Diplomacy, International Relations Watch Now: The Art of Gift-Giving in International Diplomacy

For most people, choosing a bad present for someone just ends in a lukewarm ‘thank you,' but in diplomacy, the stakes are much higher. For Ambassador Capricia Marshall, the wrong gift could set off an international crisis. As U.S. Chief of Protocol under President Barack Obama, where she worked to create the perfect environment for diplomatic negotiations, one of Ambassador Marshall’s responsibilities was choosing gifts for heads of state and national delegations – gifts that were meaningful, culturally appropriate, and sent the right message from the President.

Join Perry World House and the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics to learn how gift-giving shapes international diplomacy, and how the President of the United States chooses gifts for leaders around the world.