Talking to Strangers: Improving American Diplomacy at Home and Abroad

by Monteagle Stearns

Book Overview

In this discerning book, Monteagle Stearns, a former career diplomat and ambassador, argues that U.S. foreign policymakers do not need a new doctrine, as some commentators have suggested, but rather a new attitude toward international affairs and, most especially, new ways of learning from the Foreign Service. True, the word strangers in his title refers to foreigners. However, it also refers to American foreign policymakers and American...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691007454
• ISBN13: 9780691007458
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The state of American diplomacy today

Monteagle Stearns is a former career diplomat and ambassador who addresses an important question for those interested and involved in foreign affairs: "how well equipped, led, managed, and deployed" is the U.S. diplomatic apparatus today? In answering this question, Mr. Stearns presents the reader with an excellent assessment of the U.S. Foreign Service and its relationship both with the rest of the government and with other countries. In almost every chapter, I found myself thinking, "Yes, he's right on the money about that." His recommendations for change are well-reasoned and badly needed. It is unfortunate that policymakers have been slow in implementing useful change in the State Department and the Foreign Service. I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in becoming FSO's or those with an academic interest in policymaking and diplomacy.