Abstract
Diplomats are civil servants who represent their governments abroad. By the nature of their work, diplomats work in multicultural environments. Working in intercultural settings can involve grey areas, paradoxes, and a wide range of emotions. This article analyzes how diplomats construct their professional identity, how they approach intercultural diversity and how they manage ambivalence. Qualitative interviews with senior diplomats as well as a review of literature from multiple disciplines indicate that it is vital for diplomats to be highly skilled in self-management; in building and maintaining relationships; and in operating in intercultural environments. We argue that it is essential to include these emotional, social, and cultural competences in diplomatic training so that diplomats may become effective bridge-builders. This will be particularly relevant for a diplomat whose country is currently involved in a conflict with another country, as well as for diplomats who work in the context of a political conflict.
Highlights
Diplomats play an important role in representing their countries abroad, forging relationships and working toward a peaceful world
We have explored the topic empirically through qualitative interviews with seven diplomats who (i) are from countries currently involved in unresolved conflict situations; and/or (ii) have worked in countries with on-going conflicts
Our goal is to identify the key competencies of effective leaders and transfer those competencies into diplomatic training and, for the future, to develop learning activities and tools that will reinforce those competencies in serving diplomats
Summary
Diplomats play an important role in representing their countries abroad, forging relationships and working toward a peaceful world. Diplomacy takes place across borders and involves contact with representatives of different backgrounds. Working in intercultural settings can involve grey areas, paradoxes, and a wide range of emotions; these maybe amplified by past or on-going conflict situations (see, for example, Barna, 2009, and Maalouf, 2002). We want to explore to what extent diplomats experience ambivalence in their work and how they cope with conflicting and unsettling emotions.. We are interested in understanding how a political conflict situation impacts the identity of diplomats and their behavior and performance. How do diplomats manage ambivalence at the intersection of their personal and professional identities? How does ambivalence inflicted by differing cultural contexts impact on a diplomat’s work and self-understanding? How do diplomats manage ambivalence at the intersection of their personal and professional identities? And how does ambivalence inflicted by differing cultural contexts impact on a diplomat’s work and self-understanding?
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