Editing Diplomat (section)

== Career diplomats and political appointees ==
Though any person can be appointed by the State's national government to conduct said state's relations with other States or international organizations, a number of States maintain an institutionalized group of career diplomats—that is, public servants with a steady professional connection to the country's [[Foreign minister|foreign ministry]]. The term ''career diplomat'' is used worldwide<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentdiplomat.org/about-us/our-staff/paul-whiteway |title=Independent Diplomat: Paul Whiteway |access-date=2015-01-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121044208/http://www.independentdiplomat.org/about-us/our-staff/paul-whiteway |archive-date=2015-01-21 }}</ref><ref name="xinhuanet.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2014-11/25/c_133811052.htm|title=Career diplomat Aurescu becomes Romanian new FM |publisher=[[Xinhua]] |access-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822120941/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2014-11/25/c_133811052.htm|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/02/world/europe/john-f-tefft-a-career-diplomat-will-go-to-russia.html|title=John F. Tefft, a Career Diplomat, Will Go to Russia|first=Andrew|last=Siddons|date=1 August 2014|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kreolmagazine.com/arts-culture/people-of-note/carlos-dos-santos-the-career-diplomat-that-nurtured-foreign-affairs-in-mozambique/|title=Carlos dos santos The Career Diplomat That Nurtured Foreign Affairs in Mozambique|work=International Magazine Kreol|date=30 October 2014 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3939179.stm|title=Asia-Pacific – Princess trapped by palace guard |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8546108.stm|title=Lady Ashton takes flak in EU diplomatic battle |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> in opposition to ''political appointees'' (that is, people from any other professional backgrounds who may equally be designated by an official government to act as diplomats abroad).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/career-diplomats-worried-influx-political-appointees-state-department/story?id=26605856|title=Career Diplomats Worried About Influx of Political Appointees at State Department |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-brown/political-appointees-diplomats_b_4815869.html|title=Are Political Appointees the Only U.S. Diplomats Who Haven't Been to the Country to Which They Are Assigned?| work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=19 February 2014 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> While officially posted to an embassy or delegation in a foreign country or accredited to an international organization, both career diplomats and political appointees enjoy the same diplomatic immunities, as well as [[United Nations]] officials. [[Figurehead|Ceremonial heads of state]] commonly act as diplomats on behalf of their nation, usually following instructions from their head of Government.  Sasson Sofer argues that, "The ideal diplomat, by the nature of his mission, is destined to clash with the expedient needs of his country's politics."<ref>"The diplomat as a stranger." ''Diplomacy and Statecraft'' 8.3 (1997): 179–186.</ref>  On the other hand, professional politicians often ridicule diplomats. President [[John F. Kennedy]] often denigrated career diplomats as "weak and effeminate" and moved foreign policy decisions out of their hands.<ref>Ann E. Towns, "'Diplomacy is a feminine art': Feminised figurations of the diplomat." ''Review of International Studies'' 46.5 (2020): 573–593 [https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6841641FBBC87FAEDB7CA5AF28F045D8/S0260210520000315a.pdf/diplomacy-is-a-feminine-art-feminised-figurations-of-the-diplomat.pdf online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701111015/https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6841641FBBC87FAEDB7CA5AF28F045D8/S0260210520000315a.pdf/diplomacy-is-a-feminine-art-feminised-figurations-of-the-diplomat.pdf |date=2022-07-01 }}.</ref>