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History Shock: When History Collides with Foreign Relations
For over twenty-five years John Dickson served the United States as a Foreign Service officer in North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. In History When History Collides with Foreign Relations Dickson offers valuable insights into the daily life of a Foreign Service officer and the work of representing the United States. Dickson organizes History Shock around a country-by-country series of lively personal experience vignettes followed by compelling historical analysis of the ways in which his inadequate understanding of the host country’s history, particularly its prior history with the United States, combined with his lack of knowledge of his own nation’s history lead to history where dramatically different interpretations of history blocked diplomatic understanding and cooperation.
John Dickson offers these “stories with a history” to highlight the interaction between history and foreign relations and to underscore the costs of not knowing the history of our partners and adversaries, much less our own. In both Mexico and Canada in particular our lack of knowledge and understanding of how our long history of military interventions continues to complicate our efforts at developing mutually beneficial relationships with our two closest neighbors. In Nigeria and South Africa, Dickson experienced firsthand how the history of racism in the United States plays out on a world stage and clouds our ability to effectively work with key African nations. Perhaps the starkest example of history shock, of two nations with deeply conflicted views of their own histories and their shared history, is another country near at hand, Cuba. Not all of the gaps are too wide for bridge building; in Peru, Dickson provides an example of how history can be deployed to mutual advantage.
The Foreign Service has long sought to improve its training, to provide some form of “playbook” or “operating manual” with systematic case studies for its officers. In History Shock Dickson provides not only a model for such case studies but also a unique contribution of an interpretive framework for how to remedy this deficit, including recommendations for strengthening historical literacy in the Foreign Service.
John Dickson offers these “stories with a history” to highlight the interaction between history and foreign relations and to underscore the costs of not knowing the history of our partners and adversaries, much less our own. In both Mexico and Canada in particular our lack of knowledge and understanding of how our long history of military interventions continues to complicate our efforts at developing mutually beneficial relationships with our two closest neighbors. In Nigeria and South Africa, Dickson experienced firsthand how the history of racism in the United States plays out on a world stage and clouds our ability to effectively work with key African nations. Perhaps the starkest example of history shock, of two nations with deeply conflicted views of their own histories and their shared history, is another country near at hand, Cuba. Not all of the gaps are too wide for bridge building; in Peru, Dickson provides an example of how history can be deployed to mutual advantage.
The Foreign Service has long sought to improve its training, to provide some form of “playbook” or “operating manual” with systematic case studies for its officers. In History Shock Dickson provides not only a model for such case studies but also a unique contribution of an interpretive framework for how to remedy this deficit, including recommendations for strengthening historical literacy in the Foreign Service.
- GenresHistory
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2021
27 people want to read
About the author
John Dickson
96 books134 followersJohn focuses on the big ideas that have shaped our world.
His journey is an eclectic one. Starting out as a singer-songwriter, he now works as a writer, speaker, historian of religion (focusing on early Christianity and Judaism), media presenter, Anglican minister, and director of a multi-media think tank.
With an honours degree in theology from Moore Theological College Sydney, and a PhD in history from Macquarie University, John is also an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Ancient History (Macquarie), and teaches a course on the Historical Jesus at the University of Sydney (Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies) .
John is a founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity(CPX), an independent research and media company promoting informed discussion about social, ethical and religious issues in modern life.
His book “The Christ Files: How Historians Know what they Know about Jesus” was made into a four-part documentary which aired nationally on Channel 7 in 2008. Now a best-selling DVD, it also won the 2008 Pilgrim Media award (see www.thechristfiles.com.au). His more recent Life of Jesus also aired on Channel 7 in 2009 (see www.lifeofjesus.tv).
His journey is an eclectic one. Starting out as a singer-songwriter, he now works as a writer, speaker, historian of religion (focusing on early Christianity and Judaism), media presenter, Anglican minister, and director of a multi-media think tank.
With an honours degree in theology from Moore Theological College Sydney, and a PhD in history from Macquarie University, John is also an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Ancient History (Macquarie), and teaches a course on the Historical Jesus at the University of Sydney (Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies) .
John is a founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity(CPX), an independent research and media company promoting informed discussion about social, ethical and religious issues in modern life.
His book “The Christ Files: How Historians Know what they Know about Jesus” was made into a four-part documentary which aired nationally on Channel 7 in 2008. Now a best-selling DVD, it also won the 2008 Pilgrim Media award (see www.thechristfiles.com.au). His more recent Life of Jesus also aired on Channel 7 in 2009 (see www.lifeofjesus.tv).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 1, 2022
Dickson served in the State Department for decades. This is his story of living abroad and experiencing the other sides of US history that isn't taught or remembered at home, and is still remembered, judged and lived around the world.
Why I started this book: I love history, living abroad and international relations.
Why I finished it: Heavy with Dickson's experiences, he acknowledges that we all have holes in our knowledge and generally the holes are parts of our history that are less honorable, even the greedy, venal and power hungry.
Why I started this book: I love history, living abroad and international relations.
Why I finished it: Heavy with Dickson's experiences, he acknowledges that we all have holes in our knowledge and generally the holes are parts of our history that are less honorable, even the greedy, venal and power hungry.
April 10, 2024
Ok highly recommend. Probably the best book I’ve had to read for class so far. Understanding the history of US relations with other countries is so important. And this is an easy, interesting read.
December 18, 2022
Mr. Dickson served in the US Foreign Service in several difficult countries over his tenure of some twenty-six years. As a result, he has a fascinating perspective. In a nutshell, his view is that America is shortsighted and does not sufficiently understand the culture and attitudes in the countries where it has embassies and consulates. I hasten to admit he is correct. The author cites various examples to prove his point of view.
The author served in Canada, Mexico, Peru, and other countries. He learned quickly that the foreign countries where he served often had a very different view of their shared history with America -- often to our detriment. And he is right. Americans usually have different viewpoints on past conflicts. America usually doesn't remember the animosity engineered by past altercations. However, the author promises that other countries remember those conflicts as if they happened yesterday. It is something that a foreign service professional must be constantly aware of -- or be pulled up short by the other country.
I saw this as a strong incentive for our State Department to thoroughly train operatives in the history, culture, and past conflicts before sending officers to a new assignment. Instead, from how the author spoke, the recent charges were just dropped on the officer, with little training or understanding of the country where he is now posted.
As long as the author talked about his assignments and what he learned, this was engaging reading. However, the author couldn't keep his politics out of the tale, which ruined the book for me. There are ways of mentioning events without indicating personal political preferences, which this author didn't do.
The author served in Canada, Mexico, Peru, and other countries. He learned quickly that the foreign countries where he served often had a very different view of their shared history with America -- often to our detriment. And he is right. Americans usually have different viewpoints on past conflicts. America usually doesn't remember the animosity engineered by past altercations. However, the author promises that other countries remember those conflicts as if they happened yesterday. It is something that a foreign service professional must be constantly aware of -- or be pulled up short by the other country.
I saw this as a strong incentive for our State Department to thoroughly train operatives in the history, culture, and past conflicts before sending officers to a new assignment. Instead, from how the author spoke, the recent charges were just dropped on the officer, with little training or understanding of the country where he is now posted.
As long as the author talked about his assignments and what he learned, this was engaging reading. However, the author couldn't keep his politics out of the tale, which ruined the book for me. There are ways of mentioning events without indicating personal political preferences, which this author didn't do.
November 23, 2025
A book of anecdotes from the author's experience in the Foreign Service and experiencing "history shock" - akin to culture shock. The anecdotes show how issues arise when histories conflict, one side totally ignores history, or when different histories are misunderstood. It is a fun book to read and a good window into life in the Foreign Service, but there is nothing really new or profound.
February 8, 2022
Not my usual genre but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written work relating the author’s personal experiences as a Foreign Service Officer with historic perspectives of the various countries in which he served. Would highly recommend.
April 2, 2025
Strikes a good balance between personal narratives and analysis. I found the chapter on Haiti to be really interesting.
November 20, 2025
One of my top 3 reads for class. The break up by countries made this a faster read which I appreciated
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews