INSIDE THE WORLD OF MODERN DIPLOMACY
By VIRGINIA BLASER
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