NEWS & EVENTS

Machiavelli: On How to Be a Good Diplomat with Reference to Japan

On October 31st, 2021, Amb. David Shear, current Senior Advisor to the Reischauer Center, former Ambassador to Vietnam, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, presented at the Reischauer Center.

He presented a Machiavellian interpretation of the role that diplomats and diplomatic cables play in foreign policy. The presentation utilized a 1991 diplomatic cable from Ambassador Armacost as a model for the overarching discussion. Amb. Shear used the content of the cable to demonstrate the duties of a diplomat in reporting and analyzing developments, recommending actions to promote the national interest, and utilizing their contacts to obtain information in pursuit of those goals. Moreover, he discussed the importance of a diplomat’s reputation and network of contacts in performing their duties while highlighting the significance of two-way information sharing. He also assessed the role of these factors in creating moments of opportunity to advance the home country’s objectives within the region.