Forums » Smalltalk » AMA: Advisor in international politics

(Disclaimer: I will not be discussing politics or go into identifying details for obvious reasons - this is about working in the field, not what we think about the wheat growing there, haha)

Hi! If you are writing on something with political intrige, tensions, or perhaps a royal court drama, I might be able to assist with some input.

I work as an advisor in international politics. I have tried a bit of everything by now, ranging from being sent off to another country to work there for a bit, travel a lot for big meetings among countries, to sneakily extract information about what kind of tea a particular head of state prefers for their afternoon treat (and then judging their choice of cool mint).

The topics and technical work itself are probably not super interesting, but if you wonder about things like - how do big international meetings take place? What's the mood in the room when negotiations go south? Do people actually like each other? Or simply just tidbits about everyday life in this field of work, then I am happy to help 🤠

Without getting into the politics of it, could you tell us a bit about a high stakes "mission" in your field that has stuck with you?

There are several that jump to mind, but perhaps these two:

1. We had to close a major piece of legislation that took years of prep, weeks and weeks of meetings, and we thought it had failed at first, before we managed to rally enough critical mass to continue negotiations. By the time the final round of talks were starting, we were negotiating for more than 24 hours with no interruptions. People were dozing off on the floors mid-phonecall or e-mail. A major stakeholder had to be told to go sleep, because they were under so much pressure that they couldn't keep it together and were shouting at people. Everyone thought it would collapse several times during the night. People couldn't remember where they were or what day it was.

Then at last! One of the key decision-makers burst out from a room and announced that they had resolved a major issue, which had (due to various alliances) made it impossible to go ahead. A big group had been stuck in a tiny room for hours, so they were all just rushing out to get fresh air lol. People were called in at 4 o'clock in the morning. High-level phone calls all around. And then we finally closed the agreement. Everyone slept for 10 hours I think - but it was a major milestone achieved that day, so worth it.

2. On a less formidable note: We had closed a key deal, where papers had to be signed and exchanged, etc etc. It was super formal, cars were going around, etc. The involved stakeholders were adamant that All Procedures Must Be Done. Cut to several hours later: I get a panicked phone call from one delegation. They'd accidentally signed the paper on the wrong paper. Like, the actual type of paper. And they had to get those papers sent back home ASAP. There were simply no time for formal arrangements and it was during rush hour, so I offered the best I could do in that moment: Get the correct papers printed and signed by the right person, and then hop on a bike to deliver in person. They got it just as they were leaving.

In both cases, it was super interesting to see, sort of, "the human spirit" in all this. How much people can relate to one another on a personal level, how all protocols and diplomacy are thrown out the moment it is game on. We've also had specific tasks relating to helping other countries implement XYZ, and Im always touched by how willing people are to share what they know in order to make things better for strangers.

How does one get into this field?

Most people I meet have either studied some sort of political science, law or political economy, with various specialities - e.g. human rights, European politics, and so on. A lot comes down to luck, networking and internships in various places, and it also depend on the system in your country. Some countries have very specific requirements or steps. I will say that a lot of the work is also dependent on people with specialised degrees. I speak with a lot of engineers, and without technical input, we would just be making up at best pointless legislation or, at worst, policies that do more harm than good.

I realised quite late that a lot of my peers come from families with academic backgrounds, and I don't think you should underestimate the importance of that. This was not my case, but I was lucky to intern at a very well-connected place, which then played into me landing a full-time position in the field. Then worked my way from there.

Hey Julie! I trimmed it down to three questions. If any of them tread too close, no worries at all. Your work sounds fascinating, thank you for sharing a glimpse into it!

Have you noticed cultural or linguistic nuances that subtly redefine what agreement or compromise means across borders?

What does progress feel like up close? not in the headlines, but in the subtleties only those present would notice?

What is the most touching moment you’ve ever witnessed in a space designed for formality?

Thank you so much for asking 🥰

1. There are for certain as many approaches as there are countries. There are also different 'schools' of negotiation, if you will, and it also depends on how the system functions. I think sometimes 'my own' system is too cautious and too keen to over-analyse every snippet of intent, making it difficult to move things forward quickly. But when we do move, our partners know that we will deliver on what we say we want to do. So there are pros and cons to different approaches. Also, there are 'degrees' of agreement - it all comes down to linguistic nuances, but of course it matters if you write "aim to" or "will work towards" or "shall". I think - in general - there seem to be broad understanding of these implications.

2. Progress is sometimes repetition. Showing up, again and again. Big meetings can seem pointless sometimes, but I've been part of international work that started out as very low on the priority list for the decision-makers, and now is something that is super prioritised and has a lot of influence. And since we have kept showing up, the decision-makers get to know each other. It builds trust, trust creates honesty and openness, and that is extremely valuable when you want to collaborate on complex challenges - whether that is phasing out fossil fuels, make the right conditions for a particular industry, or you know, help a country in direct need..

3. I remember we once had a big event, where a lot of ministers were meeting to talk about creating new jobs in... regions affected by changes in the economy, etc etc. There was an old guy who stood up and shared his story about working on a shipyard that had to close down, and how scary that was - but then they converted the shipyard a few years later, he was reskilled, and got to work again. He was so proud of the work he did, both making a difference for the future but the shipyard had also again become the pride of the town.

On a smaller scale, I am always a little touched when I get to connect with colleagues from different countries over the most mundane things. The more you see them, the more you get to know their private life. Suddenly, you're sitting with a glass of wine in hand and a person you would never have met otherwise in a foreign country and laugh over your bosses or how you had a coughing fit mid-speech.

Is there any media you're familiar with that you feel could be considered a pretty good depiction of what you do (even if it's technically depicting something else, but you still think it's a good match to your experiences)?

Coming kind of late to this, but that's an insanely cool profession if not taxing. You must have some great mental fortitude!

Aaanyway, very very simple question but: in your opinion, what does popular media (movies, shows, cartoons, anime, etc) get the most wrong about politics in general?

Uff, good question! I've heard that Yes, Minister (though satire) sort of gives an idea of the structure around a cabinet. Also, I think series that shows the advisors behind the politician or high-level official (e.g. The Diplomat, West Wing, Designated Survivor, Red, White and Royal Blue - while reductive but certainly not off-base) are usually not super far off. You sort of follow your hierarchy anywhere like an annoying, little goblin at times and try to protect them 😅

Perhaps also any media on endurance and psychological pressure. Sometimes agreements are closed out of sheer persistence, not the most convincing argument lol

Aw, that is very kind of you to say! I think you sort of learn how to protect your sanity at times. It doesn't always work; I've been close to tears out of sheer frustration several times, but I try to remind myself that things tend to work out. I also had a long period where we were dealing with several big problems at ones, it was all over the news at all times, and it felt like it never stopped. It was the first thing I was confronted with, the last thing I saw before going to bed, and it sucked the energy out of me. I now have some habits where I limit my exposure to news outside of work, except for certain cases ofc, and that is out of sheer self preservation. Otherwise I can't sleep haha

So since I mentioned the TV show "The Diplomat" earlier, I will say that I was amused by how they portray the work in embassies. These people are not on speed dial with their country's leader, and they often know much less about what is happening in their home country than they want to admit, if you ask me. It can obvs depend a lot on procedures, but generally they are a little removed from the 'deep negotiations', if you will.

Other honourable mentions include 1) how long things take to implement, 2) underestimating HOW boring formal dinners can be, 3) how boring things can be in general, 4) that looking put together even after marathon negotiations is honestly a superhero skill, and 5) that people can say stuff that goes against your position, but you can still be friends with them in private. There is often a level of separation, because you often have to work with the same people for a long time.

Sorry that got long, but I hope it somehow covered the question. It certainly got me thinking 😂