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International
Relations-PSC 201
VU
LESSON
10
DIPLOMACY
Definitions
of Diplomacy
Diplomacy
is the management of IR through negotiations or the
method by which these relations
are
adjusted
or managed. Diplomacy tries to
achieve the maximum objectives
(national interests) with
a
minimum
of costs in a system of politics
where war remains a
possibility.
There
are two major forms of diplomacy. The
simplest and the oldest is bilateral
diplomacy between two
states.
Bilateral diplomacy is still common with
many treaties between two
states, and it is a main
concern of
embassies.
The other form of diplomacy is
multilateral diplomacy involving many
states.
Formal
multilateral diplomacy is normally dated
to the Congress of Vienna in the nineteenth century.
Since
then,
multilateralism has grown in importance.
Today most trade treaties,
such as the World
Trade
Organization
(WTO), arms control
agreements, such as the Partial Test
Ban Treaty and the
Comprehensive
Test
Ban Treaty, and
environmental agreements, such as the
Koyoto Accord, are multilateral.
The United
Nations
(UN) is the most important
institution of multilateral
diplomacy.
Diplomacy
from a Historical
Perspective
The
ability to practice diplomacy is one of
the defining elements of a state,
and diplomacy has
been
practiced
since the first city states
were formed millennia ago
(around 5th BC). For the majority of
human
history
diplomats were sent only for
specific negotiations, and would
return immediately after their
mission
concluded.
Diplomats
were usually relatives of the
ruling family or of very high rank in
order to give them legitimacy
when
they sought to negotiate with the
other state. Envoys eventually became
negotiators rather than being
just
messengers. During the Middle
Ages (6th to 18th
century), the
scope of diplomacy did not grow
much
and
diplomats were mostly confined to maintaining
archives rather than negotiating
them.
In
the late middle ages, in Genoa, the
Duke of Milan established the
first foreign mission. But
this was still
diplomacy
of the court rather than that of the
people.
After
the American and French revolutions,
diplomacy became more democratic
and less aristocratic.
The
Congress
of Vienna (1815) laid down
procedures for diplomatic immunities
and defined
diplomatic
hierarchies.
How
Diplomacy Functions
Diplomacy
functions through a network of
foreign officers, embassies, consulates,
and special missions
operating
around the globe. Diplomacy is bilateral in
character but as a result of
growing international
and
regional
organizations, it is becoming
increasingly multilateral in
character.
Diplomacy
& Foreign Policy: What's the
Difference?
Diplomacy
is the method and process by
which foreign policy is
pursued but it is not a
policy onto itself.
Outcome
of diplomatic negotiations can effect
foreign policy
options.
Traditional
Versus Modern Diplomacy
Traditional
diplomacy assumed that major European
powers had special responsibility
for maintaining
world
peace and the colonies had
no more significant diplomatic role
than that of satellites.
Traditional
diplomacy
was professional but
secretive and relied on a limited
cadre rather than extended
diplomatic
channels.
Modern
diplomacy is more open and democratic; it
requires reciprocal bargains
and compromises so it is
not
possible for diplomats to spell
out a given stance in
advance.
Multilateralism
is increasingly evident in the practice
of modern diplomacy. It includes conference
or
summit
diplomacy, with behind the scenes
preparations by diplomatic
officials.
Relevant
Vocabulary
Globe: the
world
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International
Relations-PSC 201
VU
Cadre:
particular or
specific segment
Outcome:
result
Reciprocal:
mutual or
based on a give and take
arrangement:
Summit:
meeting involving heads of
state (Presidents or Prime
Ministers)
Suggested
Readings
Students
are advised to read the
following chapters to develop a better understanding
of the various
principals
highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter
4 in `"A Study of International
Relations" by Dr. Sultan
Khan.
Internet
Resources
In
addition to reading from the
textbook, please visit the
following web-pages for this
lecture, which
provide
useful and interesting
information:
Diplomacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy