Another lesson from the “Conversations About Important Things” series was held in Russian schools, this time dedicated to the role of diplomacy. The lesson was built around the idea of a multipolar world and the “special mission” of Russian diplomacy on the international stage.
“We live in a world where, for a long time, one country or a group of countries dominated, imposing their rules on others. Modern Russian diplomacy advocates for a fundamentally different model — a multipolar world,” — a line from the teacher’s script.
Students were told that Russia has always been part of global dialogue, and that Russian diplomats have been able to find common ground with representatives of different countries while defending national interests.
“Russia’s foreign policy has always been led by people who placed service to national interests and the protection of sovereignty above all else. Today, the position of Foreign Minister is held by Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov,” — the teacher says.
A required element of the lesson for older students was watching a fragment from Nikita Mikhalkov’s program BesogonTV. It featured Putin’s visit to Alaska, where he gifted an American a Ural motorcycle. The episode is presented as an example of diplomatic skills that, according to the lesson authors, are important not only in international politics but also in everyday life.
At the end of the lesson, students were introduced to the International Youth Festival, organized by decree of Putin. It is intended to bring together 10,000 children and young people “from all over the world.” According to the teaching materials, such large-scale events are regularly held in Russia.
