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9 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
1) The Foreign Service
12,000 Americans
1/3 in Washington
2/3 Abroad
267 Embassies and Consulates
30,000 Foreign Service Nationals (locals)
With up to 40 agencies in an embassy, Foreign Service Officers may be a minority
2) Ambassador’s Role
“Chief of Mission” i.e. more than just head of the State Department in an embassy
While management authority is vast, they are kept on a fairly close tether from Washington
Official traffic
Email
Phone
In countries of great interest to Washington, control may be tighter than normal
3) FS Career Tracks
Management affairs
Consular
Economic
Political
Public Diplomacy
http://careers.state.gov/officer/career-track.html
allows you to self-test for different tracks.
4) Foreign Service
Competent but not effective (Stearns)
Exclusion from key decisions
American ghetto
Lack freedom of maneuver
Management of competing priorities is key
Does the FS do a good job managing itself?
Should other overseas agencies by increasingly under FS control?
5) Up or Out
FS officers must make promotion within a given time frame or face removal from the service
Rewards generalists over specialists?
Is being a competent middle grade officer a bad thing?
FBI model
CIA model
6) Reporting Volumes
The information explosion has reached the foreign service
Defensive paperwork
Redundant reporting
Ambassadors have the ability to comment on reporting to “set the record straight”. Can lead to distortion.
Contact with journalists – risky business
7) Major Tasks of Diplomats
Link foreign government to US decision makers
Advocacy for government’s views
Negotiation
Suggest courses of action
Promote trade and investment
Protect citizens
Manage aid programs
Report and analyze local developments
Know officials and elites
Project favorable image of the nation
8) Non-Governmental Diplomacy
“Track two” diplomacy
Conflict resolution center run by Jimmy Carter
Sidebar meetings at international gatherings
Business development
Religious contacts
9) Diplomatic Titles
Attache
3rd Secretary (and Vice-Consul)
2nd Secretary
1st Secretary (and Consul)
Counselor of Embassy
Minister-Counselor
Ambassador (Chief of Mission)