September 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.

In the September issue, Ambassador Marc Grossman explores an evolving concept of diplomacy to meet the opportunities and challenges America faces in A Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Back to the Future? During 29 years in the Foreign Service, Grossman, a career ambassador, held many high-level positions at the Department of State including undersecretary for political affairs, assistant secretary for Europe, ambassador to Turkey and, most recently, as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The issue’s focus is on AFSA’s 2014 award winners. Charles Stuart Kennedy, recipient of the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy award, discusses his Foreign Service career and his pioneering work on American diplomacy’s oral history program with FSJ Editor Shawn Dorman.

Ambassador Jonathan Addleton, recipient of AFSA’s Herter Award for constructive dissent by a senior FSO, reflects on his experience in Kandahar. Retired FSO and three-time AFSA dissent award winner Ambassador Kenneth Quinn shares his thoughts on Requirements for an Effective Foreign Service, drawing on his 32 years in the Foreign Service.

Complete coverage of the 2014 awards ceremony, including profiles of all of the dissent and performance winners, is featured in the AFSA News section of the magazine.

Elsewhere in the issue, FSO William Bent shares his experiences of life at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, and AFSA President Robert Silverman shares thoughts on advocating for the Foreign Service.

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