Providence, RI -- Dr. Douglas W. Blum, professor of political science at Providence College, is nearing the end of his term as director of a collaborative, international research project entitled "Globalization, Security, and Identity in Russia."

Sponsored by the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, Blum was chosen to direct a group of 15 scholars from Russia, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States in researching different aspects of an overarching theme assigned by the institute.  

Meant to "promote long-term, sustainable contacts and networks among scholars in Russia and the West," the project will culminate with the publishing of a volume that integrates the scholars' research papers.  

A member of the Providence College faculty since 1990, Blum teaches courses on issues such as international relations, Russian politics, foreign policy, and globalization.  He also is an adjunct associate professor of international studies at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute of International Studies at Brown University in Providence.

In addition, Blum agreed to direct the annual Open Society Institute (OSI) conference, which will be held May 1-2, 2006 at the Watson Institute at Brown University. Created in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros to aid countries making the transition to democracy, OSI is a private operating and grantmaking foundation that aims to shape public policy to promote human rights, economic, legal, and social reform, and democratic governance around the world.