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January-February 2026

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 now published bimonthly by the American Foreign Service Association.

The January-February issue focuses on AFSA Awards: honoring excellence and constructive dissent in the Foreign Service.

We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.

To keep up with The Foreign Service Journal online, sign up for our weekly email bulletin featuring magazine content and other items of FS interest.

FOCUS ON AFSA AWARDS: HONORING EXCELLENCE AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT

FEATURES

Like Lightning from a Clear Sky: Watching Guerrillas Recruit in Peru

To assess extremist non-state actors, you have to risk taking a “dance with the devil.”

BY STEPHEN G. MCFARLAND

FS KNOW-HOW

Turning Your Favorite FS Skills into Your Next Career

If you’re thinking about leaving the Foreign Service—whether by choice or otherwise—it might be time to figure out how to start your next career. These tips can help.

BY EILEEN SMITH

OFF-ROAD WITH THE FOREIGN SERVICE

SUMMER CAMPS SUPPLEMENT

International Summer Camps Take an American Tradition Overseas

Here’s how to find the perfect American-style summer camp for your kids—outside the United States.

BY MELISSA MATHEWS

PERSPECTIVES

President’s Views

Above and Beyond Partisanship

BY JOHN “DINK” DINKELMAN

Letter from the Editor

Looking to the Year Ahead

BY SHAWN DORMAN

Speaking Out

State’s Opportunity Ahead for Global Health

BY TROY FITRELL AND JAMIE BAY NISHI

Speaking Out

Measuring and Mitigating Cognitive Dissonance in Public Diplomacy

BY JOHN FER

Reflections

Logrolling in Rural Thailand

BY DICK VIRDEN

Local Lens

Datong, China

BY JULIA WOHLERS

DEPARTMENTS

AFSA NEWS

State VP Voice

Breaking State?

BY ROHIT NEPAL

USAID VP Voice

The Road to 2026

BY RANDY CHESTER

Retiree VP Voice

A Growing Alumni Network

BY JOHN O’KEEFE