Andreea Nastase was a Romanian 2022-2023 Fulbright Schuman Research Scholar in Political Science at James Madison University. Dr. Nastase is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, where she teaches various subjects in European Union politics and governance in BA and MA programmes. In her research, Andreea explores public ethics, integrity and democratic legitimacy in EU governance, while her most current work focuses on EU lobbying and lobbyists.
Q: “Can you briefly describe your grant project?”
In the framework of the Fulbright Schuman Visiting Scholar Program I have spent five months as a visiting researcher at James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA. My research project dealt with the professionalization of lobbying in a comparative EU-US perspective, focusing on the professional associations for lobbyists, which operate at the supranational level in Brussels, and at the federal level in Washington D.C. The project inquired how the establishment and operation of these bodies has been shaped by the distinctive political, institutional, and regulatory environments in the EU and US respectively. Using a qualitative methodology that combines document analysis and expert interviews, the project contributes to comparative interest groups research and yields practical policy lessons for lobby practitioners, policymakers, and educators on both sides of the Atlantic.
Q: “How did you initially learn about the Fulbright Schuman Program, and what motivated you to apply?”
I learned about the Fulbright Schuman Program through my professional network. Several friends and acquaintances had great experiences with their respective Fulbright grants, and their personal examples represented a motivating factor. However, I made the decision to apply mainly due to scholarly interests. The United States, as the quintessential pluralist democratic system, represents the key reference point for researchers in Europe who, like me, study interest groups and lobbying. A lot of our work draws on the frameworks, theories and concepts first developed in the US literature. To actually spend some time in the US has been a one-in-a lifetime opportunity to grow professionally, by networking and learning from academics and practitioners in my field.
Q: “In what way is your specific field of research/program relevant to the transatlantic relationship?”
Questions about the appropriate role of private interests in politics, how to deal with conflicts of interest and the so-called “revolving door” problem, or election finance are not new issues, but they are high on the agenda in both Brussels and Washington D.C. By speaking to these common concerns, my research project creates opportunities for lesson-learning across the two jurisdictions.
Q: “Can you describe a typical day in your life in the USA?”
While in the US, I lived in the Washington D.C. metro area and worked out of the Washington Centre of James Madison University. While I had some uneventful office days, I spent most of my time going all around D.C. for interviews with lobbyists, regulators, journalists and activists working on open government, lobby regulation and reform. These were fantastic and insightful conversations, and apart from learning a lot about interest groups in US politics, they also gave me the opportunity to quickly learn my way around the city. Week-ends were for museum visits, theater, bookshops, dining out, and a couple of quick out-of-town trips. My Fulbright Schuman research visit was a refreshing combination of social science fieldwork and more straightforward tourism, which I rarely if ever get to do back home.
Q: “Has the United States been what you expected? In what ways has life in the USA surprised you, either for its similarities to or differences from your own culture?”
I suppose it is difficult to be surprised by Washington D.C. since it is such a well-known cultural reference for the United States, but I did find the city to be beautiful in its richness and complexity, so much more than a ‘political town’ (although it is also very much that). I was also surprised by the US university campus — James Madison University has a beautiful, large campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia, which feels like a city within a city, complete with its own football team and stadium, student accommodations, art center, and even campus police. European universities generally do not have such ‘micro-universe’ campuses, so this was a really interesting experience for me. I am also very grateful for the hospitality of Prof. Tim LaPira, my host at James Madison University, Dr. David Jones, the Director of JMU’s Washington Centre, and all the wonderful colleagues I have met during this research visit.
Q: “What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to the Fulbright Program?”
Simple: go for it! I find that experiencing first-hand a different educational and research system to one’s own, and a different social and political system more broadly, is the best way to progress and grow as a professional, but also as a person. It represents a truly transformational experience. Furthermore, I find it important to be clear and focused in terms of goals during the research visit, and create as many opportunities as possible for engagement with the scholarly community at the host university, but also beyond. And, finally, don’t forget to also have some fun!
Articles are written by Fulbright grantees and do not reflect the opinions of the Fulbright Commission, the grantees’ host institutions, or the U.S. Department of State.