INSIDE THE WORLD OF MODERN DIPLOMACY
By CHAS W. FREEMAN
Why Lawyers Are Often a Diplomat’s Best Friends
The State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser, which guides both institutional and individual decisions, isn’t immune to political pressure.
By ROBERT DOWNES
How Political Ambassadors Waste Taxpayer Dollars
Once presidential appointees leave government, the U.S. system provides for no accountability.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
and ROBIN HOLZHAUER
WIDA Instructor William Burns Named CIA Director
The first diplomat to lead the agency, his tenure is an opportunity to improve the strained relationship between diplomacy and intelligence.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
The ABCs of Marketing That Can Help Public Diplomacy
As U.S. diplomats try to explain the storming of Capitol Hill, they will face questions about American democracy. One-size-fits-all answers won’t work.
By ROBIN HOLZHAUER
The Circuitous Route to Becoming an Ambassador
Adventure, service and international cooperation drew me to the Foreign Service. Don’t lose your own ideals on the way to the top.
By TOM ARMBRUSTER
Why Immigrants’ Children Are a Diplomacy Asset
As an Asian-American intern at the State Department, I questioned if there was a place for me in the U.S. diplomatic service.
By CHLOE CHANG
‘Abused’ by Trump, Diplomats Seek ‘Depoliticizing’ and ‘Care’ From Biden
Foreign Service officers have documented numerous legal and ethics violations by Trump appointees.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
An Outsider’s Peek Inside the Foreign Service’s Inner Workings
How serving as a public member of employee promotion panels turned my view of foreign policy upside down.
By MICHAEL H. CRESWELL
The Notorious LTG: Next U.N. Envoy Was Chief Foreign Service Recruiter
“We don’t recruit people for jobs; we recruit them for careers and a way of life,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
How to Prepare for Life After a Career in Diplomacy
We diplomats often identify with our job, and when we leave, we find ourselves confronting an identity crisis — or even loss of identity.
By CHARLES RAY
Diplomacy and the Peaceful Transfer of Power
The American example has helped U.S. diplomats champion democratic transitions globally for decades. That will be much harder after 2020.
By ROBERT DOWNES
How Public Diplomacy Can Help Regain U.S. Credibility
Be honest with Americans and foreigners, fight authoritarian propaganda and empower diplomats in the field.
By GORDON DUGUID
Embassy Election Night Spectacular? Not in 2020
As Americans voted, guests weren’t invited to celebrate the occasion at most U.S. overseas posts for the first time in decades.
By ROBIN HOLZHAUER
The End of Imperial Diplomacy
The peak of American power at the end of the Cold War is unlikely to be approached again anytime soon. Here’s advice for a recovering superpower.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
U.N. Fails Its ‘Responsibility to Protect’ Civilians in Syria
Russian and Chinese obstructionism puts millions at risk of starvation and disease. The Covid-19 pandemic makes things much worse.
By CHRIS EHLING
When Diplomacy and Ethics Collide
During my Foreign Service career, I often faced choices that pitted my personal morals against what the organization required or demanded.
By CHARLES RAY
Expeditionary Diplomacy: Was It Worth It?
With Iraq and Afghanistan still dangerous and badly governed, a resounding yes eludes diplomats who served in war zones.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
Why Politicians Don’t Trust Diplomats
Both Republican and Democratic political leaders have harbored suspicion and distrust of professional diplomats for decades.
By NICHOLAS KRALEV
How U.S. Border Agents Mistreat Black American Diplomats
A notation in a diplomatic passport that the bearer is a U.S. ambassador isn’t enough to earn us respect and courtesy.
By CHARLES RAY
A Diplomat’s Life: No Bomb Drop or Sharpshooter Here
Diplomacy isn’t magic fairy dust you sprinkle on international crises when they erupt. It’s a skill and a day job. It’s quiet and unassuming.
By ELIZABETH SHACKELFORD