I was one of the "lanyard class" from 1984 to 2015, eventually becoming an ambassador. This passage could have been written by me (perhaps not so well): "What I’m trying to say is that practitioners of US foreign policy have always been inadequately self-reflective about the project they’re promoting. And I include myself in that—I accepted narratives of our greatness and goodness even in the face of evidence to the contrary until I was able to get critical distance from Washington." I have been working to open the eyes of my former colleagues and also my students since I left the USG. The latter are more receptive than the former. Thank you for this thoughtful post.
Appreciate that. There needs to be some kind of union for concerned former government workers (name needs work)--there are many in our ranks but we tend to be quite isolated!
I think we are very isolated - in DC, where most of us remain after government, because of the prevailing Blob mentality, and outside DC because we are thin on the ground. I am way outside DC and feel that I am in a small minority of former FSOs who have seriously dispensed with American exceptionalism - though there are many who claim they have, almost all revert to reflexive hegemonic impulses. The organizations for former national security professionals (I hate that term, but it is the one that is used) with which I have been in contact - like Foreign Policy 4 America and The Steady State - are essentially as wedded to primacy as the USG itself. It would be great if there could be a union that brought together folks who have broken - or were at least considering a break - from hegemony and "leadership." As for those who will take the next step and embrace class-based ideas regarding who defines national interest, etc - I fear that we are very few in the ex-USG ranks.
Fine article, Van. I keep thinking about the coming-to-consciousness memoir I hope you are crafting at this very moment. Telling your own story would I'm sure strengthen your case. You have the command of language, the background, the experience, and the humility (all important!) to be able to do this. Do not keep us waiting.
I was one of the "lanyard class" from 1984 to 2015, eventually becoming an ambassador. This passage could have been written by me (perhaps not so well): "What I’m trying to say is that practitioners of US foreign policy have always been inadequately self-reflective about the project they’re promoting. And I include myself in that—I accepted narratives of our greatness and goodness even in the face of evidence to the contrary until I was able to get critical distance from Washington." I have been working to open the eyes of my former colleagues and also my students since I left the USG. The latter are more receptive than the former. Thank you for this thoughtful post.
Appreciate that. There needs to be some kind of union for concerned former government workers (name needs work)--there are many in our ranks but we tend to be quite isolated!
I think we are very isolated - in DC, where most of us remain after government, because of the prevailing Blob mentality, and outside DC because we are thin on the ground. I am way outside DC and feel that I am in a small minority of former FSOs who have seriously dispensed with American exceptionalism - though there are many who claim they have, almost all revert to reflexive hegemonic impulses. The organizations for former national security professionals (I hate that term, but it is the one that is used) with which I have been in contact - like Foreign Policy 4 America and The Steady State - are essentially as wedded to primacy as the USG itself. It would be great if there could be a union that brought together folks who have broken - or were at least considering a break - from hegemony and "leadership." As for those who will take the next step and embrace class-based ideas regarding who defines national interest, etc - I fear that we are very few in the ex-USG ranks.
Fine article, Van. I keep thinking about the coming-to-consciousness memoir I hope you are crafting at this very moment. Telling your own story would I'm sure strengthen your case. You have the command of language, the background, the experience, and the humility (all important!) to be able to do this. Do not keep us waiting.