HAZARDS OF DIPLOMATIC PROFESSION

1. HAZARDS OF DIPLOMATIC
PROFESSION

2. Introduction
Who is a Diplomacy?
• The established method of influencing the decisions and behavior of foreign governments and peoples through
dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence
Who is a diplomat?
• A diplomat is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or
the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or international organizations.
Functions of a diplomat
• Relationship building
• Reporting and Policy development
• Consular services
• Media and Publicity

3. EARLY DEATH
It is possible for a diplomat to lose his/her
life while carrying out their duties, and this
is particularly true in times of civil strife or
political unrest, such as war, insurgent
attacks, assassinations, and so on.
Russia’s ambassador to Turkey (Andrei
Karlov) was assassinated in 2016 at a photo
exhibit.

4. INHIBITED/REGIMENTED MOVEMENT
Diplomats movements are frequently
constrained to travel to where ever he / she
chooses. Life is controlled, his kind of friends
and where he travels becomes of concern to
both the sending and receiving states.
The host country is responsible for ensuring
the safety of the diplomatic personnel and
ensuring that the diplomat is kept secure

5. HIGH PROFILE TARGETS
Diplomats face a lot of threats to their lives even
if they are not killed, they are usually targeted
since they are considered of high value to their
home country
In 1969, An American Ambassador, Charles Burke
was kidnapped in Brazil
U.S diplomats were Kidnapped in Iran in 1979.

6. HEALTH HAZARD
An epidemic (a widespread occurrence of an
infectious disease in a community at a particular
time)might represent an extremely significant
health danger to a diplomat, even in nations with
well-equipped medical facilities, since physicians
may not be acquainted with illnesses that are
common in specific regions.
An example is the 2014-2015 outbreak of Ebola in
West African Countries; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra

7. HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS
With different regions in the world having extreme
temperatures and harsh weather conditions, we
have places like Canada with blistering winter cold
(−15 °C) and hot muggy summer (40°C), the
unfavorable weather that ambassadors in certain
nations are subjected to is one of the most
distressing aspects of serving abroad.
A variety of dangers, such as deserts, sandstorms,
earthquakes, land slides, volcanoes, and floods,
may be present in any country, regardless of climate
and this exposes the diplomat to danger.

8. RESTRICTED SOCIAL LIFE
Due to the limited amount of
time and security clearance
available to them, diplomats
often limit their social
interactions to those with other
members of the diplomatic corps.
This is because they have very
little opportunity to socialize
freely in a social setting.

9. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Diplomats must contend with a
significant amount of racial prejudice
and hostility in many of the nations
to which they are assigned.
In 2016, Yeah Samake, the Malian
ambassador to India, complained
about racial discrimination to himself
and other African dignitaries

10. ACCIDENTS
Due to the substantial travel that is required by
diplomats, they are at an increased risk of being
involved in various accidents (air or land).
In 1995, 3 American diplomats died in Bosnia in a
car crash on their way to Sarajevo
Enroute to a conference in Sao-Tome in 1980, the
Liberian Prime Minister and 17 others lost their
lives in an airplane tragedy

11. CONSISTENT RELOCATION/ STRAIN ON FAMILY
Not only do diplomats work and live abroad, they are commonly
required to relocate without much notice. Relocation often results
from career advancement, as diplomats who learn new languages and
develop new skills get promoted to opportunities in other offices.
Assignments normally last two to four years, but diplomats are
expected to quickly pack, move and adapt to new living arrangements.
This is especially difficult for those who have spouses and kids with
them.
Those who do not travel or move with their families also suffer
prolonged stay away from them and this could be emotionally draining
and cause family strains.

12. SUMMARY
Being a diplomat is a noble profession and the diplomat
plays a major role in the relationship between State
using both professional and people skills.
Steps can be taken to manage or mitigate the listed
threats above hence the positives far outweigh the
hazards.

13. References
• AFR (2000). Terrorism and Counterterrorism – Kidnapped. Available at
https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/O-W/Terrorism-and-Counterterrorism-
Kidnapped.html
• Boyer M. (2001). “Moving Targets: Understanding Diplomacy and Negotiation in a
Globalizing System.” International Studies Review 3, 1: 91–99.
• CNN (2016). Photographer recounts moment Russian envoy was assassinated.
Available online at https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/europe/ap-photographer-
russia-ambassador-killing/index.html
• Hart D. & Siniver A. (2020). The Meaning of Diplomacy. International Negotiation.
26. 10.1163/15718069-bja10003.
• New York Times (1995) . Available Online at
https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/20/world/3-us-diplomats-killed-in-bosnia.html