Diplomacy is usually described through the glamorous and visible part of the job. Who would not want to be a diplomat, drink champagne every few days, travel the world and eventually speak many languages? Retired diplomat Sir Michael Burton started his diplomatic service encouraged by his father when the Cold War was boiling hot. Covering a career of almost 40 years - 37 to be more precise - he was a direct witness or got directly involved in a variety of international political events: the raise of the Gulf kingdoms, different episodes of the Cold War, the end of the Cold War and the Fall of Berlin Wall.
From Berlin to Paris or the Gulf, there are different perspectives and standpoints shared which may be useful to diplomats in the making as well as people curious about how diplomacy really works. The style is very friendly and does not require advanced diplomatic knowledge. Although Sir Michael Vurton introduces a a general diplomatic overview, the facts are introduced through the exclusive British lenses. Therefore, On Her Majesty´s Diplomatic Service provides a long-term overview of the London´s approach, during and after the end of the Cold War.
Definitely, diplomacy rarely looks so glamorous as the outsiders may represent it. However, it is a profession that needs dedication and talent, despite the bureaucratic overload and the challenging burnout.
The memoir by Sir Michael Burton is a contribution to translating diplomacy in a everyday language. It also shares an important slice of European and British history that may raise the standards high for the next generation of diplomats.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
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