Best Diplomat

Working across successive French regimes, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand became a central figure in European diplomacy during the Napoleonic era and the decades that followed. His career extended through the July Monarchy. At the Congress of Vienna in 1814 and 1815, he represented France in negotiati...

Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian diplomat who helped shape European politics during the nineteenth century. Representing Austria, he played a leading role at the Congress of Vienna, where the European powers negotiated a new political settlement after Napoleon's defeat. His approach favored co...

Brazilian diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello spent much of his career in United Nations humanitarian and conflict-related work. He served as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and led the UN transitional administration in East Timor. These responsibilities involved both immediate assistan...

Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala serves as Director-General of the World Trade Organization, the first woman and first African to hold that office. Her background includes service as Nigeria's finance minister and a career at the World Bank. That experience connects domestic economic policy wi...

Ireland's first female president, Mary Robinson later served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. Her career connects national public office with international advocacy, especially attention to people whose rights and needs are often overlooked. At the UN, her resp...

As United Nations Secretary-General from 1953 until his death in 1961, Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjöld helped shape the organization's role in international crises. His work emphasized international cooperation and the practical development of peacekeeping. He played a central part in organizing t...

Hans-Dietrich Genscher was a German politician of the Free Democratic Party who served as federal interior minister and then, from 1974 to 1992, as foreign minister and vice-chancellor for most of that period. He held the foreign affairs post in governments led by both Social Democratic and Christia...

Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson has held senior positions across national diplomacy and the United Nations. His roles include President of the UN General Assembly and UN Deputy Secretary-General. Humanitarian work was another substantial part of his career: he served as the UN's first Under-Secretary-...

Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian diplomat and public health advocate recognized for her pioneering work in sustainability. She served as Director-General of the World Health Organization and briefly as Norway’s first female Prime Minister. Her leadership focused on global environmental concerns...

Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Al-Qaisi is a Jordanian diplomat with extensive experience in international law and human rights advocacy. He served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2016 to 2023. Notably, he previously held the position of President of the International Criminal Court bet...

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is a Jordanian diplomat who held significant roles within the United Nations system. He served as the UN Ambassador to Jordan and later as the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position he held with the United Nations from 2014 to 2018. His work focused on international hum...

Canadian jurist and diplomat Louise Arbour built much of her international career around accountability for serious human rights violations. As prosecutor for the international criminal tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, she led work on crimes committed during those conflicts. She later...

Mohamed ElBaradei is an Egyptian diplomat and international civil servant who served as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1997 to 2009. His tenure included nuclear inspections and diplomatic disputes involving Iraq, Iran, and other states. In 2005, ElBaradei and the IAE...

Gareth Evans was a prominent Australian diplomat specializing in Asia Pacific affairs. He notably led Australia’s involvement in the Cambodia peace process during the 1990s. His work significantly contributed to the development of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, a framework addressing mass a...

Zhou Enlai was a pivotal figure in 20th-century Chinese diplomacy. As the People’s Republic of China’s first Premier and Foreign Minister, he skillfully navigated complex international relations during the Cold War. His efforts were crucial in establishing diplomatic ties with numerous nations, most...

James Baker was a prominent American diplomat serving as Secretary of State during George H.W. Bush’s presidency from 1989 to 1992. He is particularly recognized for his instrumental role in coordinating international support leading up to and including the First Gulf War. Baker's expertise extended...

Navi Pillay was a South African jurist and diplomat who held the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014. Her extensive experience included prior work with the International Criminal Court. She is notable for advocating globally on human rights issues and repr...

S. Rajaratnam was a pivotal figure in Singapore’s early development. He served as the nation's first Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1980 shaping Singapore's international relations during the Cold War. Notably, he spearheaded the creation of ASEAN, solidifying Southeast Asia’s geopolitica...

Elihu Root was an American lawyer, statesman, and diplomat who served as United States secretary of war under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt and as secretary of state from 1905 to 1909. He promoted administrative reform, arbitration, and the development of international law, and...

Cordell Hull was an American politician and diplomat who served as United States secretary of state under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1944, the longest tenure in that office. A former member of both houses of Congress, he supported reciprocal trade agreements and international coope...

Pascal Lamy was a prominent French diplomat and international trade negotiator. He held the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2005 to 2013, leading efforts on global trade agreements during a period of significant economic shifts. His experience is relevant for...

Mark Malloch-Brown is a British diplomat with extensive experience in multilateral affairs. He notably served as United Nations Deputy Secretary-General during Kofi Annan’s tenure, leading the UNDP from 2006 to 2007. His career focuses on international development and global governance, primarily be...

Dean Acheson served as U.S. Secretary of State during the Truman administration, significantly influencing American foreign policy during the Cold War. His leadership was crucial in establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and formulating the strategy of containment. Acheson’s expertise s...

John Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, and private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln. He served as United States secretary of state from 1898 until his death in 1905 under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Hay issued the Open Door Notes, which advocated equal co...

Filippo Grandi is an Italian diplomat currently serving as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. His leadership has significantly expanded UNHCR’s global operations, particularly concerning refugee assistance and protection. He focuses on multilateral approaches to humanitarian crises and advocates...

Celso Amorim was a prominent Brazilian diplomat and former Foreign Minister from 2003 to 2010 during President Lula da Silva’s administration. He is recognized for significantly advancing Brazil's engagement in South-South cooperation through multilateral initiatives. His work fostered diplomatic re...

Frans Timmermans is a Dutch diplomat and politician who has played a central role in shaping European Union policy. He served as First Vice-President of the European Commission, spearheading initiatives like the Green Deal. His extensive experience within the European Parliament and his leadership o...

Fernando Henrique Cardoso is a Brazilian sociologist, academic, and politician who served as president of Brazil from 1995 to 2003. Before his presidency, he served as foreign minister and finance minister and was closely associated with the Real Plan, the stabilization program that introduced the r...

Theodor Meron is a distinguished diplomat and legal scholar with significant contributions to international human rights law. He previously served as President of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, overseeing prosecutions related to war crimes. His expertise lies in in...