December 2016
The Foreign Service Journal covers foreign affairs from an insider's perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service. Including the AFSA News section, The Journal is published monthly (January-February and July-August issues combined) by the American Foreign Service Association.
The December issue focuses on Russia and contains the FSJ's biannual Education Supplement.
We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.
FOCUS ON RUSSIA
Understanding Russian Foreign Policy Today
U.S.-Russia relations are in disarray, with talk of a new Cold War pervasive. Fortunately, framing the conflict in terms of national interests points to a way forward.
The Rise of the New Russia
This tour d’horizon from the fall of the Soviet Union to today—including hopes, disappointments and missed opportunities—puts U.S.-Russia relations into perspective.
Something Happened on the Way to the Market: The Economic State of the Former USSR
When it comes to the Soviet successor nations, economic and commercial diplomacy is a particularly important part of the U.S. foreign policy playbook.
Four Centuries and Three Decades of Russian Thinking
Conversations in Moscow with Russians of different social strata paint a vivid picture of a country grappling with the meaning of the past quarter-century's upheavals.
Ukraine in 2016: There’s No Going Back
Young Ukrainian leaders battle Russian pressure, endemic corruption and a moribund economy in pursuit of a new, independent identity.
Communications Behind the Iron Curtain
This firsthand account of a fire in the secure area of Embassy Moscow on March 28, 1991, conveys the importance and drama of Diplomatic Telecommunications Service work during the last days of the USSR.
Groundbreaking Diplomacy: An Interview with George Shultz
George Shultz reflects on his tenure as Secretary of State in the Reagan administration and the process of making foreign policy and conducting diplomacy during the decade leading up to the fall of the Soviet Union.
EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
Finding Money for College: A Guide to Scholarships
Scholarships can lighten the financial burden of a college education. Here are some tips on finding them.
What Is the Coalition App?
There’s a new college application platform on the block. Most schools aren’t using it exclusively yet, but underclassmen may want to set up an account and test its unique new Locker feature.