The Marshall Plan and 21st Century Diplomacy
and
The George C. Marshall Foundation
Washington, DC, November 1-2, 2007
The Marshall Plan and 21st Century Diplomacy conference brought students, scholars and practitioners together to explore today's global challenges from the perspective of one of the 20th Century's most successful foreign policy efforts. Can Marshall Era lessons in diplomacy be effective in today's complex geopolitical arena? Are diplomatic skills critical to the implementation of the Marshall Plan relevant in the 21st century? What does it take to be a successful diplomat, then and now?
The Department of State's U.S. Diplomacy Center and the George C. Marshall Foundation hosted a conference to examine these timely subjects at the Department of State's new George C. Marshall Conference Center in Washington, DC.
Day One: Thursday, November 1, 2007
12:30 p.m.: Registration
Check-in at the Department of State, Harry S Truman Building, 21st Street entrance
1:00 p.m.: Conference opening in the George C. Marshall Conference Center Auditorium
Welcoming Remarks
Stephen Estrada, Acting Director, U.S. Diplomacy Center, Department of StateKeynote speaker
So You Want To Be a Diplomat: Essential Ingredients of a Successful Diplomat. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Foreign Service Director General and Director of Human Resources, Department of State.Using the post-World War II Marshall Era as backdrop, Ambassador Thomas painted a picture of the successful diplomat, yesterday and today. He highlighted the knowledge, skills and assets the next generation of leaders and diplomats will need to meet the complex global challenges of tomorrow.
2:00 p.m.: Presentation
Dr. Marc Susser, Historian of the Department of State, compared and contrasted the international diplomatic scene in 1947 and 2007. He answered the questin, "How does nation-state diplomacy of the Marshall Era compare with today's diffuse political environment and how has diplomacy evolved since WWII?"
2:45 p.m.: Break
3:00 p.m.: Panel discussion
Panelists discussed knowledge, skills and practices that have made diplomats successful, both in the Marshall Era and today. Panelists discussed their own experiences and views on what makes diplomacy work yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Moderator
Melissa Ford, Public Affairs Officer, Department of StatePanelists
-Ambassador Alexandros Mallias, Greece’s Ambassador to the United States
-Ambassador Constance Morella, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
-Dr. Jacqueline McGlade, Chief Academic Officer, Penn State University, Shenango
-Stephanie Miley, Department of State Provisional Reconstruction Team Leader for Salah ad-Din Province, Iraq
-Capt. Gregory Amira, Department of Defense Economic Development and Agriculture Officer for the Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team, Iraq
5:00 p.m.: Conference recesses
5:15 p.m.: Reception
George C. Marshall Conference Center. Hosted by George C. Marshall Foundation
Introduction
Teresa Dean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of StateSpeaker
General Wesley B. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO, George C.Marshall Foundation
Day Two: Friday, November 2, 2007
(8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
8:15 a.m.: Registration
Check-in at the Department of State, Harry S Truman building, 21st Street entrance
9:00 a.m.: Session introduction
Welcoming Remarks
Stephen Estrada, Acting Director, U.S. Diplomacy Center, Department of StateKeynote speaker
So You Want To Be a Diplomat II: Essential Elements in Successful Diplomacy Case Study
Sherri Kraham, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Director, Development PolicyWorking in some of the most challenging areas on earth, successful diplomats require courage, cultural sensitivity, patience, and persistence. Sherri Kraham reflected on diplomats’ experiences advancing diplomacy on issues of global importance where U.S. interests are at stake, and why we should care.
10:00 a.m.: Workshops
Sessions were co-led by an historian and diplomat, allowing participants to have a unique opportunity to discuss, question, and learn how history and today's world converge from well known scholars and practicing diplomats.
Dynamic Diplomacy
The Marshall Plan was a successful experiment in political, economic and public diplomacy for the post war nations of Western Europe. Today, the world faces unprecedented challenges that transcend political borders such as terrorism, the environment and HIV/AIDS. Participants discussed how diplomacy has evolved to meet this new reality and how diplomats can draw lessons from the Marshall Era to confront today’s diplomatic challenges.Practitioner
John Winant, Office of the Coordinator of Reconstruction and Stabilization, Department of StateHistorian
Christopher Tudda, Office of the Historian, Department of StateFacilitator
Melissa Ford, Public Affairs Officer, Department of StatePublic Diplomacy: Advocating Support
A well-orchestrated public diplomacy campaign was crucial to advancing Marshall Plan objectives at home and abroad. Today, unparalleled advances in communications technology makes it impossible to control the source, creating an open ended global competition for hearts and minds. Participants discussed whether forms of communication effective for the Marshall Plan are still relevant and what the future holds for diplomacy in a highly connected world.Practitioner
Dr. Steven L. Livingston, Professor of Media and Public Affairs and International Affairs, George Washington UniversityHistorian
Dr. Amy Garrett, Office of the Historian, Department of StateFacilitator
Luke Forgerson, Public Liaison Office, Department of StateDiplomacy and Partnerships: Creating Teams to Work on Global Issues
Today broad coalitions of national governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector corporations are addressing 21st century challenges for diplomacy. Participants compared the role of business and other NGOs in rebuilding post-war Western Europe to their efforts today to address environment, health, and security.Practitioners
Dave Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, Department of StateStetson Tinkham, Director of International Affairs for the National Fishery Institute and the International Coalition of Fishery Associations
Historian
Dr. Peter Kraemer, Office of the Historian, Department of StateFacilitator
Robert B. James, George C. Marshall Foundation
Turkey: A Case History
Turkey's inclusion in the Marshall Plan carried a mixture of strategic, economic and cultural factors unique even among the Marshall Plan countries. This session examined Turkey’s importance as a Cold War and Middle East ally and considered whether Marshall-era experiences there provide a lesson for future diplomacy in developing nations.Practitioner
Andy Snow, recently returned from Economics Section, U.S. Embassy, Ankara, TurkeyHistorian
Dr. Jacqueline McGlade, Penn State University, Shenango, PAFacilitator
Priscilla Linn, D.Phil., U.S. Diplomacy Center, Department of State
Being Prepared: Simulation Exercise in Diplomacy
Participants tested their diplomatic skills and took on the role of diplomat while negotiating an agreement to stop genocide in Darfur. A subject area specialist and U.S. Diplomacy Center educator facilitated this experiential learning exercise. Students were exposed to the rigors of diplomacy faced by Marshall Era planners and by diplomats in crisis situations today. The U.S. Diplomacy Center presents regular simulation workshops giving students and teachers hands-on experience in diplomacy.Practitioner
Joan Mower, Sudan Programs Office, African Affairs Bureau, Department of StateFacilitator
Lauren Judith Krizner, U.S. Diplomacy Center, Department of State
11:15 a.m.: Break
11:30 a.m.: Repeat of workshop sessions
12:45 p.m.: Conference recess – turn in evaluations before departing
Representatives from the Bureau of Human Resources had a table set up during the conference to answer questions about Foreign and Civil Service careers at the Department of State.
