Obtain a master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy in Russia and Eurasia studies studying near the edge of the East and yet in the West.

Despite the relatively small size of the Russian economy, the country retains significant military and political power. Consequently, Russia has a substantial impact on the dynamics of its surrounding regions, as well as other regions and global processes.

The regions surrounding Russia maintain their relevance in the regional and global context as well. "Frozen conflicts" in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, as well as the renewed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia; undemocratic governance and related potential political and economic transformation processes in a number of countries of Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia; the impact of the Afghan civil war and peace process on Central Asian countries, in particular Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; the ever-increasing economic and political clout of China in Central Asia and other regions are but a few of the developments that continue to take place.

Why study Russia and Eurasia in Latvia?

• Studying at one of the top locations on Russia expertise in the European Union (EU) provides a combination of experience-based topical knowledge with the quality of a European education;
• Latvia has accumulated a vast experience in political, economic and social transformation by vigorously departing from Russia’s orbit and joining Western institutional pillars – the EU, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Thereby Latvia and the other two Baltic states serve as role models to Eastern European and other countries in transition;
• Putting Russian domestic and foreign policy at the core, the program offers focused, detailed and applied study courses, while also providing first-hand knowledge on wider Eurasian issues covering Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia;
• Due to Latvia's geographic location, the countries that are the focus of the programme are easily accessible by air and/or land transportation - in particular Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan;
• Central Asia and EU Eastern Partnership countries have historically all been at the heart of Latvia’s foreign policy. This provides students with the opportunity to witness national and EU policy taking shape first-hand and the ability to participate in regular public discussions and other events;
• The programme's instructors have unique expertise in the international academic environment, think-tanks and extensive field experience as practitioners (e.g. as EU and national level diplomats) with regionalist research interests ranging from Russia to China, as well as a proficiency in major Eurasian languages and cultures.

Career opportunities after graduation

The Russia and Eurasia Studies programme will help graduates develop a career in the national diplomatic corps, at international organisations, commercial companies, universities and think-tanks with a focus on Russia and/or different Eurasian issues. The programme also prepares students for further PhD studies.