The Challenge of Working for Americans - by Bond Benton (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Internationalization is now a necessity for American organizations, leading to unprecedented cultural exchanges in multinational employers. Much has been written about Americans working abroad, but how do non-Americans feel about working for Americans? To answer this question, Bond Benton directly surveyed nearly 600 Foreign Service Nationals working for the US State Department. These State Department employees speak to the perceptions of non-Americans working in an overtly American environment. This unprecedented work offers insights that are enlightening, challenging, and occasionally shocking. Researchers, practitioners, students, and those interested in understanding America's place in the world can all consider what happens when those who are "exceptional" become those who are "the other.""--

Book Synopsis

The global focus of corporations, government institutions, and NGOs have led to a defining question of the era: How do foreigners feel about working for Americans? Through surveys with over 700 Foreign Service nationals working within the US State Department, Benton examines perceptions of non-Americans working in overtly American environments.

Review Quotes

"America's unique position comes with a plethora of well-known challenges to the conduct of its foreign policy. What is less well known is how much it relies on non-Americans working for the State Department. Benton delivers a timely, meticulously researched, well-written and compact analysis of this population. Even those familiar with the intricate mechanics of US foreign policy will be intrigued by the practical lessons that meet the needs of practitioners, students, and researchers." - Johannes Pollak, Webster University & Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna

About the Author

Bond Benton is Assistant Professor of Communication at SUNY Fredonia in Fredonia, New York, USA. His doctorate is from the University of Vienna, Austria, with his dissertation focusing on the influence of culture on organizational meaning. His essays and research articles have appeared in journals and anthologies including Studies in Communication Sciences, The Journal of Popular Culture, Argumentation and Advocacy, and Public Relations Strategies in Action: A Casebook.