Overview

If you ever wondered who becomes an American ambassador and why, this is the book for you. It describes how Foreign Service officers become ambassadors by rising up through the ranks, and why they typically make up about 70 percent of the total number of ambassadors. It also covers where the other 30 percent come from--the political appointees who get the job because they helped elect the president by supporting him as a campaign contributor, a political ally, or a personal friend. It explains why, despite being illegal and a threat to national security, selling the title of ambassador remains a common practice that is also unique to the United States. It considers why some suggestions for reform are misguided, what might be done, and why who the president is matters so much in determining how well the United States will be represented abroad. This updated and revised edition of Jett's classic book not only provides a timely overview of American ambassadorship for Foreign Service Officers, aspiring diplomats, and interested citizens, but also calls for much-needed reform, describing the dire implications of failing to change our ambassadorial appointments process for the future of American diplomatic practice and foreign policy.

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9798200877812

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Reviews

A thought-provoking, important contribution to the study of diplomacy in general, and to the role of the American ambassador specifically. -- Peter Van Buren, author of We Meant Well Ambassador Dennis Jett offers an unvarnished and insightful analysis of why people are selected for the coveted position of ambassador and how they are evaluated once they take office. -- Harry K. Thomas Jr., Director General of the Foreign Service (Ret.)

Author Information

Dennis C. Jett is a professor and founding faculty member at the School of International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University. A former career diplomat, he served twenty-eight years in the State Department in a wide range of positions including as ambassador to Peru and Mozambique and on the National Security Council. He is the author of four books: Why Peacekeeping Fails, Why American Foreign Policy Fails, American Ambassadors, and most recently, The Iran Nuclear Deal. Joe Barrett, an actor and Audie Award and Earphones Award-winning narrator, has appeared both on and off Broadway as well as in hundreds of radio and television commercials.

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