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What Diplomats Do: The Life and Work of Diplomats
What do diplomats actually do? That is what this text seeks to answer by describing the various stages of a typical diplomat’s career. The book follows a fictional diplomat from his application to join the national diplomatic service through different postings at home and overseas, culminating with his appointment as ambassador and retirement. Each chapter contains case studies, based on the author’s thirty year experience as a diplomat, Ambassador, and High Commissioner. These illustrate such key issues as the role of the diplomat during emergency crises or working as part of a national delegation to a permanent conference as the United Nations. Rigorously academic in its coverage yet extremely lively and engaging, this unique work will serve as a primer to any students and junior diplomats wishing to grasp what the practice of diplomacy is actually like.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 3, 2017
An interesting read to those who study international relations and are attracted to the diplomactic world. Very often I think of all the books I missed reading while studying, but it is never too late isn't it?
What the book describes in a very light, understandable way, is what I have learned along my working years -the world of international affairs isn't as glam as it is thought to be. True is perhaps in the past the world of embassies and ambassadors was surrounded by a halo of glamour, of parties, of travelling around the world, but nowadays, it is very different. Working at international organisations, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, international departments of Embassies, is very similar to working to any other office but one deals with bilatera and multilateral issues. But one might wonder who doesn't do that nowadays with globalization?
Working in the diplomatic work is a rewarding and a challenging experience, and what perhaps still is very little understood is that -when done professionally- it requires a lot of personal sacrifice, like many other posts of the civil service.
On the book itself, I guess my only critic would be to the editors -though the book is academic in style, some times it was repetitive, or it had clarifications that, at least on my prespective, are basic and don't need explanation to the kind of public it was directed to.
What the book describes in a very light, understandable way, is what I have learned along my working years -the world of international affairs isn't as glam as it is thought to be. True is perhaps in the past the world of embassies and ambassadors was surrounded by a halo of glamour, of parties, of travelling around the world, but nowadays, it is very different. Working at international organisations, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, international departments of Embassies, is very similar to working to any other office but one deals with bilatera and multilateral issues. But one might wonder who doesn't do that nowadays with globalization?
Working in the diplomatic work is a rewarding and a challenging experience, and what perhaps still is very little understood is that -when done professionally- it requires a lot of personal sacrifice, like many other posts of the civil service.
On the book itself, I guess my only critic would be to the editors -though the book is academic in style, some times it was repetitive, or it had clarifications that, at least on my prespective, are basic and don't need explanation to the kind of public it was directed to.
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May 26, 2021Una muy buena lectura para quienes están comenzando sus estudios/preparación.
October 20, 2020
Absolutely incomparable insight into the opportunities and challenges of diplomatic life from recruitment to retirement. A clever structure creating a fictionalised protagonist to tell an authentic and detailed story within the constraints of attribution, confidentiality, and official secrets.
Personal reflections from his own life and career, matched against the development and experiences of the fictional 'Adam' and his wife 'Eve', make diplomatic work and life feel tangible and comprehensible more than dozens of other works of non-fiction on the same topic.
One wonders though what a version produced now by a recently retired Head of Mission would read like, incorporating the unfortunate or foolish Brexit, 'Global Britain', and the re-merging of diplomacy and development (both institutionally and financially). Barder's argument (delivered through Adam) for the separation of foreign policy from trade and development policy is especially pertinent since the takeover of DFID.
Personal reflections from his own life and career, matched against the development and experiences of the fictional 'Adam' and his wife 'Eve', make diplomatic work and life feel tangible and comprehensible more than dozens of other works of non-fiction on the same topic.
One wonders though what a version produced now by a recently retired Head of Mission would read like, incorporating the unfortunate or foolish Brexit, 'Global Britain', and the re-merging of diplomacy and development (both institutionally and financially). Barder's argument (delivered through Adam) for the separation of foreign policy from trade and development policy is especially pertinent since the takeover of DFID.
September 18, 2020
The author creates two fictional characters, a diplomat and his wife, and explains what diplomats and their spouses do in a very simple way. In every section of the book the writer adds his own real diplomatic experience, in relevance to the topic concerned, to enrich the context. As you read the book, you will discover the diplomats' lives are not that "glamorous", and their working environment is often very demanding.
I enjoyed this book very much. The fictional characters of the book give a flavour of a novel and save the book from being just a memoir. I strongly recommend to those wondering about the lifes of diplomats.
I enjoyed this book very much. The fictional characters of the book give a flavour of a novel and save the book from being just a memoir. I strongly recommend to those wondering about the lifes of diplomats.
December 25, 2019
A good read that highlights the life of a diplomat or those who work in foreign affairs. I appreciated the style used by the author - a fictional approach with personal narratives of the author from their own experience. This approach makes the book readable and enjoyable both as a work of fiction and non-fiction. The attempt to mask the real countries and characters was not subtle enough. The fictional narratives closely resemble the countries that the author worked in. Nonetheless, this did not undermine the message.
January 3, 2021
If you’re a student considering a career in the diplomatic service, then this is a must read.
As a read, it’s a bit...boring I guess. The way it’s told from the perspective of fictional characters in fictional countries is clever but sometimes the book goes into unnecessary banal detail (e.g. about Adam’s performance review).
I only liked it because I’m interested in the diplomatic service, heck it’s something I think about weekly in terms of a possible career change. But I wouldn’t recommend it to people as a good book to read unless there’s a reason to.
As a read, it’s a bit...boring I guess. The way it’s told from the perspective of fictional characters in fictional countries is clever but sometimes the book goes into unnecessary banal detail (e.g. about Adam’s performance review).
I only liked it because I’m interested in the diplomatic service, heck it’s something I think about weekly in terms of a possible career change. But I wouldn’t recommend it to people as a good book to read unless there’s a reason to.
August 14, 2020
This was such a pleasant read I would definitely gift this to anyone who ever asks what diplomatic do. More surprisingly, as a diplomat, I found 98% of the book totally relatable within the diplomatic system I belong. I’ll recommend this to all diplomats especially at the early years of the career, and definitely to diplomatic spouses.
August 30, 2018
“Of course it has, darling,” Eve said. “We’ve had the time of our lives. If we were starting all over again, I wouldn’t do a single thing differently, even if I knew then what I know now. Let’s go out and celebrate.”
October 16, 2022
A really good insight into how British Diplomacy functions and what to expect as a career as a Diplomat, including the contributions and tribulations of one's family.
p.s. Still looking for the word for a female ambassador's husband.
p.s. Still looking for the word for a female ambassador's husband.
September 8, 2021
If you were ever curious about what exactly it is diplomats do, this is THE book. Very informative but an easy and enjoyable read.
April 15, 2024
Ca sa am o idee. M-am plictisit pe alocuri, am preferat mai degrabă intervențiile cu istorisiri reale, fiindcă așa am putut contextualiza și, deci, întelege mai bine conduita și premisele ei.
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September 19, 2014327.2 B245 2014
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews