1. The U.S. Diplomacy Center – an office in the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S.
Department of State has launched a new interactive website to introduce the world
of diplomacy and the work of the Department to high school and college students.
Through the use of video clips, audio tracks, images and interactive components
the site, found at http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy, covers the basic
questions about diplomacy: who engages in it and where, as well as an exploration
of the range of international issues addressed through the diplomatic process.
The site opens the cyber-doors of the Department of State and is designed to reach
untapped audiences nationally; it is a primer for groups seeking to learn more
about diplomacy and the U.S. Department of State. Educators who teach American
History, Social Studies, Economics, Geography or International Relations will find
the site an important resource tool and learning instrument in the classroom. It will
also be useful to individuals planning visits to the Department for briefings or
tours, and to embassies and consulates throughout the world.
The homepage takes important questions such as “Who practices diplomacy?” and
then follows them with a series of images that challenge traditional notions of what
diplomats do or the fields they represent. In the Diplomacy 101 section, viewers
can explore how the work of the Department’s Foreign Service Officers affects
every person, every day, or how American Embassies around the world engage
with foreign nations. Users navigate a world map in The Explorer section to
investigate where U.S. diplomats work, what issues the Department addresses on a
daily basis, and who the Department serves. The website also provides educational
resources, a Diplomatic Dictionary, and a guide for interested students on how to
engage in diplomacy today.