A student delegation of Princeton undergraduate and MPA students presented original research work and met with senior members of the Liechtenstein Royal House, representatives of government and industry, and senior academics and practitioners in a seminar trip devised and organized by Wolfgang Danspeckgruber, Founding Director of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination.

From August 14–24, a delegation of twelve Princeton students participated in a unique trip—part private seminar, part study trip, part international conference—under the leadership of Wolfgang Danspeckgruber, Founding Director of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, in order to present original research on a topic of their choice, and to interact with senior royals, leaders and representatives of government and industry, as well as academic peers and faculty from Liechtenstein, Germany, the UK, Spain, Netherlands, and elsewhere across Central Europe. Participating students included 10 undergraduates from across the university, as well as two School of Public and International Affairs  MPA students, who were selected based on their serious engagement in one or more of several extracurricular seminars taught by Danspeckgruber at LISD: the seminar on Global Diplomatic and Security Challenges (GDSC), the Program on Religion, Diplomacy, and International Relations (PORDIR), as well as the Stabilization Initiative (GSI) throughout previous academic years. The trip was also a result of the September 2023 visit of Liechtenstein’s royal couple to Princeton, HSH Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and HRH Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, who invited Danspeckgruber’s students to the principality. 

During the 2023–24 academic year, students developed original research ideas into short papers which were then presented in Liechtenstein. The work is broad in scope but is centered around the issues, ideas, and passions of the individual student—from democracy and its defense to ecological conservation as a mode of peacebuilding, Kurdish identity, dual use deepwater ports in the Canadian Arctic, constitutional monarchy and polarization, communal issues and diasporas, information and disinformation, to food security in Africa. The prompt given was to think and work deeply on a subject which each student always wanted to read and write about, especially topics which they had not yet had an opportunity to address in class or other academic and professional settings.

The students and their work were overwhelmingly well-received. Extraordinary meetings followed the word-of-mouth excitement about the group and its performance, and were concluded with mutual enthusiasm and memorable conversations in government offices, on mountain paths, and factory research and production floors. “The visit with Hoval AG’s CEO left a lasting impression on me. I was truly impressed by how he owned the entire process - from knowing the product and its production inside out to being actively involved in its distribution, application, and continuous development,” noted Tevin Singei ’25. 

Selected students also presented their papers at the European Forum Alpbach—showcased under the themes of democracy and security—and discussed their work with international participants. The entire delegation interacted with senior academics in economics, journalism, and security, as well as Austrian decision makers. The trip concluded in Munich, Germany, with a visit to BMW Headquarters organized by one of Danspeckgruber’s former students, now serving as a member of the management of BMW Group, who offered presentations and demonstrations on German automotive industry and innovation. 

The delegation engaged not only in the subject matter of each individual research project and relevant interested interlocutors, but were also immersed in the specificities of community, local, and regional governance, as well as how these regional geographic and cultural identities fit into the broader European and global context of diplomacy. The earnest presentation of high-level industrial activities, global business efforts, and proud national initiatives to ensure Liechtenstein is a successful trading state—even if limited in size—was especially remarkable. “Liechtenstein highlighted the power of community in amplifying the voices of small numbers. Economically, politically, and culturally, Liechtenstein plays an outsized role because of the country's unique strength in building a culture of national contribution. I will carry this lesson with me as I approach problems at home in Canada” said MPA student Jonathan Barry.

Katya Hovnanian-Alexanian ’25 said that “the trip was incredibly inspiring and shaped how I will think about my thesis in my senior year at Princeton.” MPA student Sydney Taylor commented that “the LISD trip to Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany was an amazing educational and immersive opportunity… I appreciated being able to travel with and learn from undergraduate students who we as graduate students don’t often get to interact with—truly an opportunity for intergenerational and interdisciplinary interactions and knowledge sharing.” 

Practices of intergenerational work towards maintaining hope and sustainable life became increasingly present in discussion of seemingly unrelated research topics. The interconnectivity of people, place, and problem-solving possibilities was striking and inspiring. Hovnanian-Alexanian remarked that the trip “also underscored the ecosystem that LISD has shaped in its nearly 30 years of existence—one that constantly creates deep-seated relationships, perpetuates and fosters intellectual curiosity and devotion to conflict resolution.”

Click here to read the related Princeton SPIA Newsroom Story.