Recruitment and Development Tour of Africa
In the context of Cold War, Patrice Lumumba University (Russian acronym: UDN) as a foreign policy project was a polarizing initiative. From a Soviet standpoint, the project was meant to train ‘Third World’ elites in the Soviet Union and send them back to their home countries with sympathies for the socialist cause. Some African states remained skeptical, seeing the efforts of Soviet policy makers as undermining their newfound independence.
The following map will take you on a tour of Africa, showing the University's interactions with 33 African states and their students. The map will discuss recruitment, policy, student life, politics, and controversies which shaped the institution for decades to come. Feel free to start at the beginning or click on the countries that interests you most.