Types of Diplomacy Positions and Their Importance to Improved International Relationships

In a world with a complex international environment, diplomats foster communication, collaboration, and peace between countries and government entities. They often travel to different nations and perform a variety of duties including connecting with global leaders, gathering information to make recommendations for foreign policies, resolving government conflicts, and representing their home country in the media.

Many different types of diplomacy positions exist for those interested in a career in this field. Norwich University’s online Master of Arts in Diplomacy program offers four key concentrations including Cyber Diplomacy, International Conflict Management, International Commerce, and International Terrorism. The degree prepares students to pursue a wide range of diplomacy careers that are vital for the improvement of international relationships. Here is a look at some of them.

Cyber Diplomacy

Cyberattacks and cyberespionage have become increasingly prevalent over the past decade. Cyber diplomats alleviate tensions that arise between countries due to cyber incidents that can affect trade, finance, political governance or intellectual property. Cyber diplomacy can help prevent the exploitation of potentially vulnerable relationships.

Because of its broad scope, cyber diplomacy has different career paths. The Cyber Diplomacy concentration offered by Norwich University’s online Master of Arts in Diplomacy gives students a thorough understanding of current issues and conflicts relating to the intersection of international relations and cyberspace to pursue different careers, such as those listed below:  

• Cyber Defense Analyst: Concentrating on computer systems and procedures, cyber defense analysts collect and measure information about an organization’s networks using cyber defense software such as Ping or Traceroute.  By studying this information, they analyze malware, detect and repair network vulnerabilities, and prevent cyberattacks.
• Information Technology Communications Specialist: In addition to maintaining, installing, and upgrading communications systems equipment, information technology communications specialists collect and analyze relevant data to ensure that communications platforms perform according to their designated functions. These tasks protect digital-electronic communications between governments from cyberattacks.

International Terrorism Diplomacy

Diplomacy careers concentrating on international terrorism examine and address state-sponsored terrorism challenges in an international context. Students who complete the International Terrorism track from Norwich gain the background to pursue roles related to the identification, analysis, and prevention of attacks from foreign intelligence groups. By proactively preventing international incidents involving foreign governments, diplomats of international terrorism can stop potential catastrophes that can result in the loss of human lives.

Typical diplomacy career paths in international terrorism include:

• Intelligence Advisor: Through the collection and dissemination of information about possible threats, intelligence advisors manage threat assessments.  They meet with military and government officials to ensure that threat information flows freely and is received by the right people at the right time.
• Counter-Terrorism Analyst: By assessing the plans, motivations, capabilities, and leadership of foreign terrorist groups, counter-terrorism analysts (CTAs) identify threats and provide notice of possible attacks. CTAs develop intelligence assessments for military officials, law enforcement officials, and U.S. policymakers.

International Commerce Diplomacy

This branch of diplomacy deals with the internal and external environmental conditions that impact global commerce, focusing on the socio-economic elements of international populations in numerous iterations such as the government, non-governmental organizations, the public, and the media. This role works to ensure that diplomacy extends beyond government agencies and focuses on the human element, helping to improve a country’s population. Students who complete the International Commerce track from Norwich may consider these jobs within this career path.

• Financial Management Officer: While managing the financial activities of overseas diplomatic and consular posts, financial management officers develop budgets and financial plans, ensuring that expenditure payments are proper, authorized, and current.
• Public Affairs Specialist: Serving as informational liaisons between government agencies and targeted population segments, these professional disseminate information including researched and prepared news releases, published articles, and photography. This position often is charged with providing the public with information about specific branches of the armed forces.

International Conflict Management

Diplomacy in International Conflict Management focuses on assessing and identifying the root causes of potential conflicts between countries or, on a smaller scale, conflicts between a public service organization and a community. Findings could impact diplomatic strategies designed to proactively prevent the escalation of potential conflicts. Those completing the International Conflict Management concentration from Norwich could pursue the following careers that play a key role in recognizing and minimizing the fallout from international tensions.

• Emergency Management Director: This role curates procedures for responses in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. The director would typically coordinate these plans with public safety officials and government agencies.

• Policy Advisor: This position analyzes and interprets key data concerning existing and proposed policies that can help defuse tensions that may manifest between two groups. This data can be the basis for recommending the development of new policy strategies or adjustments to current policies.

Launch a Career in Diplomacy

As the nation’s first private military college, Norwich University has a longstanding commitment to public service. Norwich University’s Master of Arts in Diplomacy program helps students become international problem-solvers in key sectors including public, private, nonprofit, and the military. Students can tailor the program according to four distinct diplomacy concentrations and career tracks, allowing them the opportunity to develop the skills and acumen to achieve professional success and promote diplomatic change in different career paths. Learn more about Norwich University’s online Master of Arts in Diplomacy program.

Recommended Reading
What is Public Diplomacy? A Look at a Growing Field
6 American Diplomats of the 21st Century
5 Essential Conflict Resolution Skills That U.S. Diplomats Need for International Relations

Sources
Master of Arts in Diplomacy, Norwich University
Cyber Diplomacy and Deterrence, Center for Strategic & International Studies
Diplomacy in Cyberspace, The Foreign Service Journal
Computer Systems Analysts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Average Information Technology (IT) Directory Salary, PayScale
Average Policy Advisor Salary, PayScale
Public Affairs Mass Communication Specialist (465), U.S. Army
Computer and Information Systems Managers, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Emergency Management Directors, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Computer Systems Analysts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Average Information Technology (IT) Director Salary, PayScale
5 Essential Conflict Resolution Skills That U.S. Diplomats Need for International Relations, Norwich University
Terrorism, Diplomacy, and State Communications, ICCT
NSA Career Fields, National Security Agency
Six Elements of Effective Economic/Commercial Diplomacy, American Foreign Service Association
Average Government Affairs Director Salary, PayScale
Average News Director Salary, PayScale
Average Director of Communication Salary, PayScale
Intelligence Research Specialist, U.S. Customs and Border Protection