The Future of Diplomacy: Preparing the Next Generation of Diplomats

In most countries, new diplomats are not sufficiently prepared to carry out their duties. Lacking many of the skills needed to work in embassies and foreign ministries, and having received almost no formal training, they spend years learning fundamental competencies on the job. That hurts the effectiveness and impact of diplomacy globally.

Nicholas Kralev, the founding executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, will share his experience designing and executing professional diplomacy training. He will also discuss his book, "Diplomatic Tradecraft," the first-ever practical diplomacy textbook, which was recently published by Cambridge University Press.

A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, Mr. Kralev accompanied U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright on their travels around the world. His books include "America’s Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st-Century Diplomacy" and "Diplomats in the Trenches."

Mr. Kralev has visited 107 countries and more than 80 U.S. embassies. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School and speaks five languages.

If you'd like a signed copy of Mr. Kralev's book, please purchase a copy in advance and bring it to the event.

Register to attend this event virtually here.

Nicholas Kralev is the founding executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, an independent organization that provides practical professional training in diplomacy. A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, for more than a decade he witnessed the conduct of American diplomacy while accompanying four U.S. secretaries of state on their travels around the world -- Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright. His books include "Diplomatic Tradecraft" and "America's Other Army," among others.

As governments and universities seek to prepare the next generation of diplomats to manage international affairs, they finally have a teaching tool focusing on the practical knowledge and skills that in the past could be learned only on the job.

Published by Cambridge University Press and edited and co-written by Nicholas Kralev, WIDA’s founder, “Diplomatic Tradecraft” brings together 18 career diplomats with decades of experience to lift the curtain on a mysterious but vital profession, and to pass on the insights and abilities they gained to those who will succeed them.

With compelling narratives, case studies and exercises, the chapters on various aspects of diplomatic practice form a cohesive and comprehensive volume, written in an accessible and engaging style.

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