Foreword

This is a must-read book on the art of communication. Based on her decades of experience in the U.S. government, my good friend and associate, Dr. Lynn Sandra Kahn, presents practical, hands-on guidance explaining how it is possible for government agencies to talk to each other and achieve better results.

I retired from the Foreign Service in 1987 after 40 years as a Track I diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. I worked as a mediator and negotiator for assignments in Berlin, Frankfurt, Bonn, Paris, Ankara, Tehran, Karachi, Cairo, and Washington, D.C.

I was constantly frustrated over the unwillingness or inability of government agencies to talk to each other. This inability to communicate can cripple the best of intentions. Based on her many years of experience in trying to improve government, Dr. Kahn has developed ten key areas where her practical guidance, insights, and examples can help restore government’s effectiveness.

For the past 20 years, I have worked to promote and implement a systems approach to peacebuilding and to facilitate the transformation of deep-rooted social conflict. This systems approach to peacebuilding has nine tracks of diplomacy, expanding the traditional approach to consider more points of view. I have worked to develop a network of diplomats, national leaders, peacebuilders, conflict resolution interns, and other peacebuilding experts. Together, we have taken our multi-track approach to more than 15 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Three years ago, I was asked to apply this multi-track approach to develop an elective course at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., entitled “Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding.” This is the first time this course has been taught in the history of the U.S. military and it is becoming more popular each semester.

Dr. Kahn has been a fabulous lecturer in this course. She is the most practical systems thinker I know. Her contribution to the Colonels and senior civilian participants enrolled in this course has been absolutely critical to their understanding that interservice and interagency cooperation through communication is fundamental to building peace.

John W. McDonald
U.S. Ambassador
Chairman and CEO,
Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD)