SURF Program Overview
The Stanford U.S.-Russia Forum (SURF) is an ongoing initiative of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University, housed within the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL).
In response to the existing diplomatic tensions between Russia and the United States stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we have made adjustments to our program. The revised program is designed to uphold the integral student exchange component that was a cornerstone of SURF's previous activities. This adaptation is aimed at ensuring continued engagement and collaboration in light of the current geopolitical circumstances by:
- Partnering with several European universities.
- Bringing Russian and Russia-focused activists, analysts, and political actors into contact with our students at Stanford and partnering European universities for meaningful exchanges with our faculty, students, and researchers in a variety of issue areas.
- Building working contacts among young Americans and young Russians who want to work together for a better future in relations between our two countries.
We are especially pleased to partner with the Boris Nemtsov Master's program in Russian Studies on this initiative. Through this partnership, the program assists us in recruiting Russian student participants currently residing in Europe and co-organizing our annual student-to-student conference at Charles University in Prague during the spring quarters of 2026, 2027, and 2028. At these conferences, Russian students enrolled in the Boris Nemtsov Master's program in Russian Studies at Charles University, along with students from several partner universities and American students from Stanford, present and discuss their projects. Student teams of 4 to 6 students (a mix of U.S. and Russian students)work remotely first on a topic of mutual interest related to the annual conference theme.
- Student teams prepare a memo and presentation ahead of two in-person conferences, held each spring in April and May.
- Student teams are organized and coached by relevant Stanford faculty. We collaborate with the Boris Nemtsov Master's program in Russian Studies to establish Russian and American student teams and support participating SURF students in defining and refining their research.
- Students schedule regular bi-weekly Zoom meetings to discuss their projects.
- The program posts student memos on the SURF website.
A central part of SURF’s programming is the conference “delegate” experience, where American and Russian students meet in person in their respective countries to attend high-level consultative meetings, participate in cultural exchange, and conduct and present their own research and policy proposals. While the current geopolitical situation makes this impossible, we are grateful to the Nemtsov Foundation for helping us bring SURF delegates together safely and in person.
Each spring, we bring together 10-20 American students and 10-20 Russian students enrolled in the M.A. Program in Russian Studies of the Boris Nemtsov Educational Program at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and several other partnering universities. The SURF program manager and Stanford faculty facilitate discussions and provide feedback to the student teams on their work. Additional small- and large-group discussions focus more directly on U.S. politics, Russian politics and economics, and U.S.-Russian relations now and in the future.
These conferences are intended to be well-rounded, exposing delegates both to each other’s countries and cultures, as well as to the variety of viewpoints and perspectives within them. After the program's conclusion, participants join the SURF alumni community and contribute to its vibrant network of young leaders dedicated to improving U.S.-Russia relations.