There is often a strong desire for partisanship both in our domestic and global thinking, and Russia is constantly framed as our most vile adversary. There is a long history behind such thinking. Of particular worry has been competition in technology — one can still recall the Russian leadership reputation effects of the space launches of Sputnik and Leica, the spaceship dog. It took the moon landing and the successful north pole transit of the U.S. submarine Nautilus to reassert American advantage.
My research in the Georgetown archives yields evidence that not all Russians are adversaries all the time. One example comes from the Russian years of Georgetown University and the Jesuit religious order which founded it.
The order was founded by Ignatius of Loyola in Paris in 1534, with its members taking vows of poverty, chastity, and full obedience to the pope. Its principles and their execution turned out to be quite successful, particularly in the field of education. With its headquarters in Rome, the Jesuit order’s proximity to the pope helped global expansion and influence.
However, not all was smooth sailing. In spite of — or because of — their success, the more than 22,000 Jesuits were suppressed in 1773 by, of all people, their main patron, Pope Clement XIV. This leader of global Catholicism sent out specific instructions called a “papal bull” or edict to other heads of country, demanding the abolition of the Jesuit order within their borders. Europe’s major Catholic nations — Portugal, Spain, France, and Austria/Hungary — accepted the abolition. This rendered the Jesuits virtually extinct — virtually, but not totally, thanks to Russian policy.
At the time, Catherine the Great was the Tsarina of Russia and the protector of its orthodox religion. One of her key objectives was to bring Russia and herself as an equal partner to the table of international leaders. She recognized that raising the capabilities of the Russian population and its nobility to reason and analyze was an important foundation for such an achievement. She was further impressed with the multiple educational activities, which the Jesuits had already set in place. So, she did not feel put upon when the Jesuits requested that the impending papal bull should not arrive or be read by the Imperial Court. She also agreed that existing Jesuits could select Russia as their central headquarters and even allowed them to expand the order.
As a result, the Jesuits, which had been part of the Maryland Province in Baltimore, all became Russian in their affiliation, as did their institutions. This relationship remained in place until 1814, when Pope Pius VII removed the onerous order of suppression. Georgetown University and its Jesuit faculty then became American again.
There are a few lessons to be taken here. First, political hardships imposed to totally eliminate one’s adversary are not always final — there often is a work-around. Second, an international orientation can often be crucial to advancing one’s agenda. Third, adversaries and traditions do not have to remain steady and immutable — to the contrary, a new perspective should be raised in one’s analysis of conditions. Fourth, global strengths and unique expertise can set a player apart and permit quite unexpected alliances.
To all indications, Georgetown University’s brief Russification was good for both Russia and for the university. Might there be other strategic linkages possible? It is necessary to separate the bear from the bull and to remember that there is always a bear market somewhere.
Professor Michael Czinkota ([email protected]) teaches international marketing and business at Georgetown University. He served as deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Reagan Administration.
