June 2014
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.
This month, we bring you voices from other countries’ diplomatic corps. In four articles, diplomats from Turkey, India, Romania and Finland offer insights into their own Foreign Service institutions and foreign ministries and discuss the challenges of representing their countries abroad.
In this month’s feature, Our Woman in Havana, retired Ambassador Vicki Huddleston offers a case study in effectively representing U.S. interests through open communication, even in hostile environments such as Cuba. In his monthly column, AFSA President Robert J. Silverman believes that we should do more of Telling Our Diplomacy Stories. FSO Yaniv Barzilai writes on the challenges of publishing in the Foreign Service, and retired FSO Ted Wilkinson reflects on Ambassador Shirley Temple Black.
Find coverage of the AFSA and USAID memorial ceremonies honoring USAID FSO Antoinette “Toni” Tomasek and the results of a USAID employee survey in AFSA News. In our semi-annual education supplement, Francesca Huemer Kelly looks at the revamped SAT and Michelle Grappo offers advice on what to do when your child is struggling in school.
We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.
FOCUS: OTHER COUNTRIES' DIPLOMATIC CORPS
A Legal Alien: Working at State As a Turkish Diplomat
A Transatlantic Diplomatic Exchange Fellow from Ankara discovers more similarities than he expected when he spends a year in Foggy Bottom.
The Indian Foreign Service: The Glass Gets Fuller
Global winds of change are sweeping through the corridors of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Foreign Service, opening up the process of foreign policy delivery.
Life and Work in the Romanian Foreign Service
A former Transatlantic Diplomatic Exchange Fellow reflects on the similarities and differences between the Romanian and American diplomatic corps.
From Finland with Warmth
A Finnish FSO explains some of the unique features of the Finnish Foreign Service, including “sauna diplomacy.”
FEATURE
Our Woman in Havana
Even in hostile environments, FSOs effectively represent U.S. interests through open communication. Here is one case study.
EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
The Revamped SAT: A Much-Needed Overhaul or Cosmetic Surgery?
The SAT is being overhauled. What does it mean?
When School Is Hard
What do you do when your child is struggling in school? This primer can help get you started on identifying and solving the problem.