@DanSpoko

Founder and CEO of @fp21org. I love foreign policy and I love science. Cal political science PhD candidate. Former US diplomat. Views my own.

 Washington, DC
Joined April 2012
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Want to guess what percent of US career diplomats have studied ANY foreign policy or international relations? I'd love to see whether studying IR or FP has any impact on one's promotion prospects at the @StateDept. 🤷‍♂️ (from a 2015 report from @AcadofDiplomacy)
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To be clear, whether FP/IR education improves one's promotion prospects is a different research question than the much more important question of whether studying IR or FP makes one a more effective diplomat. Original report here: academyofdiplomacy.org/past-…

American Diplomacy at Risk | American Academy of Diplomacy

A strong State Department, based on a strong Foreign Service and a strong Civil Service, is a critical component of America’s security.

academyofdiplomacy.org
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In today's #MustRead, @DanSpoko lays out four questions that the Commission to Reform and Modernize the State Department needs to consider to set itself on a successful path. Read more @just_security ⬇️justsecurity.org/103200/stat…

The State Department Reform Commission: A Once in A Generation Opportunity to Reform American...

Here are four questions the Commission to Reform and Modernize the State Department needs to consider to build something better.

justsecurity.org
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The Commission to Reform and Modernize the State Department has a historical opportunity to build something better. Former US diplomat @DanSpoko (@fp21org) poses four questions it needs to consider. justsecurity.org/103200/stat…

The State Department Reform Commission: A Once in A Generation Opportunity to Reform American...

Here are four questions the Commission to Reform and Modernize the State Department needs to consider to build something better.

justsecurity.org
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I have argued in the FSJ before that the State Department would benefit from an upgraded culture of decision-making, that diplomacy should be “more science and less art,” and I run a think tank dedicated to that mission.
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But just as it would be a mistake to ignore the promises of scientific advancements, it's also be dangerous to disregard the human qualities of diplomacy. I hope you enjoy my article: afsa.org/new-tools-better-fo…
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It is the gift (and burden) of all public servants to be afflicted by visions of a better world. To be dissatisfied with the status quo but also motivated toward improvement. Many of us believe we face an inflection point today.
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4. Interpersonal Skills. Foreign policy is ultimately about people. The foreign policy practitioner must be a skilled communicator, possess a deep sense of empathy, and appreciate the nuances of human emotions and motivations.
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2. Setting Goals. Foreign policy demands creative but pragmatic solutions. Yesterday's goals may not always suffice in a constantly evolving global landscape. One must constantly think outside of the box. This requires intellectual agility & the courage to challenge orthodoxy.
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3. Living Our Ethics. Foreign policy requires morality. This involves recognizing the human cost of decisions and striving for solutions that uphold core values even in the face of trade-offs. This requires moral clarity & empathy for the diverse stakeholders involved.
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1. Defining National Interests. This requires a deep understanding of our nation’s history, culture, and politics—including the priorities of the president and Congress. National interests emerge from a complex mosaic of security, economic, and normative priorities.
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Can the State Department integrate promising new technology without undermining the essential human aspects of diplomacy? I take on this question in my new article in the Foreign Service Journal.
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I (and my org, @fp21org ) are big advocates for culture change in diplomacy. Yet, in this article, I spell out four "essentially human tasks" of diplomacy that must not be ignored by advocates of reform: afsa.org/new-tools-better-fo…
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Wow, the @WhiteHouse is NOT messing around. (This is from a new report called "Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking")
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📣Big news📣 The U.S. Department of State is getting an FFRDC. This is an idea fp21 first proposed two years ago, and represents a step forward in our mission to make foreign policy "less art and more science." open.substack.com/pub/fp21/p…
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fp21 will be submitting a formal comment to help hone this proposal. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to strengthen this idea.
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Here's our original article proposing the FFRDC for State: xitter.cf/fp21org/status/1549101…
fp21@fp21org18 Jul 2022
It’s time for @StateDept to get serious about research for diplomacy. @DanSpoko and @alexandrablum6 propose a new foreign-policy focused Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). A short 🧵(1/5) fp21.org/publications/lets-g…

Let's Get Serious about Research for Diplomacy: A proposal for a foreign policy-focused FFRDC — fp21

The Department of State has a knowledge problem. Few diplomats have the time or training to conduct serious research, nor is any office dedicated to answering central questions like, “When does U.S....

fp21.org
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Dan Spokojny retweeted
Santi Ruiz
@rSanti973 Apr 2024
This month we talked with @DanSpoko, whose think tank, @fp21org, pushes for more rigorous citation of poli-sci sources in State Department memos, decisions, etc.
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Foreign Policy Expertise Requires a Culture of Evidence open.substack.com/pub/fp21/p…
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I wanted to say nice things about @rSanti97 but the bad blood just runs too deep. Never challenge another man’s framing!!
Santi Ruiz
@rSanti9727 Mar 2024
Replying to @rSanti97
In our most combative interview yet, I argue with @DanSpoko about: - Does State need more process? - Are political science and rocket science similar? - Do we need more political control of bureaucracies? - Is implicit bias research bunk?
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