DIPLOMACY
Meaning of Diplomacy
From Latin diploma, meaning an official document
Derived from the Greek δίπλωμα, meaning a folded paper/document
In the formal sense, the art and practice of conducting negotiations between
representatives of groups or states.
In an informal or social sense, diplomacy is the employment of tact to gain strategic
advantage or to find mutually acceptable solutions to a common challenge, one set
of tools being the phrasing of statements in a non-confrontational, or polite manner.
International Diplomacy
the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional
diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, trade, war, economics, culture,
environment and human rights.
International treaties are usually negotiated by diplomats prior to endorsement by
national politicians.
Diplomacy is an instrument of foreign policy. Foreign policy is orientated towards
settling goals, occasionally with mention to the strategies and tactics to be used.
Diplomacy is used to its accomplishment.
The purpose of diplomacy is to strengthen the State and to serve in its relations with
others.
One of the functions of diplomacy is to minimize frictions and conflicts with other
states through negotiations.
Three kinds of diplomacy
1. Bilateral diplomacy or diplomacy between two states (i.e. diplomatic representation
of the sending state in a receiving state)
2. Multilateral diplomacy which involves diplomacy regarding regional or global issues
and is used with a plurality of States through an international organization or at
international conferences
3. Ad hoc diplomacy which involves other forms of diplomacy than the two
aforementioned types of diplomacy.
For example one can think of special missions to which States resort in order to
entrust a diplomatic officer with the task to carry out one or many diplomatic
assignments in a foreign State even though this officer does not belong to a
diplomatic status.
Functions of Diplomacy
1. Representation and Negotiation
Representing a state’s interests and conducting negotiations or discussions
designed to identify common interests as well as areas of disagreement between the
parties, for the purpose of achieving the state’s goals and avoiding conflict.
Negotiations between two representatives are a key component in diplomacy,
because in doing so the representatives find a common interest. Finding a common
interest is vital in conducting negotiations because with a common interest
representatives are able to devise a solution that is in the interest of both sides.
Negotiation “can produce the advantages obtainable from the cooperative pursuit of
common interests; and it is only this activity that can prevent violence from being
employed to settle remaining arguments over conflicting ones” (Berridge ).
2. Gathering information and subsequent identification and evaluation of the receiving
state’s foreign policy goals.
Diplomatic posts are concerned with gathering information; however when the
information is sent back to their native country a Foreign Ministry analyzes the data
and determines what foreign policy should be enacted. Political leaders choose what
path is right for their country then.
3. Expansion of political, economic, and cultural ties between two countries.
For example, after WWII countries such as the United States and Britain aimed their
foreign policy at the extermination of communism. In present day, the United States
State Department engages international audiences to speak about politics, security,
and their values to help create an environment receptive to US national interests. In
addition, “the State Department annually sponsors more than 40,000 educational
and cultural exchanges” (Diplomacy).
4. Facilitating or enforcing vehicle for the observation of international law. It is the
diplomat’s job to promote the country’s national interests and keep ties with other
countries open.
Roles of a diplomat
http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/diplomacy101/people/170341.htm
(The case of the USA)
A public affairs officer addresses Libyan media.
(State Department image, U.S. Embassy Tripoli)
When U.S. diplomats negotiate a treaty, attend a state dinner, or arrange a visa for a
traveler to the United States, they all have the same mission—to represent the interests and
policies of the United States. Beyond that, diplomats’ roles and responsibilities are
immensely varied.
An ambassador is the President’s highest-ranking representative to a specific nation or
international organization abroad. An effective ambassador has to be a strong leader—a
good manager, a resilient negotiator, and a respected representative of the United States. A
key role of an ambassador is to coordinate the activities not only of the Foreign Service
Officers and staff serving under him, but also representatives of other U.S. agencies in the
country. At some overseas posts, personnel from as many as 27 federal agencies work in
concert with embassy staff.
Foreign Service Officers are professional, trained diplomats who represent American
interests abroad under the direction of the ambassador. All Foreign Service Officers listen to
and observe what is going on in the host country, analyze it, and report to the ambassador
and Washington. This makes U.S. policy more sensitive to the needs of other countries and
their people.
An embassy generally houses five types of Foreign Service Officers:
1. Economic (or "econ") Officers work with foreign governments to secure internet
freedom, fund scientific advances, protect the environment, or negotiate new trade
laws.
2. Management Officers are action-oriented “go-to” leaders responsible for all
embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission operations from real estate to people to
budget.
3. Political Officers keep the ambassador up-to-date on political events and changes
occurring in the country.
4. Public Diplomacy Officers build mutual understanding and support for state
policies by reaching directly to publics in foreign countries working with traditional
and social media; websites; educational, cultural and sports programs; and all
manner of people-to-people exchange."
5. Consular Officers’ primary job is assisting and protecting American citizens abroad.
If you lose your passport, find yourself in trouble with the law, or want to get married
to a foreigner overseas, you’ll need the help of this officer. Consular officers also
issue visas to non-U.S. citizens who wish to travel, work, study, or live in the United
States.
Assignment : Research on Ranks of Diplomatic agents and describe each
