The Foreign Service Journal, October 2006

The Foreign Service Institute has developed many new and innovative courses. Some last for only a few days, others for weeks or even months. But most of these address specific skills, such as economic report- ing, information work and contracting. Why not add some on American history, culture, society, music and film? The greater Washington area is home to 10 or so fine universities. They all have professors with the experience to design and lead the courses. FSI has also embarked on distance learning and now offers courses by computer to officers serving abroad. It could easily add these others to that inventory. Foreign Service officers are among our most valu- able, but underused, public diplomacy assets. When I was in Greece, we organized a 10-part series in English (alas) on American history for a university, which gave academic credit to those who attended. We enlisted only Americans from the embassy to give the lectures. The general services officer, a former high school his- tory teacher, talked about our founding documents. Our cultural affairs officer addressed civil rights, and the political counselor spoke about religion in America. The economic counselor offered a lecture on American capitalism, and the information officer gave one on American film. The DCM talked about the various domestic influences on American foreign policy, and the ambassador concluded the series with a talk on America’s foreign policy since World War II. Most of us had to do some research and all of us had to prepare our lectures, but the results were gratifying. Not only were we able to convey something of our history and culture, but we also had an opportunity to exchange ideas with young, skeptical Greeks. The very presence of an American officer at a uni- versity or high school can have a salutary effect on our image. When we show we care about the students and their opinions, when they see that American diplomats are accessible and reasonable, it makes a positive dif- ference, whether they agree with what we have to say or not. The same holds true when we speak to a Rotary F O C U S O C T O B E R 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 37