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Modern Diplomacy in Practice
This textbook, the first comprehensive comparative study ever undertaken, surveys and compares the world’s ten largest diplomatic those of Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Chapters cover the distinctive histories and cultures of the services, their changing role in foreign policy making, and their preparations for the new challenges of the twenty-first century.
272 pages, Paperback
Published December 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 21, 2020
Great read as it is an encyclopedia or vignette of insights across 10 countries Foreign Service in; history, budget, characteristics, goals, size, and budgets. Other topics in maturity, size, demographics and culture of each statecraft is delved into.
If this book is taken at face value I am most impressed with Brazil’s framework of foreign affairs.
A great way to benchmark this craft across a diversity of modern countries.
If this book is taken at face value I am most impressed with Brazil’s framework of foreign affairs.
A great way to benchmark this craft across a diversity of modern countries.
October 21, 2023
It's a good book presenting various Foreign Services (FS), their particularities, challenges and general culture in a succinct manner ; those of the US, UK, China, Turkey, Brazil, Japan, France and Germany.
Reading this book allow three things : 1) Where key differences and commonalities between foreign services generally lies 2) Key changes shared by FS, and where resistance to change is found 3) Common and particular challenges met by various FS around the world.
The book streamlined information on each FS, often originating from interviews done in the context of studies, literature, publicly available information and more. For each FS, it will provide a succinct and informed overview divided in the following sections : profile, recruitment and selection processes, leadership, Role in foreign policy making, and preparation for the future.
There are many interesting facts on each specific FS ( translation diplomacy of China, importance of caste representation in Indian FS, high-family values in German FS, diversity of hiring practices...)
The more overarching key takeaways reflect also many observations present in literature on diplomacy of the last decade :
1) The digital age, through telecommunication and social media, have brought governments to rely less on their FS and their traditional role of reporting due to easier access to information. Other branch of government now involved in international affairs are getting involve with more autonomy from the F of their government.
2) This transpired in a relative decline of funding and resources relative for most of the FS, compared to other government organ.
3) As government rely less on their FS, centralization of foreign policy making at political level is now more common. I note also the common emergence of some kind of "Security Council" in many of those countries, which coordinate international input not only from FS, but intelligence agencies, military, finances department, and others. FS role then often is more "diluted" in front of many players
4) However, international issues are multidimensional, and the FS remains the best placed to handle, advice and coordinate on those issues; FS are often the only one able to answer the "So what?" question that arise from international challenges and their interconnectivity with domestic interests.
5) In order to fullfill their role to its full potential, FS of most countries need to go through various change as the nature of their work changes as well. None of those changes apply to all of them, as each is unique, but the book highlights a few that seem more common: more diversity in recruitment, better training for new skills adapted to the digital age, and fostering more innovative and creative culture at missions seems to be general recommendations for FS to achieve this.
Overall, the book is very factual, consistent, and well written. The choices of the sample countries remains unclear to me however, and there is some references in the book that are not explained very well. Consistent language and formulation of recurring observation would help to better communicate commonalities as well.
Reading this book allow three things : 1) Where key differences and commonalities between foreign services generally lies 2) Key changes shared by FS, and where resistance to change is found 3) Common and particular challenges met by various FS around the world.
The book streamlined information on each FS, often originating from interviews done in the context of studies, literature, publicly available information and more. For each FS, it will provide a succinct and informed overview divided in the following sections : profile, recruitment and selection processes, leadership, Role in foreign policy making, and preparation for the future.
There are many interesting facts on each specific FS ( translation diplomacy of China, importance of caste representation in Indian FS, high-family values in German FS, diversity of hiring practices...)
The more overarching key takeaways reflect also many observations present in literature on diplomacy of the last decade :
1) The digital age, through telecommunication and social media, have brought governments to rely less on their FS and their traditional role of reporting due to easier access to information. Other branch of government now involved in international affairs are getting involve with more autonomy from the F of their government.
2) This transpired in a relative decline of funding and resources relative for most of the FS, compared to other government organ.
3) As government rely less on their FS, centralization of foreign policy making at political level is now more common. I note also the common emergence of some kind of "Security Council" in many of those countries, which coordinate international input not only from FS, but intelligence agencies, military, finances department, and others. FS role then often is more "diluted" in front of many players
4) However, international issues are multidimensional, and the FS remains the best placed to handle, advice and coordinate on those issues; FS are often the only one able to answer the "So what?" question that arise from international challenges and their interconnectivity with domestic interests.
5) In order to fullfill their role to its full potential, FS of most countries need to go through various change as the nature of their work changes as well. None of those changes apply to all of them, as each is unique, but the book highlights a few that seem more common: more diversity in recruitment, better training for new skills adapted to the digital age, and fostering more innovative and creative culture at missions seems to be general recommendations for FS to achieve this.
Overall, the book is very factual, consistent, and well written. The choices of the sample countries remains unclear to me however, and there is some references in the book that are not explained very well. Consistent language and formulation of recurring observation would help to better communicate commonalities as well.
May 12, 2020
Good comparative study of the foreign services of major world nations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews