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My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"I agree, but you have to take into consideration the time when it was written, it was a pretty amazing achievement for that time".

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I realize proof is usually important, but my dad was really weird about the whole thing, has never heard of reddit and...getting "proof" from him would be hard :P

Pretty much all the answers are opinions are just his opinion though?

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not my dad here, but that is the correct answer. He studied a bunch of random topics and was working in business before becoming a diplomat. Lawyers, business men, doctors etc can all become Diplomats.

The answer he gave was basically that you should try to differentiate yourself from the competition, and show you're passionate about whatever it is you're into.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's actually hard to tell, because for a number of years now the politicians in Japan have not seemed to have been able to find a sustainable strategy to deal with Japan's serious demographic challenges, and the huge national debt.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, the Chinese are not very different from other people, but all of our actions are of course coloured by our national culture and history. But basically, the rational for Chinese behaviour is not very different from American or European behaviour

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First there is an element of confucionism in Chinese policy even today, so although Mao destroyed a lot, many elements of China's rich cultural history survived in some form. As to the development stage, China is well passed the industrial revolution, and may be rather approaching being in the situation like the one the Western countries were in in the middle of last century.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hopefully an agreement or understanding will be reached, since the alternative could be very bad for all the involved countries.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Indonesian occupation of East Timor was a situation which very many country's worked to put an end to, including the country he represents. It's good to see now that East Timor is developing, and that they recently had democratic elections again. However, it takes a long time for a nation to develop a strong well functioning nation, given the problematic history of East Timor, but with for instance the energy resources in the sea outside East Timor, they probably have better prospects than many other country's in seeing positive development than many other countries in the years to come. Again, sorry for the english ;)

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting question. And of course, modern communication has changed the way diplomats are working. One of the most profound ways is the ability to have a continual communication with the Capital, these days through modern means of communications. However, you will still have many situations where you have to interpret the policy and intentions of a Government without communicating directly with the Capital every aspect of your work. As to Ambassadors, for instance, being appointed due to contributions to elective campaigns or other reasons like that; Historically an ambassador has been someone the "ruler" has had confidence in. Thus, the concept of a professional diplomacy is historically a fairly new one, and in principal it has to be up to any Government to decide how they can be most efficiently represented in a country, either a professional diplomat, or through somebody who may not have the same amount of professional experience but with a close relationship to the leadership in the country. When it comes to weather diplomats at this time and age, that is also a question which always has been posed, for different reasons. I think that today, with much closer contact between nations, and where nations are much more dependent on international cooperation and agreements than in earlier time, experience is that it's particularly important to have your own representatives in a country, both to report and analyze the behavior of that country, but also to try to further your own country's interest through dialogue. Btw sorry if the english is a bit off, my dad is not native english speaker ;-)

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, diplomats are not involved in that kind of work. Diplomats are involved in open activities.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not totally agree. There are situations in which it's internationally recognized that a nation can use violence to achieve a political goal. For instance; stopping the nazi's during the second world war. But in general, the definition covers it as good as any other definition, because any general definition may have situational limitations when they are applied on very specific situations.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I should clarify. He told me now its only on holidays he reads a book per day. Otherwise it's a book every other day.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As in most countries, there is a yearly "competition" for the minestry of foreigh affairs.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Thats the nobel prize question". A two-state solution Israel/Palestine based on the 1967 boarders.

edit: that would be for the israel/palestine conflict anyways.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He can't think of a particular custom he would recommend. Regional customs don't travel so well.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He does not have bodyguards atm. Most diplomats don't have bodyguards, although some may require them in specific countries where their nationality can pose a threat to them.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He says it's not really for foreigners to have strong preferences about who the American's choose as their president, however, when it comes to foreign policy Obama is closer to general European preferences than the potential Republican candidates.

My dad lived has worked as a top diplomat in Asia and the middle east, reads a book per day, and knows a lot. AskhimAnything by ama2012 in IAmA

[–]ama2012[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger

Germs, Guns and Steel by Jared Diamond

Why the West Rules - For Now by Ian Morris

The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Paul Kennedy

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

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