The Foreign Service Journal, October 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2013 47 AFSA NEWS Adair Lecture: “Challenges Facing U.S. Diplomacy in Africa” On Aug. 28, AFSA presented the 7th annual Caroline and Ambassador Charles Adair Memorial Lecture, kicking off the fall semester at Ameri- can University’s School of International Service. Ambas- sador John Campbell, this year’s distinguished speaker, spoke on the topic of “Chal- lenges and Opportunities Facing American Diplomacy in Africa” before a full house of students, faculty and guests in the Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University. Amb. Campbell was an active-duty member of the Foreign Service from 1975 to 2007. In addition to serving twice in Nigeria (as politi- cal counselor from 1988 to 1990, and as ambassador from 2004 to 2007), he was also assigned to Abuja, Lyon, Paris, Geneva and Pretoria. His domestic assignments included deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Human Resources, and director of the Office of U.N. Political Affairs. He is now the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Rela- tions in New York. During his lecture, Amb. Campbell remarked that in the past, many Africans believed that U.S. policy goals were democracy and economic development. However, he believes most Africans see U.S. priorities BY TOM SWITZER, DIRECTOR OF SPEAKER PROGRAMS toward Africa as moving away from diplomatic endeavors to security and defense concerns. The continent is not much of a U.S. priority— except when real or alleged terrorism makes it one. Campbell asks why our military has established a significantly stronger pres- ence in Africa, while the traditional tools of diplo- macy and development have seemed to stagnate? His broad answer is the so-called “securitization” of U.S. for- eign policy since 9/11, a shift not well received by Africans. He went on to say that, “Too often in African missions, the understaffed Foreign Service is deflected into serving as a concierge for other larger agencies inexperienced at operating outside of the United States.” What are possible solu- tions? According to Amb. Campbell: • We need to develop a new consensus on what the role of U.S. diplomats should be, as well as a new consensus on the role of USAID. (He noted that AFSA has been doing yeoman service in Ambassador John Campbell meets with American University’s School of International Service students after delivering the Adair Lecture. PHOTOBYCHIOMADIKE keeping both issues on the table). • State and USAID must do a better job of building trust with Congress and with each other. • We must implement better training policies for officers at all levels, as the military has done. • Most importantly, we need more Foreign Service officers, requiring more money. To secure the funding, recruit- ment and examination must be made a high priority. In closing, Amb. Camp- bell concluded by stressing that these solutions are not impossible. “Let us all remain positive and focused regard- ing the future of U.S. diplo- macy. Positive outcomes are essential for our nation’s security,” he declared. AFSA President Robert Silverman; Marshall Adair, former AFSA president and current Governing Board member; James Goldgeier, dean of the American University School of Inter- national Service; and Carola Weil, dean of AU’s School of Professional and Expanded Studies all joined Amb. Campbell on stage. The Adair family gener- ously supports the lecture series through a perpetual gift to AFSA’s Fund for Ameri- can Diplomacy. The program is part of our national efforts to elevate awareness of the importance of diplomacy and development. “The lectures are intended to expose students to individuals who actually practice diplomacy—to add the operational perspective to the academic perspective provided by the university. They are intended to chal- lenge the students to get the most out of their universi- ties’ curricula, and to inspire them to future public service, perhaps with the Foreign Service,” remarked Marshall Adair. n