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October 2022

The Foreign Service Journal covers foreign affairs from an insider’s perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service. Including the AFSA News section, The Journal is published monthly (January-February and July-August issues combined) by the American Foreign Service Association.

The October issue focuses on Ukraine.

We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.

FOCUS: PERSPECTIVES ON UKRAINE

Understanding Ukraine

Ukraine captured world attention when Russia invaded in February. Here, an FSJ Q&A with a former ambassador to Ukraine sheds light on this vexing international crisis.

BY WILLIAM B. TAYLOR

Did NATO Expansion Really Cause Putin’s Invasion?

A seasoned diplomat considers this question in light of his own experience.

BY KEN MOSKOWITZ

Should Ukraine Have Kept Nuclear Weapons?

The Russian invasion threw the Budapest Memorandum’s efficacy into question. Here are thoughts from a lead negotiator for that important arms control milestone.

BY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER

Ukraine Reconstruction: Priorities, Institutions, and the Private Sector

Though the war remains far from over, the scale and complexity of the Ukraine reconstruction effort require stakeholders to plan now, this commercial diplomat explains.

BY MICHAEL A. LALLY

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

FSO Selection: Changing the Path to the Oral Assessment

No longer a pass/fail gateway to the Foreign Service, written test scores will be considered with other factors evaluated by means of a complex algorithm at the Qualification Evaluation Panel stage.

BY DEIDI DELAHANTY

Language Testing Reforms: What You Need to Know

The first major changes to language testing in a half-century are underway. Here’s the story.

BY DAVID B. SAWYER

APPRECIATION

PERSPECTIVES

President’s Views

More Diplomacy, Now

BY ERIC RUBIN

Letter from the Editor

Ukraine in Context

BY SHAWN DORMAN

Speaking Out

WikiLeaks Damage Lives On: The Case of Marafa Hamidou Yaya

BY NIELS MARQUARDT

Off-Road with the Foreign Service

Visiting the Fergana Valley

BY JAMES TALALAY

Reflections

The Swedish Cannonball

BY JONATHAN B. RICKERT

Local Lens

Hoi An, Vietnam

BY CAROLE FENTON

DEPARTMENTS

AFSA NEWS

State VP Voice

Progress on Equity for Local FS Hires

BY TOM YAZDGERDI

USAID VP Voice

Promoting an Improved Process

BY JASON SINGER

Retiree VP Voice

The Remarkable History of the FS Grievance System

BY JOHN K. NALAND