Inside a U.S. Embassy
How the Foreign Service Works for America

Edited by Shawn Dorman


The most informative book on the inner workings of U.S. embassies around the world.
• A must-read for anyone considering a Foreign Service career!
• A unique resource highly recommended for diplomacy and foreign affairs courses.

• A helpful guide for anyone who may come into contact with U.S. embassy personnel overseas.


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Universities that have adopted the book for a course:

  • American University, "Analysis of American Foreign Policy."


  • American University, Washington Semester Program, "Foreign Policy Seminar."


  • Dominican University of California, "Diplomacy."


  • The Elliott School of International Relations, George Washington University, "Running an Embassy."


  • Euro University, Tallinn, Estonia, "Practical Diplomacy."


  • Florida Gulf Coast University, "Introduction to International Studies."


  • Florida International University, "Topics in International Relations."


  • Foreign Service Institute, Department of State, "Ambassadorial Seminar."


  • Georgetown University, "Practicing Diplomacy Abroad" and "The Practice of Diplomacy" (School of Foreign Service graduate seminar).


  • John Jay School of Diplomacy and International Affairs, Euclid University Extension, "Foreign Service/Careers in International Affairs."

  • Kansas State University, "Professional Diplomacy and Foreign Policy."


  • Marine Corps War College, "National Security and Joint Warfare."


  • Moscow State Institute for International Relations, "U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy."


  • National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces, "Instruments of Foreign Policy" (recommended reading).


  • Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce,
    University of Kentucky,
    "Dynamics of Diplomacy" and "Diplomatic Core Skills."


  • Schiller International University, London, "Workshop in Diplomacy" (graduate course), and "Practical Diplomacy."


  • School of Global Studies, Arizona State University, "Diplomacy and Foreign Service."


  • St. John's University, "Honors 101: America's Engagement with the World."


  • U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, "Diplomacy."


  • University of Bridgeport, "Diplomacy and Foreign Policy."


  • University of California at Davis, "A Practicum in Diplomacy."


  • University of Delaware, "American Diplomacy: A Practitioner's View" and "American Foreign Policy: Commercialism vs. Idealism."


  • University of Illinois at Chicago, "International Affairs: A Diplomatic Perspective."


  • University of Maryland, "From Glass Boxes to Bunkers: Architecture, Power and Public Policy."


  • University of Minnesota, "U.S. Foreign Policy."


  • University of Oklahoma, "Tools of Statecraft" and "Diplomacy, Espionage and Political Action."


  • University of Pittsburgh, "The American Way of War."


  • University of Wisconsin, "Problems in American Foreign Policy."


  • Washington & Jefferson College, "U.S. Foreign Policy."


  • Western Carolina University, "U.S. Foreign Policy" (optional reading).


  • John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy & International Relations,
    Seton Hall University
    , "U.S. Foreign Service" (graduate course) and "A History of Diplomacy."


  • Winthrop University, "International Politics" (Honors).


  • Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs,
    Princeton University
    , "The Conduct of International Diplomacy."


"Inside a U.S. Embassy is required reading for the first week of my university seminar on practical diplomacy. My students are amazed at the variety and uniqueness of Foreign Service work described in the book's first-hand accounts. I wouldn't teach the course without it."

Ambassador Genta Hawkins Holmes, University of California at Davis

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