The Foreign Service Journal, January 2011

18 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 H appy New Year! Once again it’s time for my periodic invi- tation to take advantage of the many opportunities to contribute to the Journal. Let me begin by not- ing the author guidelines on our Web site (www.afsa.org/fsj) , which describe the various departments in the maga- zine and give the basic requirements (length, format, etc.) for each. All sub- missions to the Journal must be ap- proved by our Editorial Board and are subject to editing for style, length and format. Most issues feature a focus section examining various facets of an issue re- lated to the Foreign Service, diplo- matic practice or international rela- tions. (You’ll find a list of the topics our Editorial Board has identified for the coming year on this page.) Such list- ings are a guide to what’s coming up in our pages, but are not set in stone. This month, for instance, we had in- tended to offer a set of perspectives on “Foreign Service values and core skills,” but decided to postpone that issue until the results of the American Academy of Diplomacy’s assessment of professional education become avail- able. (We still welcome submissions addressing that subject.) In its place, as you’ll see, we are offering a cover story on “Microdiplomacy in Afghani- stan” and a variety of feature articles for your reading pleasure. Because of our lead time for publi- cation, and the requirement for Edi- torial Board approval, we need to receive submissions for focus sections at least three months (and preferably longer) prior to the issue’s release date. Thus, we have already lined up au- thors for the January, February and March themes, but there is still time to submit manuscripts for later months. Submissions should generally be about 2,000 words long, though shorter pieces are always welcome. If none of the focus choices grab you, or if you feel we have not devoted enough space to a professional con- L ETTER FROM THE E DITOR B Y S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY There are many ways you can share your insights in our pages. Let us hear from you. 2011 EDITORIAL CALENDAR for the FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL JANUARY 2011 Cover story: Microdiplomacy in Afghanistan (plus feature articles on Libya, China and Haiti) FEBRUARY 2011 Economic Function/Trade & Economic Issues (PLUS AFSA Tax Guide) MARCH 2011 Cover Story: AFSA Annual Report APRIL 2011 Women in Security and Development MAY 2011 FS Work-Life Balance (e.g., family issues, spousal/partner employment, Members of Household, single employees) JUNE 2011 Latin America (PLUS semiannual SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT) JULY-AUGUST 2011 Dissent in the Foreign Service (PLUS AFSA Awards coverage) SEPTEMBER 2011 Ten Years Later: How 9/11 Has Changed the Foreign Service (+ article(s) on Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary) OCTOBER 2011 Cover story: “In Their Own Write” (annual roundup of books by FS-affiliated authors) NOVEMBER 2011 Foreign Service Nationals/Locally Engaged Staff DECEMBER 2011 20th Anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Dissolution (PLUS semiannual SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT)