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Advice for a career in foreign policy / international relations
In our opinion, the best preparation for a career in foreign policy is a degree in classics. The British, throughout their impressive and vast empire, trained the school boys of the ruling class by having them meticulously read in Latin Caesar's Gallic War. The American founding fathers possessed the same wisdom and understood the need for a sound classical education for the leadership of a country. The timeless lessons presented in Thucydides, Caesar, Livy and Tacitus have provided exempla and inspiration for diplomats and foreign-policy advisors throughout the ages. Although times have changed, human nature has not. The basic examples of human interaction provided in these texts are still valid to this day. A great nation requires a class of classically minded advisors and experts.
We advice the following course:
1) Have at least 2 years of college Latin, preferably 4.
2) A degree in Classics, Ancient History, or Latin. And read foreign languages, which furnishes the mind with analytic ability. (See reading list.)
3) Major in history, but a serious program (not a "politically correct" one). If one takes this course of study, make certain to have at least 2 years, preferably 4, of college Latin.
4) Learn another modern language (e.g. French, German, Italian, etc. Try to avoid Spanish.)
5) Have a good sense of current events and trends by reading journals and magazines (e.g. read the Economist, Quarterly Review, Chronicles, TakiMag).
6) Understand the timeless patterns of history (e.g. by reading Tacitus, Caesar, etc.) See history reading list.
Recent books and articles on foreign policy and related topics:
Byron R. Roth: Perils of Diversity: Immigration and Human Nature
Steve Sailer: "Ethnic Nepotism and the Reality of Race"
Frank Salter: On Genetic Interests
Please contact us with questions: ec[at]optimates.us
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Book of the Week: Camp of the Saints