PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 2017 IN THEIR OWN WRITE THE AID-DEVELOPMENT CONUNDRUM OWNING LEADERSHIP FOREIGN SERVICE November 2017 Volume 94, No.9 Focus on Foreign Service Authors 27 In Their Own Write We are pleased to present this year’s roundup of books by Foreign Service members and their families. 42 Of Related Interest Here are recent books of interest to the foreign affairs community that 21 were not written by members Writing and the 24 of the Foreign Service. Foreign Service On the Writing Unique experiences are the stuff of Roller Coaster Foreign Service life—and compelling There’s no more everyday 52 literature. One former FSO describes boredom, but don’t expect writing Bibliography of USAID his journey to becoming a writer. to be easier than your old job. Authors–An Update By Peter Kujawinski By Charles Ray By John Pielemeier Feature 54 When Criticism Falls on Deaf Ears: The Case of U.S. Foreign Aid Although economists and practitioners have questioned the theory behind foreign assistance to underdeveloped countries for more than four decades, the aid industry is bigger and stronger than ever today. By Thomas Dichter THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2017 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives 85 Departments Reflections An Ambassador 10 7 Returns to China Letters President’s Views By Bea Camp Serving in Hardship Posts 13 Talking Points By Barbara Stephenson 70 In Memory 9 Letter from the Editor The Writing Life By Shawn Dorman Marketplace 19 80 Speaking Out Classifieds Owning Leadership 86 82 Real Estate By Michael Pelletier Local Lens London, United Kingdom 84 Index to Advertisers By Brittany McAnally AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 59 The Foreign Service: A Home Run for America 66 AFSA Congratulates JSP Graduates 60 AFSA On the Hill—Supporting 67 A Great Way to Support AFSA U.S. Policy Objectives 68 Book Notes: Career Diplomacy 61 State VP Voice—Doing Your Part: 69 AFSA Governing Board Meeting Notes The Post Rep’s Role 69 New Editorial Board Members Get to Work 62 FCS VP Voice—Working In Concert: FCS at Home and Overseas 62 Sinclaire Language Award Nominations 63 Retiree VP Voice—Threats to Your Retirement Benefits 63 Welcome to New Staff 64 Notes from Labor Management: USAID Performance Management System 64 AFSA-USAID Agreement on FSL Hiring 65 The Perils of Post Allowances 69 65 APHIS Framework Agreement Approved 66 Closing In on AFSA’s 50 States Outreach Goal On the Cover: Photo and design by Gemma Dvorak. 6 NOVEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Serving in Hardship Posts BY BARBARA STEPHENSON FSA is not advocating for the If I had forgotten about the vital That’s not the Foreign Service I know, withdrawal of all American importance of our presence, Represen- and it’s not the picture of the Foreign diplomats from Havana, I found tative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of Service that emerges from a cold, hard Amyself explaining to a journalist the House Foreign Affairs Committee, look at the data. recently, so no, I would not be providing reminded me in his opening remarks at Did you know that vacancy rates at a quote to that effect. Does that mean the Sept. 26 hearing on management of greater hardship posts are lower than at I think the health risks are not real, the the State Department. He recalled that non-differential posts? Yes, that’s right. journalist asked. Of course not. We need the American consulate in Kaduna in One beneficial result of months of dis- to do our best to understand what is hap- northern Nigeria had been closed in the cussions about HR’s proposal to funda- pening in Havana so we can do our best mid-1990s, leaving no Foreign Service mentally change eligibility for promotion to protect our diplomats. But there was eyes and ears on the ground. into the Senior Foreign Service is that we more to say. Then Boko Haram sprang up seem- now have detailed data on vacancy rates I reminded him that members of the ingly from nowhere as money poured at all posts. Foreign Service are deployed all over in, madrassas opened and boys wearing After management asserted that the world in environments that put bin Laden T-shirts walked out the doors. drastic changes—significantly shifting our health and our lives at risk—from “We have to have that presence on the responsibility for selecting the Senior exposure to the Zika virus and dengue ground to see these kinds of things com- FS from independent promotion panels fever, to the severe air pollution that ing,” Chairman Royce concluded, “and to HR—were needed to better address has caused adult-onset asthma in some it has to be our Foreign Service that’s staffing needs at greater hardship posts, of my friends, to the filthy water and engaged there.” AFSA asked for data so we could clearly general lack of sanitation that routinely We have to be present to see these identify the problem, develop a solution rips up our guts. I recalled that Foreign kinds of things coming—and to head and track progress. Service colleagues worked right through them off, I would add. An ounce of pre- The numbers surprised us, and I the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and vention, as we who belong to the most suspect they will surprise you. While were instrumental in containing it. cost-effective component of America’s non-differential posts have a vacancy I did not mention the memorial national security team know, is worth at rate of 8 percent, the vacancy rate at plaques AFSA maintains in the C Street least a pound of cure. posts with a 20 percent differential is 6 lobby, bearing the names of 248 of our To all the members who tell me that percent, and at 30 percent posts it’s 7 colleagues who have died overseas they are aware of the risks of their ser- percent. Write us at [email protected] for serving our country. But I thought about vice, but even more aware of the impor- full details. them, as I often tance of staying at their posts to achieve The next time someone alleges that do, and about the their mission, I take this opportunity to members of the Foreign Service don’t vital importance of salute you. step up for hardship service, shut that keeping the Amer- I salute you by committing to make a toxic, inaccurate, irresponsible narrative ican flag flying at concerted effort to kill, once and for all, down. AFSA is here to help you become our embassies and the toxic and false narrative that mem- an effective advocate for a strong Foreign consulates around bers of the Foreign Service spend their Service. Q the world. careers trying to dodge hardship service. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2017 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Associate Editor CONTACTS Gemma Dvorak: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Publications Coordinator (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance Dmitry Filipoff: fi[email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ad & Circulation Manager USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Art Director FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Editorial Board LABOR MANAGEMENT GOVERNING BOARD Eric Green, Chair General Counsel President James (Jim) Bever Sharon Papp: [email protected] Angela Bond Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure [email protected] Raeka Safai: [email protected] Lawrence Casselle Secretary Senior Staff Attorneys Shawn Kobb Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Neera Parikh: [email protected] Alexis Ludwig Treasurer Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] Suzanne McGuire Hon. Earl Anthony ‘Tony’ Wayne: Labor Management Counselor John G. Rendeiro Jr. [email protected] Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: Priyadarshi “Pri” Sen State Vice President Dinah Zeltser-Winant [email protected] Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] Grievance Counselor USAID Vice President Jason Snyder: [email protected] THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Ann Posner: [email protected] Senior Labor Management Advisor PROFESSIONALS FCS Vice President James Yorke: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Daniel Crocker: [email protected] Labor Management Advisor 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is FAS Vice President Patrick Bradley: [email protected] published monthly, with combined January-February Kimberly Svec Sawatzki: [email protected] and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Executive Assistant Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Retiree Vice President Jaya Duvvuri: [email protected] Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the John K. Naland: [email protected] USAID Staff Assistant writers and does not necessarily represent the views of State Representatives the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries Christine Rose: [email protected] and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Lawrence Casselle Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, Anne Coleman-Honn MEMBER SERVICES photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Josh Glazeroff Membership Representative All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Martin McDowell AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not Vacant in keeping with its standards and objectives. The appear- Tricia Wingerter Retiree Counselor ance of advertisements herein does not imply endorse- USAID Representative Todd Thurwachter: [email protected] ment of goods or services offered.