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May 2024

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 May issue focuses on the U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA Centennials.

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

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FOCUS ON THE U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE AND AFSA CENTENNIALS

Looking to the Future

BY SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY J. BLINKEN

At the Center of Smart Power

BY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

The Best, Brightest, and Most Loyal

BY JAMES A. BAKER III

AFSA: A Vital Voice for Small Agencies

BY DIRECTOR GENERAL MARK PETRY, FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

The U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA Through 100 Years of the Journal

This timeline presents the Foreign Service at significant moments during the last century, as drawn from the pages of The Foreign Service Journal, with milestones for AFSA running concurrently. For more on any entry, visit that FSJ edition in the digital archive.

A Look at the Ideal Foreign Service for the Next Generation

Centennial Writing Competition: First Place

BY TOBY WOLF

PERSPECTIVES

President’s Views

Building on 100 Years of Service

BY TOM YAZDGERDI

Letter from the Editor

Born Together in 1924

BY SHAWN DORMAN

Speaking Out

It’s Up to Us to Implement the Learning Policy

BY DON JACOBSON

Reflections

Raising Children in East Berlin

BY OTHO ESKIN

Local Lens

Nairobi, Kenya

BY ARMANDO L. MUIR

DEPARTMENTS

AFSA NEWS

State VP Voice

Celebrating Asian American Leadership

BY HUI JUN TINA WONG

USAID VP Voice

Remembering Our Fallen USAID Colleagues

BY RANDY CHESTER

FCS VP Voice

Do the Math: FCS Makes Sense

BY JOSHUA BURKE

Retiree VP Voice

Follow the Money

BY JOHN K. NALAND