Elizabeth Shackelford: The Collapse of American Diplomacy

Former Diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford knew US foreign policy and diplomacy could play a significant role in helping stabilize and establish South Sudan after independence in 2011. But what she saw during her experience serving there in 2013--the precarious rise and devastating fall of the world's newest country--exposes a foreign policy driven more by inertia than principles, to suit short-term political needs over long-term strategies. And according to Shackleford, this is not a new problem.

“She is the best among us. We should not be losing the best among us. And that should concern people...” Those were the words of a State Department official upon hearing of the resignation of rising star and award-winning diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford in 2017. Shackelford wrote a pointed, blistering resignation letter to her then-boss, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that would go viral. She had watched as the State Department was gutted, and now she urged him to stem the bleeding by showing leadership and commitment to his diplomats and the country. If he couldn't do that, she said, "I humbly recommend that you follow me out the door."

Join World Affairs for a discussion with Former Diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford about the devolution of American foreign policy and diplomacy.

SPEAKER
Elizabeth Shackelford
Former Diplomat, US Department of State

This event is in partnership with:
The Pacific Council on International Policy

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