Besnik Pula, associate professor of political science and chair of the international studies program, is a recipient of the 2025-26 U.S. Scholar fellowship from the Austrian-American Educational Commission (Fulbright Austria). Below, Pula discusses the fellowship, its importance, and how it will impact his research.

What is the Austria Fulbright Award, and what does receiving an award like this mean to you?

The U.S. Scholar Fellowship awarded by Fulbright Austria is an award that is given by the Austrian-American Education Commission as part of the U.S.-based Fulbright exchange program in which Austria participates. The fellowship allows U.S. scholars to spend a semester at an Austrian university for research and teaching. I'm extremely honored to have been chosen for the award, which is highly competitive, and to have an opportunity to spend a semester to teach and do research in an entirely new setting at the University of Vienna.

 

What is your current research? How does this award advance the global reach of Virginia Tech’s Political Science Department?

My current research is exploring computing during the Cold War and how competition over technologies shaped computing cultures across the Cold War rivals. My presence in Vienna will allow me to access archives in the region, as well as engage with much historical scholarship on Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and what may be generally called the Global East, that is based at this institution. Of course, our department and its faculty members have multiple ties to various institutions across the world. I am happy to add to this portfolio a connection with the University of Vienna and its Political Science Department as a means of expanding the global reach of the scholarship that we do at the department.

 

What advice do you have for aspiring students in the field?

Our department and especially its International Studies Program offer many opportunities for undergraduate students to learn about world regions as well as international politics. The fact that so many of our faculty specialize in various parts of the world is a great benefit to our students. I think that it's important when students study international affairs that they also gain exposure to at least one, and maybe two important world regions and develop in-depth knowledge of its history, politics, and culture. I believe such exposure is key to a well-rounded education in international studies.

 

Written by: Patrick Salmons