Corruption in Diplomacy Isn't New. So Why Does It Feel Different?
The Trump administration is turning diplomacy for national gain into dealmaking for private profit.
Corruption in diplomacy is almost as old as diplomacy itself. Historically, it was discreet, limited in scope and often secret, because governments feared that public exposure would damage their reputation and credibility. As far as the United States is concerned, that’s no longer the case. It’s now happening in the open.
I’ve studied the practice of diplomacy for 25 years and written about plenty of nefarious dealings, along with much more professional and principled conduct. But I’ve never seen or heard of corruption in modern diplomacy as blatant as what has transpired in the past 15 months under the Trump administration.
The audacity of its chief international envoys soliciting massive amounts of money for their private businesses from the very governments with which they negotiate on behalf of the United States has stunned much of the world.
Mixing business and diplomacy is hardly new. What is new is the degree to which these corrupt practices are unfolding in public view, amplified by relentless media coverage and instant communication.
Rather than shame the administration, their brazenness and unprecedented public visibility are helping — perversely — to normalize them. Many foreign governments view them as facts of life under Trump to which they need to adapt, because the United States is still a superpower that’s not going away anytime soon.
Read more in my recent article in Newsweek.
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Nicholas Kralev is the founder and executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, and a former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent. His books include “Diplomatic Tradecraft,” “America’s Other Army” and “Diplomats in the Trenches.”
Very good. Thank you very much. I did read the Newsweek Publication.