The craft of political analysis for diplomats
By: Raymond F. Smith
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Adst-dacor diplomats and diplomacy series
Publisher: Potomac Books
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 159
ISBN-13: 9781597977296
Subjects: In-service training; Methodology; Diplomats; Political science; Diplomacy
Description: Author Raymond F. Smith combines a practitioner's personal view of what is required to do good diplomatic political analysis with his understanding of the social conflict and change that informed his work for the State Department. -- From publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Glossary of common State Department terms; title: What is political analysis and why is it a craft?; title: The objectives of diplomatic political analysis; title: The audience; title: The competition; title: The analyst's personal toolkit; title: The analytic tools; title: Criteria for superior reporting: the State Department view; title: Case study: the collapse of the Soviet Union (1): early embassy Moscow views; title: Case study: the collapse of the Soviet Union (2): coup against Gorbachev; title: The compass and the weather vane; title: Technological change, the risk of irrelevance, and the continuing need.