Undiplomatic activities
Book • 2007
Richard Woolcott's Undiplomatic Activities offers reflections from a long diplomatic career, critiquing stereotypes of diplomats and describing the realities of modern foreign service work.
He challenges romanticised images of diplomats as idle elites, arguing instead that contemporary diplomacy is complex, practical and often demanding.
The book discusses Australia's place in the world, policy choices, and the institutional culture of DFAT, drawing on Woolcott's experience across postings and policy debates.
He provides both anecdotal and analytical perspectives on how diplomacy operates and how public understanding diverges from professional reality.
The work remains a noted contribution to Australian foreign policy literature and debates about the role of diplomacy.
He challenges romanticised images of diplomats as idle elites, arguing instead that contemporary diplomacy is complex, practical and often demanding.
The book discusses Australia's place in the world, policy choices, and the institutional culture of DFAT, drawing on Woolcott's experience across postings and policy debates.
He provides both anecdotal and analytical perspectives on how diplomacy operates and how public understanding diverges from professional reality.
The work remains a noted contribution to Australian foreign policy literature and debates about the role of diplomacy.
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Mentioned by Lachlan when quoting a former DFAT secretary about public misconceptions of diplomacy.
The diplomats — the ups and downs of life in Australia's foreign embassies
