doi:10.7916/vdrq-t144Oral history interview with Padma Desai, 2016Desai, Padmaoral historiesmixed materialCollege teachersArea studiesSoviet Union Study and teachingRussia (Federation) Study and teachingDesai, PadmaHarriman InstituteDesai discusses what influenced her to study the Soviet Union. She narrates her travels in the Soviet Union and, later, Russia. She describes her relationships with several Russian policymakers. Desai also discusses her personal difficulties and tensions with other Harriman Institute faculty and her experience as a woman of color in academia. Finally, Desai stresses the importance of area knowledge for "general" fields like economics and argues for the continuing importance of area training, not just on Russia but on China and Africa as well