Diplomats and Diplomacy for the 21st Century
Abstract
During the past several decades, the world has seen much change. Besides the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and its ensuing political ramifications, there has been a continual drive towards increased globalization along economic, technological, and social dimensions. The revolution in information technology and increased international trade has fueled the process in recent years. For the diplomat of the 21st century, success hinges on being proficient in a multitude of areas and familiar with a variety of tools. Besides knowledge of local language and culture, they need updated expertise in areas such as health, the environment, demographics, and terrorism. They have to know the intricacies surrounding intellectual property rights, dumping, and non-tariff barriers. In addition, today's diplomats must be comfortable with a variety of technologies, ranging from the typewriter to the satellite phone. They require strong teamwork/partnering skills to collaborate with other groups, such as humanitarian organizations operating in the same host country. State uses thirteen different dimensions to gage the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) of prospective applicants interested in the Foreign Service. They cover a wide range of competencies that encompass both traditional and new needs. Unfortunately, the general nature of the competencies and State's lack of prioritization among them complicate the procurement of the right KSA combinations and slow down the adaptation process to identify new needs. For example, it was only recently that State added a quantitative skills requirement. This reactive structure also explains why technology competency is not part of the dimensions. State needs to prioritize and update the different competencies required-matching its mission and objectives with the competencies needed to achieve those goals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA412028
Entities
People
- Gustav Lindstrom
Organizations
- RAND Corporation