Heine Publishes Article on the Future of Diplomats
Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, had an article published in Volume 15, No 4, of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, the world’s leading research journal for the study of diplomacy.
The article, titled “Still Head Waiters Who Are Occasionally Allowed to Sit? Heads of Mission after COVID-19,” Heine questions whether the COVID-19 pandemic, with its cutting back on travel and (most likely) the budgets of ministries of foreign affairs, and the blistering attacks of populists on diplomats will lead to their further marginalization. He cites that diplomats have been sidelined in recent years as nationalist and populist leaders have arisen around the world. However, in looking at the newly emerging role of Chinese ambassadors, Heine argues that the role of the ambassador could be on the rise. As he explains, China been empowering Ambassadors, putting them front and center in its foreign policy projection rather than relegating them to a background or “punching bag” roll, giving them more power in dealing with other countries.
The full article can be accessed on the Hague Journal of Diplomacy website.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007) and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more on him here.