ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relevance of social sciences, humanities (SSH) and, particularly, Classics to careers in the British civil service, including His Majesty’s diplomatic service. The author, who spent 24 years as a civil servant and diplomat, four of them as British ambassador to Greece, and has published academic work in the fields of Classics and modern Greek, considers in general terms the role that SSH disciplines play in the career formation and training of civil servants, before focusing specifically on the importance of Classics for an understanding of the history of western diplomacy and as an essential (if varying) component of knowledge for effective performance in diplomatic postings across the Mediterranean. The chapter stresses the importance of historical, linguistic and cultural knowledge, drawing on examples from the author’s own career and postings.
