The Foreign Service Journal, September 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 11 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Averting Conflict BY SHAWN DORMAN T here’s not usually a lot of fanfare and public attention to the things that don’t happen, to the conflicts avoided. Yet the diplomacy that— in ways large and small—keeps situations from getting out of control, stops violence or conflict from escalating, is critical. Diplomatic efforts don’t always succeed, but one could argue that it’s always better to try. Our focus this month is preventive diplomacy, which at first glance might beg the question: What other kind of diplomacy is there? Isn’t the fundamental job of diplo- macy to use engagement as a way to stabi- lize or advance relations? True enough. But preventive diplomacy refers, in particular, to the use of “measures short of war” to avert conflict altogether or prevent it from spiraling into outright warfare. This can range from the everyday diplo- macy of maintaining working relationships with in-country actors and authorities to the creation and implementation of interagency (and, indeed, international) programs to address issues or situations in other countries that are particularly desta- bilizing and may lead to conflict. Ambassador Anne Patterson leads the focus with a sobering look at the state of State today and the current culture of risk aversion. If we’re not there, if we’re avoiding all risk, then how can we practice preventive diplomacy, even in the everyday sense? FSO (ret.) David Becker and Lt. Col. Steve Lewis share Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. lessons from their work on preventive stabilization and recent discussions on conflict prevention, offering insight into its basic elements. Ambassador (ret.) David Rawson dis- cusses whether it is possible to predict an d prevent intrastate violence. As ambassa- dor to Rwanda in 1994, he knows firsthand how difficult this challenge can be. The wisdom in George Kennan’s lecture—“Measures Short of War (Diplo- macy),” from the collection of lectures he presented at the National War College in 1946—bears repeating. We excerpt it here. We hope to expand the FSJ discussion of this important topic in an upcoming issue with a view from the State Depart- ment’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabiliza- tion Operations, including a look at how the bureau has evolved and what the current priorities are. September 2019 marks 80 years since the German invasion of Poland that sparked World War II, and historian Ray Walser brings us the story of Embassy Warsaw and its unflappable ambassad or, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr., along with photos from those dark days. In the Speaking Out, FSO Samuel Downing offers suggestions for improving human rights diplomacy work in the field. Foreign Service Youth Foundation Presi- dent John Naland tells us how the FSYF came to be 30 years ago and what it’s up to today. And FSO (ret.) Fred LaSor reflects on “Coming of Age in Zaire. ” As always, we want to hear from you. Send letters and article submissions to journal@afsa.org. n