It's a good list. It could be improved with better history choices and perspectives from outside the USA. I would add Richard Overy Causes of War, John Darwin After Tamerlane, Dr S Jaishankar The India Way, and something by Kishore Mahbubhanni. Oh and drop Kissinger.
Thank you - just graduated with my master's in international public policy but can't wait to dig into this list for some of the topics/concepts I missed taking classes in. Super valuable resource!
This should be a course syllabus for all diplomats and foreign affairs civil servants—beginning during Orientation but continuing in a required, structured program for the first several years of service, followed by required “CLE” for the remainder of our careers. I would love to work my way through all of these, but to do so I would have to find the time and energy on my own time—an impossible proposition. State Department needs to integrate this learning into our work and promotion requirements or even the strongest believers will never be able to do more than dream wistfully…
DH Fischer, “Historians Fallacies” (how to read critically);
Snedecor & Cochrane (how to use data);
Ruthenberg and Polly Hill on peasant farming (the little people do matter if not to the blob).
Robotic Bush flunkie Zoellick !!! LOL the guy was so pathetically desperate to get into the Romney administration that he advocated a return to the gold standard in 2010 in hopes of fending off an attack from the extreme right wing.
Prunier “Africa’s First World War” would be helpful today at State (if Mosquito hasn’t sacked everyone).
I think recent events have thrown this whole list into the dustbin. There is no longer a desire for trained foreign policy expertise in government, only political loyalty. Any real estate billionaire can manage complex diplomatic negotiations just as well as an FSO, and without conflicting loyalties to dead institutions and agendas. The best guide for how to be a successful diplomat today is to study the careers of Ribbentrop, Molotov, and Ciano and how they succeeded or failed at implenting autocrats' personal agendas.
If you believe that there’s nothing that differentiates an amateur from an expert, then you’re reading the wrong Substack. I think expertise in foreign policy necessarily leads a country toward stability and prosperity, unlike the State failure presided over by Ribbentrop et al.
I agree and disagree with you. As someone who has spent enough time with diplomats and experts, one thing is true for sure; it isn’t easy replacing them. Most things you see in the news, are the faces of politics. Yes, they do have a big influence in what policies come into force and what don’t; but not entire influence. Most of the work is done behind the scenes, in secret. You think there is no cooperation that happens between conflicting states? If so, think again! A simple act of getting Congo and M23 rebels on the negotiating tables, is a master win for diplomats and experts; a culmination of long nights and hard work!
But I do agree, the influence of the faces has grown considerably. Which is a thing to fear.
I enjoy Foreign Policy Magazine. Years ago I moderated a small group and (is it Great Decisions Magazine?) that we read and discussed. Also “Destined For War” by Graham Allison asks “Can America and China Escape Thucydides Trap?” I majored in political science and played RISK as a board game with my family growing up.
It's a good list. It could be improved with better history choices and perspectives from outside the USA. I would add Richard Overy Causes of War, John Darwin After Tamerlane, Dr S Jaishankar The India Way, and something by Kishore Mahbubhanni. Oh and drop Kissinger.
An incredible resource. Thank you for putting this together.
Thank you 👍
Thank you - just graduated with my master's in international public policy but can't wait to dig into this list for some of the topics/concepts I missed taking classes in. Super valuable resource!
This should be a course syllabus for all diplomats and foreign affairs civil servants—beginning during Orientation but continuing in a required, structured program for the first several years of service, followed by required “CLE” for the remainder of our careers. I would love to work my way through all of these, but to do so I would have to find the time and energy on my own time—an impossible proposition. State Department needs to integrate this learning into our work and promotion requirements or even the strongest believers will never be able to do more than dream wistfully…
Under Science and Evidence you missed:
DH Fischer, “Historians Fallacies” (how to read critically);
Snedecor & Cochrane (how to use data);
Ruthenberg and Polly Hill on peasant farming (the little people do matter if not to the blob).
Robotic Bush flunkie Zoellick !!! LOL the guy was so pathetically desperate to get into the Romney administration that he advocated a return to the gold standard in 2010 in hopes of fending off an attack from the extreme right wing.
Prunier “Africa’s First World War” would be helpful today at State (if Mosquito hasn’t sacked everyone).
I think recent events have thrown this whole list into the dustbin. There is no longer a desire for trained foreign policy expertise in government, only political loyalty. Any real estate billionaire can manage complex diplomatic negotiations just as well as an FSO, and without conflicting loyalties to dead institutions and agendas. The best guide for how to be a successful diplomat today is to study the careers of Ribbentrop, Molotov, and Ciano and how they succeeded or failed at implenting autocrats' personal agendas.
If you believe that there’s nothing that differentiates an amateur from an expert, then you’re reading the wrong Substack. I think expertise in foreign policy necessarily leads a country toward stability and prosperity, unlike the State failure presided over by Ribbentrop et al.
I agree and disagree with you. As someone who has spent enough time with diplomats and experts, one thing is true for sure; it isn’t easy replacing them. Most things you see in the news, are the faces of politics. Yes, they do have a big influence in what policies come into force and what don’t; but not entire influence. Most of the work is done behind the scenes, in secret. You think there is no cooperation that happens between conflicting states? If so, think again! A simple act of getting Congo and M23 rebels on the negotiating tables, is a master win for diplomats and experts; a culmination of long nights and hard work!
But I do agree, the influence of the faces has grown considerably. Which is a thing to fear.
Hence, we write this substack:
https://theglobalbriefbyorn.substack.com/p/18-sep-25
This is an open petition to have us included in the list. Unbiased non-sensationalised news is as important!
Here’s one of our editoins
https://theglobalbriefbyorn.substack.com/p/18-sep-25
I enjoy Foreign Policy Magazine. Years ago I moderated a small group and (is it Great Decisions Magazine?) that we read and discussed. Also “Destined For War” by Graham Allison asks “Can America and China Escape Thucydides Trap?” I majored in political science and played RISK as a board game with my family growing up.
Cool list! I noticed a lack of Thucydides, however.
I think I've read the one just above her head.
Thanks for sharing, but no Ian Bremmer on this list?