Career Diplomacy

An all-new edition of the candid insiders' guide to the US Foreign Service as an institution, a profession, and a career

Career Diplomacy takes readers inside the world of American diplomats in the US Foreign Service. Members of the Foreign Service represent the country abroad, protect and support American citizens overseas, manage government programs and facilities, and move foreign policy from the abstract to the actual. In this new and thoroughly revised edition, Foreign Service veterans Harry W. Kopp and John K. Naland lay out what to expect in a Foreign Service career—how to get in, get around, and get ahead.

Part one begins with the history and structure of the US Foreign Service in the Department of State and other agencies. Part two looks at a number of professional challenges. In part three, the authors explore the trajectory of a Foreign Service career through their own experiences. Part four brings the discussion up to the present and looks to the future.

This best-selling guide demystifies the US Foreign Service for those interested in working within or alongside the institution. Kopp and Naland offer listeners a candid look at the profession, with its dangers, rewards, challenges, frustrations, and excitement.