Again Quote by Scott Anderson
“As a journalist, I try to avoid talking to American diplomats, because I am stunned again and again by just how little grasp they have of what people are really feeling in a country. Especially CIA guys. Maybe they're just really good at playing stupid, but I don't think so.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The New Yorker, “The Diplomatic Gap”, 2018
Journalists often find diplomats disconnected from everyday realities, especially in conflict zones.
In simple terms: Diplomats lack true feeling of local people.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic local voices.
Themes
journalism
diplomacy
empathy
miscommunication
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
essay
opinion piece
When to use this quote
- reporting on conflict
- policy analysis
- community interviews
- media criticism
Key Concepts
foreign policy
public perception
ground truth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can journalists bridge this gap?
- What mechanisms improve diplomatic empathy?
A Different Perspective
Diplomats may be constrained by secrecy or bureaucracy.
