American Diplomacy

A new report highlights how the mass departure of roughly 2,000 veteran diplomats is draining the State Department of decades of critical institutional knowledge and specialized language skills. Read the full article by Abigail Williams at NBC News here: americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/06/diplom…

The State Dept is overhauling its evaluation system—introducing a numerical scale and tight limits that AFSA warns creates a "zero-sum game" for promotions. Link to article in the comments #ForeignService #StateDepartment

From the Strait of Hormuz to the future of the State Dept, we explore how history illuminates today's foreign policy crises. Read this May's "Moments in Diplomacy" here americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu #ForeignPolicy #AmericanDiplomacy @ADSTnews @UNC @StateDept

Check out the recommended May book reads from American Diplomacy Journal. americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/books-… #books #read #learn #diplomacy

Does Netflix's 'The Diplomat' pass the real-world vibe check? 🎬 Former Senior Foreign Service Officer Melissa Clegg-Tripp breaks down the hits, the myths, and the strict security paperwork of the actual diplomatic corps ⬇️americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/the-di… #TheDiplomat #ForeignPolicy

During the Cold War, Soviet diplomats in Sofia refused to speak Bulgarian. U.S. diplomat Jonathan Rickert shares why breaking the language barrier was America's secret weapon in winning local respect americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/lingui… #Diplomacy #History

This week, we bring you insights from practitioners & media on State Dept layoffs, rising retirements, and the global fallout of a shifting aid landscape. Read the weekly roundup in comments #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy

In 1971, a young U.S. diplomat in Budapest had a unique unwritten duty: preparing the weekly bath for Cardinal Mindszenty, who lived in the embassy for 15 years. Donald Kursch shares a fascinating eyewitness account of a Cold War legend #Diplomacy americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/the-ca…

NEW ARTICLE: A look at the #diplomatic lessons from Western #Sahara. From legal frameworks to regional stability, Mohamed Elbaikam explores why a resolution remains elusive despite decades of UN mediation. 📜📌 LINK IN COMMENTS #AmericanDiplomacy #WesternSahara

Dwight D. Eisenhower knew that a "decent respect to the opinions of mankind" was the bedrock of security. Rick Ruth explores Ike’s mastery of public diplomacy and why people-to-people engagement remains our greatest "soft power" tool. Link to article in Comments #PublicDiplomacy

READ HERE ➡️➡️ americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/redesi…

🌍The post-USAID era is here. @AfricaMarkW outlines a bold new roadmap for US-Africa relations focused on health, girls' education, and the continent's massive youth bulge. It’s time to move past "business as usual." Article in Comments ⬇️#Africa #ForeignPolicy #USAID @Africa

"Your lack of planning should not become everyone else’s emergency." In our May Journal, veteran diplomat @lukevzahner warns against Planlosigkeit, the dangerous lack of coherent planning in U.S. foreign policy. Read Here: americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/planlo… #Diplomacy #ForeignPolicy

While many interventions fail, Liberia 2003 proved that #diplomacy and moral courage can actually succeed. Discover the 5 lessons from the "regime change" in #Liberia #ForeignPolicy #IranWar‌ Written by Ambassador @ChrisDatta americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/the-re…

What defines successful statecraft in an era of "diplomacy by tweet"? Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer revisits the 1991 Madrid Conference to highlight the essential skills modern envoys are missing. americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2026/05/lesson… 🏛️📜 #middleeastwars #diplomacy @Princeton @StateDept

READ HERE: americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu

The May issue of American Diplomacy is live! 🌐 Explore expert insights on Middle East strategy, the "Diplomacy in Crisis" series, and firsthand accounts from the field. We’ll be spotlighting key articles all week—stay tuned! Link in Comments #AmericanDiplomacy #ForeignPolicy