" and provides an opportunity for individuals without a background in international relations to gain qualifications in "International Relations and Diplomacy," who envision their future in this field.

Joint Master's Degree Program with MGIMO (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since September 2016, the joint master's degree program with MGIMO (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in operation. This unique educational offering provides an opportunity for international education at one of the world's leading universities in the field of international relations and diplomacy.

Students are educated according to a coordinated curriculum at both RAU and MGIMO (University) in a full-time format.

Master’s Degree in Contemporary Diplomacy and International Affairs
The Master Program is designed for those striving to receive cutting-edge and innovative education in the field of Diplomacy and International Relations with focus on cutting-edge diplomatic practice, negotiations and deal-making, international politics, global governance, public and media relations & tools, and psychology driving the decisions. In addition, you will expertise in design and methodology of research (including quantitative research methods), as well as an additional opportunity for our students will be ensured to dive deeper into the specific segments and areas of the student’s specific interest.
The MSc Contemporary Diplomacy and International Affairs prepares future leaders and decision-makers to prosper both in national and international career.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM
Since 2005, the Chair has been offering a doctoral program for training scientific and pedagogical personnel in the field of 5.5.4 "International Relations, Global and Regional Studies."
This program is designed for those who envision their future in academia and/or seek to apply a scientific approach more extensively in practical activities.
The program aims to create an academic environment that enables students to grasp fundamental approaches and emerging trends in world politics and international relations, while also engaging in the generation of scientific knowledge and integrating into the international division of academic labor. Over the past fifteen years, the Chair has trained more than one hundred doctoral candidates.

MOBILITY PROGRAMS
The Chair offers mobility programs at all three levels of education (bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs), particularly in collaboration with MGIMO, the Higher School of Economics (Moscow and St. Petersburg), as well as within the European Erasmus+ framework.

Gevorkyan Nora

Candidate of political sciences, associate professor

369
[email protected]

Information

Gevorkyan Nora – Ph.D., Associate Professor, Head of the Department of World Politics and International Relations, Expert on quality assurance of professional education

Teaching activity

She has been working at the Department of World Politics and International Relations since 2005. She teaches the courses "World Politics and International Relations", "Modern World Politics", "Geopolitics", "EU in Global Politics".
In the master's program, she teaches the course "Research Strategy and Methods of Analysis", "Methodology and Research Methods", as well as "EU's Foreign Policy",
In the PhD program, she teaches the course "Modern Geopolitical Concepts".
Supervises bachelors and master's dissertations.

Research activity.
Author of over 20 scientific works, including 2 monographs (“Armenian-American Relations in the Context of US Foreign Policy Priorities in the South Caucasus (1991-2001)”, “EU Policy in the South Caucasus Region: From Uniform Approach to Differentiation?”), as well as a tutorial on “Modern World Politics”.

Trainings, conferences.

1. Member of the Accreditation Commission. National Center for Quality Assurance in Professional Education.
2. Europe’s Geopolitical Future: Mapping Perspectives on EU Policy in its Eastern Neighborhood. University of Zurich, March 10–11, 2022. Presentation title - “The Arduous Path of Armenia’s European Integration. From Civilizational Choice to U-Turn”.
3. EGA 2022 – EUROPE AS A GLOBAL ACTOR. MAY 5-6| ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa. Lisbon, Portugal. Presentation title - “The EU-Russia competition in the South Caucasus: the case of Armenia.
4. Black Sea Symposium. New Europe College, Bucharest, Romania, June 10 - 12, 2022, Presentation title - “Characteristics of Academia in Black Sea Countries, and What are the Specific Needs?”
5. International Symposium - Armenia, the United States, and Regional Transformations in Eurasia: Advancing Transnational Understanding. Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia, December 2-3, 2022. Presentation title - “Small States in Great Power Geopolitics: Armenia in the U.S. Policies in the South Caucasus and Beyond”
6. Pontica Magna Fellowship Program, New Europe Foundation, New Europe College, Institute for Advanced Studies, Bucharest Romania (2019-2020)
7. Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, MA, Medford, USA, Advanced Program on Public Policy and Administration (2017)
8. University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Visiting Lecturer (2016)
9. Warsaw Euro-Atlantic Summer Academy (WEASA), Regional Policy and Regional Development: Euro-Atlantic Support to Eastern Partnership Countries (2016)
10. Warsaw Euro-Atlantic Summer Academy (WEASA) EU Energy policy (2015)
11. National Center for Education Quality Assurance. Basic retraining of experts. Yerevan, Armenia (2015)
12. Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands, European Union Studies Program, Visiting scholar (2013-2014)
13. Seminar on the topic “The interesting place and work of the European Economic and Social Council”. The Netherlands. The Hague. (2014)
14. Seminar on the topic “European External Action Service: budding or baloney?” The Netherlands. Leiden. (2013)
15. Conference on the topic “The Netherlands & Russia”. Jason Institute. Peace Palace. The Netherlands. The Hague. (2013)
16. Seminar on the topic “How works the European Commission?”. The Netherlands. Leiden. (2013)
17. Public Service Fellowship, Program (PSFP) of the U.S. Department of State’s Public Affairs Section (2011-2012)
18. Florida State University, Florida, USA, International Affairs Program, Visiting scholar (2011)
19. International Conference “Security issues in the contemporary world”. Florida State University, Florida, USA. (2011)
20. International Affairs Colloquium, Florida State University, Florida, USA. (2011)

Languages spoken:
Armenian, Russian, English, Dutch

Teaching subjects
• EU in global politics
• Contemporary world politics and international relations
• Methodology and methods of scientific research
• European Union foreign policy
• Geopolitics
• Contemporary geopolitical concepts
• Research strategy and methods of analysis

Scientific interests

• Foreign policy interests of the United States in the South Caucasus region;
• Armenian-American relations at the present stage;
Democratic deficit issues of the EU;
EU foreign policy in the Eastern direction (European Neighborhood Policy, Eastern Partnership);
EU-Armenia relations;
The role of small states in world politics and international relations
The role of soft power in the foreign policy strategy of world political actors

List of publications

Small States in Great Powers Geopolitics: Armenia’s Role in the U.S. Policy on the South Caucasus. East-West Studies, No 13, 2024
ԱՄՆ-ի «փափուկ ուժի» ռազմավարությունը Հայաստանի նկատմամբ. Բանբեր Երեւանի համալսարանի. Միջազգային հարաբերություններ, Քաղաքագիտություն, 2024, Vol 15, No 1(43).
US Soft Power and Value Transfer Modalities: The Case of Armenia and the Armenian-American Community. Diaspora Studies. 17(1), 2023. (Q1.) https://doi.org/10.1163/09763457-bja10071
Peculiarities of the Armenian Diaspora in the United States: Formation, Development and Role in Armenian-American Relations. Romanian Review of Political Sciences and International Relations, XX, 1, pp. 166–186, Bucharest, 2023.
The Influence of Ethnic Interest Groups on U.S. Foreign Policy: the Case of Armenian Diaspora”. Journal of Yerevan University, International Relations, Political Science. Special Issue: American Studies, 2022, Sp1, 98-108. https://doi.org/10.46991/bysu:d/2022.sp1.098
Surviving as Small States between Global Powers: Armenia on the Crossroads of the EU and the EAEU //New Europe College Yearbook, Pontica Magna Program 2019-2020, Bucharest, 2021, pp. 55-88
EU Policy in the South Caucasus Region: From Uniform Approach to Differentiation?. Voskan Yerevantsy publication, Yerevan, 2016. ISBN, 978-99930-0-251-2 (Monograph)
EU policy in the South Caucasus region: A thorny path to differentiation? Armenian Journal of Political Science. 2016, N1 (4)
The EU’s Strategic Interests in the South Caucasus: from a Bystander to Perceived Interests, Armenian Journal of Political Science. 2015, N2 (3)
Divergent Character of the South Caucasian States’ Interests vis-à-vis the European Union: Implications for the EU before the Riga Summit. Herald of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University. (Social and Humanity Sciences). 2015, N1 (19)
Современная мировая политика, Издательство РАУ, 2015, ISBN 978-9939-67-131-4 (Учебно-методическое пособие)
The Role, Impact and Development of the Principle of Mutual Recognition in EU Law. Bulletin of the Yerevan State University. (Jurisprudence). Yerevan, 2014. N3, (144)
The Potential of the European Citizens’ Initiative in Solving the EU’s Democratic Deficit Issus. Herald of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University. (Social and Humanity Sciences). 2014, N2 (17)
Армяно-американские взаимоотношения в контексте внешнеполитических приоритетов США на Южном Кавказе (1991-2001гг.). Издательство “Лимуш”. Ереван, 2012. ISBN – 978-9939-64-135-5. (Монография)