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Africa
- Escape from Mogadishu by James K. Bishop
March 1991
An ambassador recalls the harrowing experience of evacuating from Mogadishu as the Somali city experienced a violent uprising.
Asia
- The Service’s Only Samurai by George P. Waller
December 1922
Watari Ebiharah served the American consulate in Kobe, Japan for 39 years, but earlier in life he served a liege lord as a samurai in the waning days of feudal Japan.
- Jesuit Technical Assistance to the Emperor of China by Martin F. Herz
February 1958
For many years Jesuits cultivated diplomatic and scientific relationships with Imperial China to enable cultural exchange and missionary work.
China
- The Line Forms to the Left by Earl J. Wilson
March 1950
In this case history of Shanghai, find a step-by-step account of how the Iron Curtain is systematically drawn tight around a city and how, with each step, its people are more helplessly enmeshed by their own liberation.
- American Foreign Policy and China by James Ramsey
October 1966
As the United States now finds itself engaged in Asian areas where it possessed only marginal interests before, what will happen when the Chinese are strong enough to force a solution on their own terms?
- The Future Between America and China by William Stokes
January 1968
No one can foresee what will follow the Maoist interregnum that clings to uncertain power, yet important clues about underlying attitudes toward the United States can occasionally be discerned.
- The U.S., China and the UN by Jonathan Bingham
February 1972
With China now in the United Nations—and Taiwan out—where do we go from here, so far as our relations are concerned?
- The Succession to Mao Tse-tung by Robert Rinden
February 1972
One solution to the transfer-of-power problem is for the incumbent leader-with-charisma to choose and anoint his heir.
- The Chou Demarche by Edwin Martin
November 1981
New evidence suggests that the secret 1949 message purportedly from Chou Enlai to Western leaders was not actually an opportunity for rapprochement.
- Why Most Favored Nation Won in China by Anne Stevenson-Yang
November 1994
The U.S.-China business bloc wields considerable power that is felt in Washington policymaking.
- A City Facing Turmoil
March 1997
As Hong Kong’s handover nears, policy conflicts loom between China, the United States and the U.K.
- A City Built on Prosperity by Ross H. Munro
March 1997
A successful “formula” for Hong Kong—U.S. capitalism wed to U.K. rule of law.
- A City Bullish on Itself by Dan Kubiske
March 1997
As funds flow back into Hong Kong, the future for business is predicted to be robust.
- A City Rises in Asia by Jose Armilla
March 1997
With the transport of opium dominating early U.S.-U.K. ties, now Hong Kong is a rising city.
- China’s Economic Growth: Source of Disorder? by Robert Wang
May 2005
Beijing’s rapid rise has raised concerns about the economic ramifications for the status-quo powers in Asia—and the global community overall.
- Congressional Pressures and U.S.-China Policy by Robert Sutter
May 2005
As the Bush administration seeks to manage Sino-American relations, it would be wise to keep in mind congressional sensitivities.
- China’s New Diplomacy in Asia by David Shambaugh
May 2005
A proactive PRC is transforming international relations throughout Asia. Here is a look at the four pillars of Beijing’s new regional posture.
- Deepening Sino-American Ties At the Grass Roots by Carol Lee Hamrin
May 2005
Improvements in China’s human rights record will not come overnight from the top down, but they will develop gradually through social activism.
- Four Decades After the Opening to China: An Interview With Henry Kissinger
September 2012
The former Secretary of State shares his thoughts on the state of U.S.-China relations and the importance of diplomacy.
- Human Rights, China And 21st-Century Diplomacy by Michael R. Posner
September 2012
Developments in China offer new opportunities to reframe our approach to bilateral discussions of human rights.
- The 100,000-Strong Initiative by Stanton Jue
September 2012
After just three years, this people-to-people program is already bringing the United States and China closer together.
Development & Aid
- AID’s First Year by Frank M. Coffin
January 1963
The first Deputy Administrator of USAID discusses standing up the new agency, its goals and where progress is already being made.
Diplomatic Security
Dissent
- Morality and Foreign Affairs by Howard Trivers
September 1956
The U.S. must strike a tenuous balance between idealist aspirations and realist groundings as it aims to make foreign policy that is both pragmatic and progressive.
- Daring and Dissent by FSJ Editorial Pages
April 1961
The Foreign Service has special reason to be thankful for President Kennedy’s statement, in his State of the Union message, that the new Administration “recognizes the value of daring and dissent” among public servants.
- An Open Letter to Edward K. Murrow: What Makes A Man Believe? by Gillespie Evans
August 1963
The self-administered brain-washing I had achieved in two decades of work within USIA had been rinsed out and bleached by two years in the blue water and sun of Hawaii. Heretical questions, dormant for years, had reasserted themselves.
- On Dissent by William E. Knight
December 1964
In truth the Service has never made up its collective mind about the proper role of dissent and open discussion. We are schizoid on the question.
- The Dilemma of Dissent by Ted Olson
June 1966
The decision to stay on, even while dissenting, can be a perfectly honorable one. But it carries with it the obligation to go on fighting, to reiterate one’s dissent at every opportunity, as stoutly and persuasively as one can.
- On Dissent by FSJ Editorial Pages
June 1970
That problem still before us – as it is also before so many different institutions in our society – is that of defining the nature of openness, the means of insuring candor, and the character of useful dissent.
- The Question of Foreign Service Resignations by Dino J. Caterini
July 1970
The debate on whether FSOs should resign when serving policies they cannot accept centers on how the department’s culture handles dissenting views, professional conformity and the balance between policy implementation and formulation.
- Another Approach to Dissent by James R. Bullington
September 1970
It is now up to the officers of INR to make “Viewpoint: A Working Paper” into the flourishing mechanism for expressing thoughtful dissent and creative new analysis, which it is intended to be.
- Unlimdis by Donald S. Spigler
January 1972
Any reporting of dissent was to be marked “Limdis” because leaks could “give us problems” with the Congress and the public.
- Dissent, Disloyalty, and Foreign Service Finkism by William R. Lenderking
May 1974
Although there are frequent assurances that “responsible” dissent is encouraged in the Foreign Service, the impression conveyed to many of those who at some time in their careers consider swimming against the policy tide is often quite different.
- More on Dissent and Loyalty by Martin F. Herz
February 1975
If we ever get to the point where the idea is accepted that “resistance” to the policy of the President of the United States is somehow all right in special circumstances, then we can kiss goodbye any hopes of obtaining the status that should be right be enjoyed by the Foreign Service of the United States.
- Deep Throat or the Ethics of Discretion by Raymond F. Smith
May 1975
There are alternatives within the system to doing nothing, anonymous leaks, or resignation. The parameters of what is generally considered acceptable dissent have expanded in the Foreign Service.
- Pike-Middle Grade-Policy Dissent and Denouement by AFSA News
December 1975
The Committee ceased trying to get Mr. Boyatt and others to testify against the orders of the Secretary, but did vote to subpoena his dissent memorandum.
- To Support and Defend the Constitution by Thomas D. Boyatt
November 1976
Knowledge of real Congressional oversight will encourage working-level officers to express dissenting views because such views will necessarily be taken more seriously and will be more likely to influence policy.
- On Public Dissent by Martin F. Herz
April 1981
Another thing that may be noted in connection with the White Case is that while every Foreign Service officer should be (and is) free to dissent through appropriate channels, public dissent is another matter.
- The Decline of Dissent by Kai Bird
February 1985
Decreasing use of the dissent channel is symptomatic of an atmosphere in which nonconformist views are unwelcome and ignored.
- Dissent and Policy: A Desire for Openness by Frances G. Burwell
April 1987
A survey on Foreign Service attitudes toward dissent has revealed a widespread desire for a decision-making environment more tolerant of the exchange of ideas.
- Memorandum for Mr. Henderson by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
October 1992
In the following memorandum, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles proposed to Deputy Under Secretary of State for Management Loy Henderson an early forerunner of the dissent channel.
- On Dissent: My Resignation from the Foreign Service by George Kenney
October 1992
The question almost every interviewer asks is: why did you resign instead of staying within the system and pressing your case for change there? That captures the essence of a decision to resign over policy. Will the resignation matter?
- Loyalty and Dissent: The Foreign Service and the War in Southeast Asia by Daniel A. Strasser
December 1992
The war in Southeast Asia did elicit significant internal dissent. This is the story of what happened to eight officers in my Foreign Service class, myself included, who were assigned to Vietnam.
- The Agony of Dissent by George Kenney, Marshall Harris and Stephen Walker
November 1993
In past months, State Department employees have resigned from the Foreign Service and challenges the administration’s policy in Bosnia.
- When Personal Ethics Conflict with U.S. Policy by Roger Morris
December 1994
An ex-FSO reflects on 1970 resignation from White House Over Vietnam Strategy.
- Just Say No: The Dissent Channel by Liz Allan
December 1994
Despite its intention, the Dissent Channel has not been a popular forum with employees. In the 20 years between 1971 and 1991, only 200 people have used the channel, which a record number of 30 in 1977.
- Dissent in Dublin by Richard Gilbert
July 1996
Looking back, some might see the event as simple and uncomplicated – just another visa to be adjudicated. Yet it was not, and it sparked one of the most public and controversial FSO dissent cases in recent times.
- Dissent on Cuba by Karen Krebsbach
July 1996
If ever an FSO could choose a career path after dissent against U.S. policy, he’d probably choose the direction followed by Dennis Hays.
- Dissent in the Foreign Service by Hume Horan
July 1996
Dissent is to the Foreign Service what canaries were to coal miners. Dissent lets Foreign Service employees know how breathable the air is where they work.
- The Foreign Service Tradition of Dissent and Service by Dan Geisler
June 1999
For more than 30 years, AFSA has supported constructive dissent in the Foreign Service. We don’t see dissent as an option; it is a professional obligation.
- Advise and Dissent: The Diplomat As Protester by David T. Jones,
April 2000
Protests by Foreign Service officers may not have ended the Vietnam War, but they did lead to the creation of the Open Forum and the Dissent Channel. David T. Jones explains how the State Department was forced to learn that it had to listen to widespread policy dissent if it wanted to maintain a strong diplomatic corps (266, mostly junior, officers resigned from the Foreign Service in 1968 alone).
- Why We Support Constructive Dissent by Marshall P. Adair
June 2000
Constructive dissent is a hallmark of our American Foreign Service, and increasingly accepted as part of the policy process. AFSA is honored to serve this nation by recognizing those who have fulfilled this most unusual and important responsibility.
- Is There Life After Dissent? By David T. Jones
June 2002
AFSA instituted its first dissent awards in 1968 and expanded on them through the years. What has happened to the first generation of winners, and what is the future of the program?
- The Limits of Dissent by David T. Jones
December 2002
An institution, State has expended much effort professing to believe that the Foreign Service is a cadre of professionals who value and respect discordant views. And indeed we are – until the discord gets too disturbing.
- Dissent Again by David T. Jones
June 2003
Although each FSO proffered individual reasons for the decision, in essence each disagreed with our policy of direct military confrontation toward Iraq and left the State Department with public blasts for our objectives and dire predictions about the political consequences.
- Why I Resigned by John Brown
September 2003
First, I believed that President George W. Bush had failed to present a convincing case to Americans and the world that massive force should be used against Iraq at this time. Second, I felt an obligation as an American to speak out against this presidential failure to justify a questionable policy.
- Why Dissent is Important and Resignation Honorable by Ann Wright
September 2003
While the decision to undertake military operations in Iraq without United Nations Security Council authority was the trigger for my resignation, I also had concerns about many other policies of the administration.
- 2004: Year of the Dissident by John Limbert
January 2004
Recognizing dissenters is never easy. Doing so may mean swallowing our pride and admitting we were wrong about an issue. None of the above will come easily in a Foreign Service that values collegiality and consensus.
- On Dissent and Disloyalty by Steve Kashkett
December 2005
Use of the Department of State’s official Dissent Channel has dwindled to a trickle since its heyday in the 1970s.
- Prisoners of Conscience by Steve Kashkett
May 2007
I would respectfully suggest that true patriotism is something broader than loyalty to one administration’s policies, and that honorable conscientious people in the Foreign Service may well feel they are being patriotic by expressing dissent or choosing to avoid working on certain issues.
- Constructive Dissent by John Naland
June 2009
Before attending his first AFSA awards ceremony, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger asked AFSA President Tom Boyatt what the constructive dissent awards were all about. After being told, Kissinger gave a knowing smile and asked, “You mean I am giving awards to people who disagreed with me?”
- Making Dissent Meaningful Again by Susan Johnson
February 2010
It is time for our career Foreign Service to rise again to the challenge of generating high-quality, thoughtful, constructive dissent, with the goal of contributing to more successful U.S. foreign policy and fewer policy failures.
- Dissent in the Kissinger Era by Hannah Gurman
July-August 2011
When the president announced his decision to invade Cambodia in April 1970, 20 Foreign Service officers sent a letter to Secretary of State William Rogers condemning the invasion. It was the largest collective protest in the department to date.
- Celebrating Intellectual Courage: AFSA’s Dissent Awards by John Limbert
July-August 2012
Together the four AFSA constructive dissent awards constitute a program unique within the federal government, one that celebrates the courage and integrity of Foreign Service personnel at all levels who have challenged the system from within.
- Some Thoughts on Dissent by John H. Brown
July-August 2013
John H. Brown argues that all government employees should be free to speak their minds as openly as possible, but the term “national security” is being wielded by many senior officials to prevent them from doing so. Brown resigned from the Foreign Service in 2003, after 22 years of service, in protest of the Iraq War.
- The Role of Dissent: In National Security, Law and Conscience by Ann Wright
July-August 2013
Ann Wright, who resigned from the Foreign Service in protest of the Iraq War, revisits her decision and reflects on its ethical implications. She wrestles with questions such as, “How should public servants go about challenging ill-considered policies?” and “Can one continue working for a government carrying out policies one believes constitute moral, ethical or legal failures?
- AFSA Constructive Dissent Award Winners: Where Are They Now? by Shawn Dorman
September 2013
Eight Foreign Service members honored for dissent over the past 20 years discuss the impact of their decision to voice their opinion on their careers and on U.S. policy.
- Integrity and Openness: Requirements for an Effective Foreign Service by Kenneth M. Quinn
September 2014
Kenneth Quinn, three-time AFSA dissent award recipient, describes how his honesty and candor were often met with resistance and may have cost him some jobs during his 32-year Foreign Service career. But it ultimately allowed him to be proud of his role in our diplomatic corps. He considers constructive dissent not just an option but a responsibility, and encourages senior officials to treasure different viewpoints rather than silence them.
- Deconstructing Dissent by Amelia Shaw
September 2015
Amelia Shaw, the 2015 W. Averell Harriman Award recipient, argues that dissent is about integrity and speaking up about the things that matter, regardless of what you think about the possibility for change. Ms. Shaw received the award for her initiative and intellectual courage in fighting for equal legal rights and protections for unmarried women living along the U.S.-Mexico border, who face many obstacles in transmitting their American citizenship to children born in Mexico.
Economic Diplomacy and Trade
- The Trade Policy Crisis by Willis C. Armstrong
November 1971
As the U.S. employs protectionist means it hampers fundamental tenets of the global economic order it has strived to integrate.
- What Is Economic Diplomacy and How Does It Work? by Tony Wayne
January-February 2019
The U.S. Foreign Service is at the forefront of crafting policy and carrying out economic diplomacy to advance the strategic and security interests of the United States.
- Economic Officers for the Future by Charles Ries
January-February 2019
New appreciation for the centrality of economics in foreign policy makes it an ideal time to throw light on the making of an economic officer.
- Six Elements of Effective Economic/Commercial Diplomacy by Shaun Donnelly and Daniel Crocker
January-February 2019
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made commercial diplomacy a foreign policy priority. Here’s how to get it right.
- From Guitars to Gold: The Fruits of Economic Diplomacy
January-February 2019
This selection of first-person accounts showcases the work members of the Foreign Service do around the world every day to promote U.S. business.
Europe
- Jefferson’s NATO by Carl Charlick
July 1954
Thomas Jefferson had his own challenging experiences in organizing a coalition of states to deal with a common threat.
- The USRO and American Foreign Policy by Staff Members of the USRO
February 1955
The USRO coordinated and navigated the surge in diplomatic activity in the early years of the NATO alliance.
- Europe’s Stride Towards Unity: Accents Need for U. S. to Maintain Liberal Trade Policy by Guy Wiggins
January 1958
In the immediate post-war period six European nations sought to closely coordinate their economic activity and break down the barriers between them.
- European Defense: A Return to Brussels by Colin Gordon
November 1971
European nations have often struggled to harmonize economic integration with defense integration.
- The Atlantic Alliance by Charles R. Foster and Richard Albright
June 1981
New administrations have often taken office with hopes to reinvigorate NATO, but alliance politics guarantee challenges to any reform-minded agenda.
- The European Question by Robert K. Olson
November 1982
The fate of Europe has been a central concern of the United States for decades, and the extent to which common interest dictates trans-Atlantic unity is debatable.
Foreign Service Families
- Our Foreign Service Wives by Frances Hull
April 1934
An appreciation of Foreign Service wives, whose support makes their husband’s jobs easier overseas.
- On Repatriation of a Foreign Service Wife by Charlottle Littell
December 1952
A Foreign Service spouse discusses the problems of returning to the United States after serving abroad with her husband.
- Wriston Report: The Feminine View by Alice Raine
May 1955
Following the Wriston Report, many Civil Service wives did not want their husbands to join the Foreign Service. The author asks, “can Foreign Service wives reassure them”?
- A Service Teenager Reflects by Don Emmerson
November 1955
A teenager in the Foreign Service discusses what makes teenage TCKs different and why, based on his own experiences.
- Stop Feeling Sorry for your Children by Ann Miller Morin
September 1960
A recent survey of Foreign Service kids shows the advantages and difficulties of growing up overseas.
- The Foreign Service Wife by Jack Perry
February 1969
The wives of American diplomats have unique social advantages and exhibit strong personalities not only due to the great freedom they enjoy, but also the trials such freedom incurs.
- Who’s the Kids’ Advocate by Thomas Kelly
September 1973
With the usual Stateside support systems unavailable, who at the Department of State is advocating for children’s welfare overseas.
- Resolution of the Wives’ Dilemma by Carroll Russell Sherer
October 1973
“I didn’t join the Foreign Service, my husband did”, is a common complaint. What to do when you want to be divorced from your spouse’s career, but not your spouse.
- Freshman Fears by Nancy Piet-Pelon
July 1990
How do Foreign Service kids returning to go to college cope with a new country, as well as the increased workload and independence that comes with a “typical” college experience?
- Coming in for a Landing: How Families Can Prepare for the Rude Shock of Returning Home by Genie Gratto
September 1990
Returning to the U.S. can be rough, especially for young children. Here, the author offers tips for kids and their parents, based on her own experiences as a TCK.
- One Step Ahead for Spouses by Katrina Ecton
May 1991
A great deal has to be done to assist spouses overseas, but also at home as they struggle with gaps in their resumes and unintelligible job titles.
- The Great Divorce by Jewell Fenzi
June 1992
Following a 1972 directive on the role of Foreign Service spouses, the department has been losing its representative family make-up overseas, argues Jewell Fenzi.
- Unwilling Unemployment by Barbara Frechette
June 1992
Unwilling to do unpaid “support” work, but unable to find paid roles overseas, what other options are there for Foreign Service spouses?
- Helping a Spouse Find Work Abroad by Francine Modderno
September 1994
More than ever, both partners in dual-income families are demanding meaningful jobs. How does this work with the Foreign Service lifestyle?
- Growing up with a World View: Nomad Children Develop Multicultural Skills by Norma McCaig
September 1994
Whether you call them “nomads”, “cultural chameleons” or “third-culture kids”, the children of Foreign Service members have a unique opportunity to develop multicultural skills.
- A Chat with FLO
September 1994
U.S. Embassy populations are more diverse than 20 years ago, with more single parents, tandem couples and dependent parents. The Journal speaks with the director of the Family Liaison Office about what those changes mean for FS families.
- Caring for Mom and Dad by Louise Belanger
September 1994
For those living abroad, the struggle of trying to care for both the young and the old is both tempered and intensified by distance.
- A Mother Copes with Separation by Karen Krebsbach
September 1994
A Foreign Service officer discusses her experience losing custody of her children–because she was moving abroad for her job.
- FS Families’ Health Tracked by Francine Modderno
April 1996
For more than 10 years, the Medical Services unit gathered data on the health of Foreign Service members and families overseas. This article discusses some of the outcomes of the survey.
- Reflections from a Stay-at-home Man by Richard Gilbert
April 1996
At most embassies overseas, “spouse” is gender-specific. But what about the increasing number of male “trailing spouses”?
- The Learning-Disabled Child Abroad by Sally L. Smith
December 1998
Living abroad, especially in less developed countries, can be a real problem for parents of learning-disabled children. This article presents some tips on making the best of the resources available.
- Caregiving from 10,000 Miles Away by Ronald Trigg
March 1998
How can Foreign Service officers cope with elder care considerations when posted overseas? The author shares his experiences.
- Marriage Across the Miles by Francine Modderno
July-August 1999
How do Foreign Service employees cope with physical separation?
- Homeschooling FS Kids? It Worked For Us by Pat Olsen
December 2000
Homeschooling is a viable option for keeping your children’s grades up, even in the farthest-flung postings.
- In Search of That Special School by Melanie Kerber
June 2001
For children with learning difficulties, finding the right school (whether overseas or in the United States), can make a world of difference.
- A Career Built for Two by Tatiana C. Gfoeller and Michael Gfoeller
May 2002
A tandem couple since 1984, the authors offer their tips on making Foreign Service careers work, together.
- Deathwatch by Herbert L. Treger
May 2002
It can be tough to be away from family during times of crisis at home…the author discusses one of the disadvantages to working overseas.
- The Reality of Foreign Service Spousal Employment by Shawn Dorman
May 2002
Employment for Foreign Service family members has become an increasingly critical issue for recruiting and retaining employees. But how can it be done.
- The Foreign Service Spouse Network: A Global Resource by Pat Olsen
May 2002
Networks of spouses at each post are expanding to create a global community, offering support from wherever they are.
- Going with the FLO…A Talk with Director Faye Barnes by Susan Maitra
May 2002
With a small staff and a broad client base, the Family Liaison Office are getting down to business, helping Foreign Service members and their families posted abroad.
- Letter to a Foreign Service Spouse on Life Insurance by Edward J. Michal
December 2002
Reviewing life insurance often falls to the bottom of people’s to-do lists; in an open letter, the author discusses why it should be a priority.
- FLO: Point of Contact for Employees & Families, An Interview with Director Faye Barnes by Susan Maitra
February 2003
The department’s Family Liaison Office is playing an ever-greater role in assisting employees and their families during crises. In this article, the FLO director discusses lessons learned and improvements for the future.
- Christmas in July: Holidays as a Foreign Service Child by Mikkela Thompson
June 2003
A child raised in the Foreign Service can appreciate new and diverse cultures, while retaining a sense of tradition–especially around the holidays.
- Dip Kids Fill Void at U.S. Colleges by Antje Schiffler
June 2005
With international students decreasing, American universities are looking to youth who grew up overseas to provide a global perspective in the classroom.
- Family Member Employment: At Work in the Mission by Shawn Dorman
July/August 2005
A comprehensive look at the employment options available to family members inside U.S. missions overseas.
- FLO is Here to Help with Career-Employment Issues by Donna Ayerst
November 2005
The Family Liaison Office explain how they advocate on behalf of family members and bring their employment concerns to the State Department.
- Learning to Drive as an FS Kid by Ingrid Ahlgren
June 2007
A collection of personal stories and practical advice from Foreign Service kids who learn to drive while their parents are posted overseas.
- Going It Alone: Family Life in the ‘New’ Foreign Service by Kelly Bembry Midura
June 2008
Most Foreign Service employees will serve an unaccompanied tour during their careers. This article examines the kind of support their families can expect.
- Support For Unaccompanied Assignments by Bridget Roddy
March 2009
A look at just what the State Department can do to help during an unaccompanied tour.
- Coping with Separation: Tandem Couples by Annie Simpkins
March 2009
Besides the obvious personal difficulties, separated tandem couples face an expensive tour with minimal financial aid.
- An Evacuation Survival Guide by Kelly Armstrong
March 2009
Chances are that most Foreign Service families will undergo an ordered departure. Former FSO Kelly Armstrong provides some tips on how to make the best of it.
- When an FS Spouse Comes “Home”: A Study by Sharon Maybarduk
April 2009
Re-entry to the U.S. after living overseas involves adjustments that are not always easy. This study identifies some of the fault lines between success and failure.
- ‘Virtually’ There: FS Spouses Build Careers Without Borders by Katherine Jacobs and Carolyn Ho
September 2009
More than ever before, Foreign Service spouses and partner are pursuing successful careers in their own right. Here, two FS spouses explain how.
- Sharing Custody, Diplomatically by Victoria Hirschland
May 2011
A divorce settlement gave these Foreign Service children time with both parents and the unexpected gift of travel skills.
- Forever Tandem by Teresa Chin Jones
May 2011
Achieving work-life balance is like personal engineering, and comes with the same trade offs that all engineers face in getting things done.
- Trailing Tandem by Clayton Bond
May 2011
Perhaps one day no trailing tandem who wants to work will have to take leave without pay to join a spouse or partner at post.
- Going Solo: Single in the Foreign Service by Shawn Dorman
May 2011
Singles comprise about one-third of the Foreign Service and have their own unique challenges.
- Navigating Life’s Unexpected Realities by Jen Dinoia
May 2011
No matter how carefully a family prepares for an unaccompanied tour, life has a way of throwing curves at them.
- When Boarding Schools are an Option by Leah Wallace
December 2011
Boarding schools often provide much needed continuity for Foreign Service families.
- FS Spousal Employment: Slow But Steady Progress by Shawn Zeller
April 2012
It’s getting easier for Foreign Service family members to find meaningful employment overseas, but there is still a long way to go.
- Patience: The Key to Successful EFM Employment by Jen Dinoia
April 2012
Eligible Family Members can land amazing jobs with the right combination of flexibility, preparation and, yes, luck.
- Local Employment in Mozambique and Brazil by Raquel Lima Miranda
April 2012
Is it possible to live and work overseas, pursuing a professional career, despite frequent moves? Absolutely!
- HOC Rocks! (Husbands of Chennai) by Aileen Crowe Nandi
April 2012
The “husbands of Chennai” has become a way to forge friendships and build a community among trailing husbands of consulate employees.
- My So-Called Career by Francesca Kelly
April 2012
The career you start with probably won’t be the one you end with, explains one Foreign Service spouse.
- A Diplomat’s Wife by Kate Matheson
June 2012
What does it mean for your own identity and wellbeing to follow your spouse overseas?
- The Impact of Transitions on Foreign Service Families by T. Dhyan Summers
December 2012
Those who work overseas, particularly Foreign Service members, experience frequent transitions. Here are some tips on coping with the disruptions they can cause.
- Is Adequate Disability Income Insurance Available to FS Families by William Carrington
March 2013
Many Foreign Service members mistakenly believe they have more disability income insurance than is actually the case.
- Thinking Through Educational Options For Your FS Child by Rebecca Grappo
June 2013
Choosing a school for your FS child is not just about feeding the mind, but also feeding the young person’s appropriate social and emotional development. This article gives some tips on how to make the right choice.
- A Practical Guide to International Divorce in the Foreign Service by Elizabeth Fitzsimmons and Richard Seipert
December 2013
Navigating a divorce while remaining an effective member of the Foreign Service can feel absolutely overwhelming. This article offers tips on how to survive this massive life change.
- A Parent’s Guide to Psychoeducational Evaluations by Chad C. Nelson
December 2013
The goal of a psychoeducational evaluation is to enhance a child’s ability to be as successful as possible.
- A “Trailing” Spouse? by Jessie Bryson
March 2014
A millennial commentator shares her reaction to joining the ranks of the Foreign Service community.
- When School is Hard by Michelle Grappo
June 2014
What do you do when your child is struggling in school? This article can help get you started on identifying and solving the problem.
- Child Custody Issues in Foreign Service Divorces by Susan Keogh, Ann La Porta, and Diane Holt
October 2014
A primer on the custody issues involved in Foreign Service divorces and how to approach them.
- Women Who Make a Difference: Reflections of a Foreign Service Wife in 1982 by Patricia B. Norland
May 2015
A Foreign Service spouse reflects on her experiences during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when struggles for independence from colonial rule exploded throughout the developing world.
- Going Back to Work: A Step-by-Step Guide for FS Spouses by Anna Sparks
September 2015
One of the great challenges of Foreign Service life is how an FS spouse can maintain or develop a career. This article provides some practical tips.
- Raising FS Kids by John K. Naland
November 2015
Get to know the nonprofit groups and State Department offices that offer a social safety net for FS youth.
- Multilingual Matters: How FS Students Can Make the Most of Language-Rich Experiences Abroad by Marybeth Hunter and Christine Brown
December 2015
More and more Foreign Service families are choosing to educate their children in a language other than that spoken at home. Regional Education Officer and Office of Overseas Schools resident language expert Christine Brown discusses the advantages and challenges of learning in a foreign language.
- What About Our Kids? by Kim Deblauw
January-February 2016
Foreign Service children are just as at risk of mental health problems as the average American child, if not more so.
- Mental Health Support for FS Children: Parents Weigh In
June 2016
Foreign Service children are just as at risk for mental health problems as the average American child, perhaps even more vulnerable. This is a critical issue for FS families.
- Supporting FS Families with Special Needs Children by Maureen M. Danzot and Mark R. Evans
June 2016
Two parents discuss the Special Needs Education Allowance and the challenges of raising children with special needs in the Foreign Service.
- Taking on Family Member Employment. Really! by Debra Blome
July-August 2016
Family member employment is a critical issue for members of the U.S. Foreign Service. The State Department finally seems to be taking it seriously.
- Tandem Couples: Serving Together, Apart by Fred Odisho and Whitney Dubinsky
July-August 2016
Two Foreign Service Officers discuss some of the unique challenges they face as part of tandem couple.
- MED’s Child and Family Program, Explained by Kathy Gallardo
September 2016
An authoritative account of the aims of the Children and Family Program, presented as part of the Journal’s ongoing discussion of concerns regarding support for children and families overseas.
- New College, New Culture: Preparing for a Strong First Semester as a Third Culture Kid by Hannah Morris
June 2017
Third Culture Kids deal with repatriation issues and reverse culture shock when they attend college in the United States. This article provides some tips for success.
- Out in the Cold: How the Hiring Freeze is Affecting Family Member Employment by Donna Scaramastra Gorman
July-August 2017
Employing family members overseas isn’t just good for morale. It makes financial sense, too, and helps keep our embassies functioning.
- Raising Multilingual Children in the Foreign Service by Nicole Schaeffer-McDaniel and Jennifer Kirk Dinoia
December 2017
Raising children in more than one language is seldom straightforward and can leave parents second-guessing their approach. This article looks at the challenges and how to meet them.
Frontline Diplomacy
- The FSO’s in Manila by Cabot Coville
June 1942
Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese forces descended on Manila, and American FSOs struggled to evacuate after being cut off for weeks.
- The Cuban Missile Crisis by Robert A. Hurwitch
July 1971
An FSO recounts high-level policy deliberations that transpired as nuclear missile-ferrying Soviet ships inched closer to Cuba.
- From Pearl Harbor to Potsdam by Charles W. Yost
September 1980
An FSO describes wartime duties that span some of the most consequential discussions and conferences that devised the post-war international order.
- Escape from Mogadishu by James K. Bishop
March 1991
An ambassador recalls the harrowing experience of evacuating from Mogadishu as the Somali city experienced a violent uprising.
Human Rights
- Morality and Human Rights in Foreign Policy by John L. Washburn
May 1977
The Carter administration has just taken office, and is now looking to make human rights a central concern in its conduct of foreign policy.
- Human Rights and International Order by James Nathan
February 1978
A policy of human rights, like a policy which seeks to delimit “aggression,” knows no natural limit. But if a policy geared to the protection of human rights is to be selective, how is the selection to be made?
- Human Rights and American Policy in Africa by Armistead Lee
October 1978
Whether considering quiet diplomacy or public confrontation, linking human rights to other conditions in Africa has proven to be a delicate challenge.
- Why Bother about Human Rights? by Sandy Vogelgesang
May 1980
Some have belittled campaigns to emphasize human rights as “moralistic crusades,” yet there are many legal, cultural and pragmatic incentives for taking a strong stand for human rights.
- The Unaccepted Challenge by Tom Shannon
May 1989
Nothing in my training or experience prepared me for the work I was called upon to do in a country once described as the worst offender of human rights in the world…Aside from the operational problems, human rights reporting differs from most embassy reporting in four significant ways.
- Diplomacy’s Orphans: New Issues in Human Rights by Tom Shannon
September 1991
We are living through a period of quiet but profound change in the international human rights agenda, which will post new diplomatic challenges to the United States. While the principal human rights issue of the 1980s – political repression – will remain our primary human rights concern through this decade, several new issues have emerged that do not easily fit into our traditional understanding of human rights.
- Improving State’s Human Rights Reports by Julien LeBourgeois
September 1991
State’s annual human rights reports have been susceptible over time to faddish public and congressional preoccupations, and to changing Executive Branch criteria.
- Ideological Warrior: An Interview with Michael Novak by John Harter
September 1991
Michael Novak served as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and discusses what it’s like to defend human rights at the U.N.
- The Feminization of Human Rights by Arvonne Fraser
December 1993
An acknowledgement that women, too, have human rights has been long in coming. But the establishment of separate UN commissions on human rights and on the status of women confirmed the distinction between human rights and the equal rights of women.
- General Pinochet and the Human Rights Conundrum by George Gedda
December 1999
What do you do with an ex-dictator with a nasty human rights record? A Spanish judge has forced the world to face up to that thorny problem—whether it wants to or not.
- Putting Human Rights Back on the Agenda by Ed McWilliams
April 2003
For over the past decade, U.S. pro-democracy and human rights leverage has been squandered. If not corrected soon, the results could be disastrous.
- After Abu Ghraib: The U.S. Human Rights Agenda by George Gedda
December 2004
There is no question that the prisoner abuse scandal hurt America’s reputation. But the Bush administration has pushed forward with efforts to expand the U.S. human rights agenda, and enjoyed some successes.
- Honoring Patt Derian by Diana Page
January 2010
Nearly three decades after leaving office, the first assistant secretary for human rights receives a rare tribute.
- Human Rights, China and 21st-Century Diplomacy by Michael Posner
September 2012
Developments in China offer new opportunities to reframe the approach to bilateral discussions of human rights.
- A Human Rights Dialogue with Congress by Robert McMahon
June 2013
Policymaking on human rights issues is sometimes hindered by poor relations between State and Capitol Hill. Fortunately, there are ways to improve cooperation.
- Promoting an LGBT-Inclusive Human Rights Agenda by Richmond Blake
June 2015
The progress of LGBT rights in Europe and the Americas has elicited a backlash in other parts of the world. Strong U.S. leadership can help reverse this alarming trend and mitigate the threat of widespread violence.
- Human Rights for LGBT Persons: Aiming for Sustainable Progress Q&A w/ Special Envoy Randy Berry
June 2015
Protecting the existence and rights of the LGBT community has become a core issue in the U.S. human rights mission worldwide.
NATO
- Jefferson’s NATO by Carl Charlick
July 1954
Thomas Jefferson had his own challenging experiences in organizing a coalition of states to deal with a common threat.
- The USRO and American Foreign Policy by Staff Members of the USRO
February 1955
The USRO coordinated and navigated the surge in diplomatic activity in the early years of the NATO alliance.
- European Defense: A Return to Brussels by Colin Gordon
November 1971
European nations have often struggled to harmonize economic integration with defense integration.
- The Atlantic Alliance by Charles R. Foster and Richard Albright
June 1981
New administrations have often taken office with hopes to reinvigorate NATO, but alliance politics guarantee challenges to any reform-minded agenda.
Offbeat
- The Service’s Only Samurai by George P. Waller
December 1922
Watari Ebiharah served the American consulate in Kobe, Japan for 39 years, but earlier in life he served a liege lord as a samurai in the waning days of feudal Japan.
- RIF and Return by Melville E. Blake, Jr.
September 1954
An FSO receives an unexpected separation notice, and after a year of life out of government, receives an invitation to return to the Foreign Service.
- Jesuit Technical Assistance to the Emperor of China by Martin F. Herz
February 1958
For many years Jesuits cultivated diplomatic and scientific relationships with Imperial China to enable cultural exchange and missionary work.
- Post Report From Mars by Buck Dodger
April 1958
An update from Embassy Mars reveals the lifestyle and challenges of a hardship post on the red planet.
- The Diplomatic Costume Revolution by Richard B. McCornack
May 1958
In 1853 Secretary of State William Marcy issued a circular establishing new guidance for diplomatic dress that proved controversial with foreign courts abroad.
- A Yankee at the Court of the Tsars by Jerome Blum
June 1960
John Quincy Adams was in such dire financial straits while representing the U.S. in Russia that his mother felt compelled to write a letter to President James Madison requesting relief.
- Automation and the Foreign Service by Thomas M. Tracy
March 1971
Technology will create new efficiencies in diplomatic work but will require a reexamination of personnel policies and customary methods of doing business.
- Interstellar Negotiation by Michael A.G. Michaud
December 1972
Given the sheer likelihood of encountering sentient life amongst the stars in the future, what are the considerations for establishing relations with another intelligent, space-faring species?
- Leaks – A Reporter’s Viewpoint by Jim Anderson
November 1980
A diplomatic correspondent describes how leaks happen, the cautions journalists must exercise in sourcing those speaking on background and the relationship between the press and the public.
- Confessions of a Washington Ghost Writer by Burke Wilkinson
June 1980
Often at Secretary John Foster Dulles’ command, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Burke Wilkinson would drop everything to help top administration officials prepare speeches, articles and testimony.
Political Appointees
- Political Appointee: A Case Study by Winston Smith
January 1980
While the administration has not reached the level of its predecessors in truly egregious appointments, it has appointed ambassadors of obvious—and in at least one case, stunning—unsuitability for the job. This is the tale of one unqualified ambassador – and how to prevent future failures among our political appointees.
- Malcolm Toon interview
April 1982
The retired U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union shares his thoughts on problems with using the Foreign Service as a “dumping ground” for political appointees and the importance of maintaining a professional diplomatic corps.
- Politics or Merit? by Sen. Charles Mathias Jr.
April 1982
U.S. Senator Charles Mathias Jr. (R-Md.,) explains why he introduced a bill limiting the number of noncareer ambassadors in 1981.
- Staffing State: Three Dilemmas by William Bacchus
December 1982
The evolving nature of international relations will necessitate changes in how the Foreign Service personnel system is designed and run.
- Training Future High-Level Political Appointees: Interview with William B. Macomber
September 1985
Is there a place for political appointees within the foreign affairs agencies in Washington?
- Foreign Service Heresy by David T. Jones
June 1989
It is the Foreign Service equivalent of Holy Writ that political appointees are the bane of the professional, career Foreign Service. The corollary is that Foreign Service officers, particularly at senior levels, are more capable than political appointees. Unfortunately, comfortable as these assumptions are, they fall into the category of unproven—and perhaps unproveable—assertions.
- Do Political Appointees Need Limits? by Peter Frederick
January 2001
There will always be political appointees in government. However, that does not mean that managerial improvement at FCS is impossible.
- Differences in Style: Brandon Grove Talks about Career vs. Non-Career Ambassadors
December 1992
One of the toughest things for non-career people to understand is that holding the line, in terms of the American/foreign country relationship, can itself be a good outcome, that surviving real stresses and strains can be a reflection of success in a relationship. People who don’t know this are often shocked that they can’t get more done quickly and achieve the public recognition they are used to having, for their work as an ambassador.
- Political Appointees: A Cost-Benefit Analysis by William F Davnie
November 2006
Most political appointees face massive culture shock when they enter government and arrive at an embassy.
- Notes to the New Administration: Please End Political Corruption by Steve Kashkett
January-February 2017
You have a golden opportunity to fulfill your campaign pledge to put a stop to corruption, cronyism and “business as usual” in Washington: End the disgraceful practice of rewarding personal friends and donors with ambassadorships.
- Why U.S. Ambassadors Should be Career Professionals by Ed Peck
January-February 2017
The ability to raise millions of dollars for a presidential campaign is a valuable skill. But rewarding a fundraiser with the job of heading a U.S. embassy reveals total ignorance of what the job entails. An ambassador’s responsibilities are numerous, complex and important—sometimes critical. And, as with any and all top management positions, they cannot be effectively carried out by beginners.
Presidents & Foreign Policy
- My Day with JFK by Jack Sulser
November 1968
An FSO offers a story about personally facilitating an interaction between President John F. Kennedy and Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr. Alfons Gorbach in Washington.
- State and Presidential Leadership by I.M. Destler
September 1971
What can State do to repair trust with an administration that doubts its ability to lead foreign policy formulation?
- Presidents and Bureaucrats by Dean Rusk
May 1973
Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk comments on the often challenging relationship between the White House and State, and how professionalism should ultimately guide the Foreign Service through contentious times.
- The Foreign Service and Presidential Control of Foreign Policy by Nathaniel Davis
March 1980
The president’s influence on foreign policy is subject to the complexity of managing career professionals and political appointees at the senior-most levels of policymaking.
- Truman’s Secret Thoughts on Ending the Korean War by Barton J. Bernstein
November 1980
Recently declassified documents provide crucial insights into policy deliberations during the Korean War as American leadership contemplated escalation and its tenuous relationship with China.
Public Diplomacy
- Publicity in Foreign Affairs by H.R. Wilson
July 1926
The intrinsic relationship between State and the media is invaluable in communicating policy and earning support for diplomacy.
- Propagandists in World Affairs by Orville C. Anderson
February 1953
In a world where competitors masterfully deceive and influence by distorting reality, how can State hold its own?
- Democratic Diplomacy and the Role of Propaganda by Monteagle Stearns
October 1953
Diplomats must carefully manage messaging and public relations, yet when does the diplomat begin to look like a propagandist?
- Diplomacy and the Press by Henry B. Cox
January 1954
The relationship between diplomat and reporter is a delicate one where serving the national interest may mean very different things for sharing certain information with the public.
- A More Open Diplomacy vs. Greater Secrecy by Elmer Plischke
April 1957
Diplomacy must manage a balance between openness and secrecy in its conduct, yet diplomatic functions have trended toward more openness.
- Mr. Carr Surveys the Rogers Bill by Wilbur J. Carr
July 1924
Assistant Secretary of State Wilbur Carr gives an optimistic assessment of the Rogers Bill that will institute sweeping reform to the Foreign Service.
- Reform or Withdrawal by Seymour Maxwell Finger
June 1984
As the United States ponders leaving UNESCO due to frustration with its direction, it must deliberate on how withdrawal may lessen its ability to influence reform from within.
- The Foreign Service Act of 1980
December 1980
Undersecretary of State for Management Ben Read and AFSA President Ken Bleakley speak on a panel about the recently passed Foreign Service Act of 1980 and its benefits.
Russia
- Life as a Russian Worker by Richard H. Sanger
June 1971
After leaving the Foreign Service, Richard Sanger left to see what life was like in the 1930s Soviet Union, and whether the workers’ paradise was real.
- Our Man At Stalin’s Funeral by Jacob D. Beam
May 1978
Following Josef Stalin’s sudden death, future Ambassador to the Soviet Union Jacob Beam travels to Moscow to express official condolences.
Terrorism
Tradecraft
- Our Tongue-Tied Foreign Service by Leon and Leila Poullada
June 1957
State faces a deficit of language expertise and training methods are in need of dire review.
WWII
- The FSO’s in Manila by Cabot Coville
June 1942
Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese forces descended on Manila, and American FSOs struggled to evacuate after being cut off for weeks.
- The New Duties of Our Foreign Service by Christian M. Ravndal
July 1942
At the outbreak of WWII some declared that diplomacy would be irrelevant during conflict, yet diplomats perform indispensable and highly consequential roles in times of war.
- From Pearl Harbor to Potsdam by Charles W. Yost
September 1980
An FSO describes wartime duties that span some of the most consequential discussions and conferences that devised the post-war international order.
