WAN, Yinlin

• Program：Doctoral Program
• Enrollment in：September 2023
• Directed Research: International Political Economy

Message

From Waseda to Yale 

In late March, I was honored to be selected as a Fox International Fellow at Yale’s MacMillan Center. Founded in 1989 by Yale alumnus Joe Fox and his wife, Alison Barbour Fox, the fellowship brings together researchers from Yale’s partner universities to address global challenges through research and dialogue. For me, it offers an opportunity to advance my doctoral research at Waseda while learning from a new academic community.

My doctoral research on Eurasian natural gas pipelines asks why some transit states can turn their advantageous geographical positions within pipeline networks into bargaining power, while others cannot. I began developing this project in my second year at Waseda, inspired by Russian and German efforts to build Nord Stream pipelines bypassing Ukraine. This puzzle brought me to Yale to explore the relationship between energy infrastructure and political power.

During my first two months at Yale, I have valued the opportunity to discuss my research with scholars from different disciplines. To strengthen my understanding of fieldwork, I am working with Professor Douglas Rogers as my mentor. His expertise in energy anthropology and extensive fieldwork in Russia offer fresh perspectives on my research. Conversations with Professor Didac Queralt and other scholars across political science, anthropology, and environmental studies have also helped me reconsider my questions and develop new approaches.

Alongside these discussions, I am auditing Applied Quantitative Research Design to build a firmer foundation in quantitative methods and develop my analytical skills in R. I complete the same weekly problem sets and final replication project as enrolled students, receiving detailed feedback and guidance during office hours. I am grateful for the time and care the instructor invests in my learning. Although the workload is challenging, I have grown more confident in using quantitative methods and am motivated to pursue further training in causal inference and Python next semester. 

Learning also extends beyond classes and individual meetings. Workshops in international relations and international political economy introduce me to research in progress, while conversations and lunches with visiting scholars offer opportunities to discuss ideas more closely. Communication workshops and academic writing courses encourage me to develop skills I had previously overlooked, from explaining research to different audiences to preparing for the academic job market. 

Equally memorable are the friendships taking shape along the way. During orientation, our cohort joined the MacMillan fellowships team for a boat tour of the Thimble Islands near Branford, Connecticut. In mid-October, the Fox family warmly welcomed us to their Norfolk home for a Thanksgiving luncheon. Making mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoying outdoor barbecues, and playing video games have also brought me together with students and researchers in STEM fields. 

Learning from people with different backgrounds has encouraged me to reflect on how my research can contribute beyond my immediate academic community. In this context, I have come to appreciate more deeply Waseda’s message: “Do not think only of your own interest, your family’s interest, or the interests of your country alone, but be ambitious to contribute to humankind throughout the world.” Amid interconnected challenges of energy security, geopolitical conflict, and climate change, my research encourages me to consider how national strategies affect people beyond national borders. A pipeline’s construction or rerouting changes not only bargaining relationships but also energy supplies, livelihoods, and security. Conversations with fellows from different countries make these consequences more tangible.  

During the rest of my time at Yale, I hope to draw on new theoretical perspectives and methodological skills to advance my doctoral research. I also look forward to sharing what I have learned with teachers and fellow students at GSICCS. I am grateful to Waseda and Fox International Fellowship for an experience that is deepening my research, broadening my understanding of the world, and giving me new ideas to bring back to the community where this journey began.  

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