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Exotic dangers, from dengue fever to hell-bent truck drivers, have always been a part of the landscape for Americans who choose to work abroad. Then came 9/11 and with it heightened anxiety about Americans as terrorist targets. And then there was 3/11, the day bombers took 190 lives and injured more than 1,000 in Spain. Two years later, on July 7, 2005, bombs detonated on three commuter trains and one bus in London, killing 52 people.
But these ugly developments haven't drastically reshaped the American expatriate scene. “If you're afraid to send someone to Madrid, what's next?" asks Richard Jacobson, a partner in the international practice group at Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa, Florida.
Ronald Krannich, coauthor of Jobs for Travel Lovers, notes that some destinations have always been dangerous. “There have always been kidnappings, especially in Latin America." Yet, Americans still go there to work, whether they buy coffee beans or drill for natural gas.
And Daniel Lauber, author of International Job Finder, says that even now, "the likelihood of being hurt in a terrorist attack is still far less than being in a car accident."
Still, risk varies widely from country to country, so it pays to stay informed. Keep in mind that risk assessments such as those provided by the US State Department are not necessarily immune to political bias; dangers in the homelands of allies may not receive as much attention as perils in adversary states.
Here's how things look for US expatriates.
Middle East
Some of the most dangerous places in the world are Iraq, Iran and Israel, says Lauber. Escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians has made many Americans -- tourists and expatriate workers alike -- avoid this region.
Employee compounds, common for expatriates working in some Middle Eastern countries, are a double-edged sword. "Just because you're in a compound -- maybe you're safer or maybe you're a better target," says Jacobson. Indeed, foreigners have been killed in suicide bombings of housing compounds in Saudi Arabia.
Africa
The nations of Africa can be attractive to very adventurous types who are willing to try doing business in a beautiful and exotic land where many governments are deeply corrupt and some borders are guarded by highway robbers in official dress.
Terrorists may also be shifting their sights toward soft targets where Westerners gather: hotels, shopping malls and so on. The State department classifies quite a few other African nations as dangerous for foreigners.
Asia
Political and civil unrest in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and East Timor make them risky destinations for Americans. Some also consider the Philippines to be unsafe because of suspected terrorist activity in parts of the country.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and some other Central Asian countries are widely considered too dangerous for Americans.
Resources for Expatriate Wannabes
Travel Warnings
Jobs
