American Diplomat

Were the riots in Brazil on January 8, 2023, a January 6 copycat, or a situation all their own? Ambassador Michael McKinley weighs in (hint – he’s far too subtle and informed to toss off a slapdash comparison). Factors affecting coutries worldwide incluide the usual suspects - resentment politics, fear, economic crises, COVID, changing trade norms - but polarized politics are everywhere. Leaders are old these days. Have they talked to 20-year-olds? 40-year-olds? Today's challenges are different than the old days and politcs as usual are not delivering. Plus, you get to hear Laura's dear friend and Brazilian jazz pianist Helio Alves – or watch him play here. Enjoy!

Kathleen Stephens, former ambassador to Korea, shares her perspective on how the culture of the US Foreign Service has changed, as have the cultures of Korea and the United States concurrently.  From cultures that favored workaholism to ones with greater gender equity, younger people have pushed for greater balance of priorities, in favor of the long view of what a life should be.

Daren Nair, whose show Pod Hostage Diplomacy has brought public awareness and government action to the cases of private citizens held by foreign governments, shares his vast knowlege of this increasingly urgent human crisis worldwide.  Who are these hostages, who is detaining them, and why?  What can families do?  And here's the video for our beautiful closing song, Coming Home, covered by Boyce Avenue.  

Ambassador Tony Wayne is back with a survey of trends, remaining challenges and reasons for optimism as we move from 2022 into 2023.  Trends include increased connectedness between domestic and international politics, ecomonmic localism and democractic backsliding, but we've also seen Western partnerships rally and revive, and we've seen heroes of many stripes, not least of whom is the great Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  Cheers to 2023!

Pete botches up a boar hunt, drinks the mystery drink chicha, and receives upon his departure a marriage proposal, ambiguously addressed either to himself one of the other fine young gringos. Follows first episode, titled “Cowboys and Indian at the Embassy.”  Again, Pete wants to know what you think. Should he have gone there? Should he have stayed once he got there? Could you have resisted the pull of curiosity? Can anyone? What are the consequences if we visit happily isolated people of the world? Tell us what you think on facebook, at amdipstories@gmail.com, or by voicemail (vm link on our website www.amdipstories.org). Part two of Pete's story of his visit with the Huarani, from the archive. Happy New Year!

From the archive, Pete tells the tale of his visit to the jungle to hang with the Huarini.  Did he do the right thing?  Pete actually wants to know!  Tell us what you think on facebook, at amdipstories@gmail.com, or by voicemail (vm link on our website www.amdipstories.org).  Here's the original blurb:  “Embassy death squads?  Sure, I made that up!”  ~ Moi, Huarani Indian and tribal ambassador.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this story tomorrow.  Cheers!

Ambassador Peter Bodde shares a Christmas Eve tale of rescue and relief as the walls of Communism fell like snow in Eastern Europe, 1989.  

The authritarian psychology, with Ken Dekleva, our (fascinating) Foreign Service psychiatrist. Dictators respect only strength, negotiating with maximalist demands, getting as much as they can by giving as little as they can. As they grow older, they may become more rigid, threatening their grip on publics and opponents. Contrast Putin, who undid 30 years of progress in the former Soviet Union in the first week of war in Ukraine, with Zelensky's courage and heroism. The difference? One approach grows more isolationist, while the other is often an ordinary person, doing what they are trained to do, to help someone in need. Wow.

Dr. Ken Dekleva, former foreign service psychiatrist, explains that for diplomats stressors are always high but especially so in places like China, where US diplomats are subject to Covid lockdowns that separate children from their parents, or war zones, or heavily surveilled postings like Moscow, and many more.  But the part to tune in for is the closing song, written just for Doc Dekleva.  It's not bad!   

Laura's great old pal Andy Mertha, SAIS professor and China expert, contextualizes recent Chinese protests against Covid policies in the immense time-space continuum of Chinese political and cultural history.