Simone Lawson
Diplomacy is the art of conducting negotiations between nations, influencing the decisions and behaviours of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. Diplomacy is often confused with foreign policy, but the terms are not synonymous. Diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy, which is set by political leaders, though diplomats (alongside military and intelligence officers) may advise them. Diplomacy is closely linked to espionage or the gathering of intelligence, and embassies are bases for both diplomats and spies. The word 'diplomacy' is derived from the 18th-century French term 'diplomate', based on the ancient Greek 'diplo', meaning 'folded in two', and the suffix '-ma', meaning 'an object'. This reflected the practice of sovereigns providing a folded document to confer some official privilege.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Established method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples | Dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence |
| Chief instrument of foreign policy | International dialogue and negotiation, primarily conducted by accredited envoys |
| Substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft | Peaceful adjustment of differences between states |
| Facilitates the development of friendly relations among nations | Protection for diplomats and their families from any form of arrest or detention |
| Aids in building international strategies integrating both values and interests | Confidentiality |
| Enables access to everyday items like tea, TV broadcasts, and vacation destinations | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force
Diplomacy is a means of influencing the decisions and behaviours of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. It is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. While it may be coercive, diplomacy is overtly nonviolent and its primary tools are international dialogue and negotiation. Diplomacy is the chief, but not the only, instrument of foreign policy. Foreign policy, set by political leaders, establishes goals, prescribes strategies, and sets the broad tactics to be used in their accomplishment. It may employ secret agents, subversion, war, or other forms of violence as well as diplomacy to achieve its objectives.
Diplomacy, on the other hand, is strongly inclined towards negotiation to achieve agreements and resolve issues between states. It is how comprehensive national power is applied to the peaceful adjustment of differences between states. The purpose of diplomacy is to strengthen the state, nation, or organization it serves in relation to others by advancing the interests in its charge. To this end, diplomatic activity endeavours to maximize a group’s advantages without the risk and expense of using force and preferably without causing resentment. Even in times of peace, diplomacy may involve coercive threats of economic or other punitive measures or demonstrations of the capability to impose unilateral solutions to disputes by the application of military power.
Diplomacy is often confused with foreign policy, but the terms are not synonymous. While foreign policy generally is enunciated publicly, most diplomacy is conducted in confidence, though both the fact that it is in progress and its results are almost always made public in contemporary international relations. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) is a key example of diplomacy in action, facilitating the development of friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems. It has become fundamental to the conduct of foreign relations, and ensures that diplomats can work without threats of influence by the host government.
The word diplomacy originally came from the ancient Greek term "δίπλωμα" (a paper folded double, a licence, a chart), referring to a document allowing someone to travel or to have privileges. Later it applied to all solemn documents issued by chancelleries, especially those containing agreements between sovereigns. In the 18th century, the French term "diplomate" ("diplomat" or "diplomatist") came to refer to a person authorized to negotiate on behalf of a state.
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The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961)
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is the established method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. The term diplomacy originally comes from the ancient Greek term "δίπλωμα" (a paper folded double, a licence, a chart), which referred to a document allowing someone to travel or have privileges.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, an international treaty, was adopted on 18 April 1961, by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria. It entered into force on 24 April 1964. The Convention is a cornerstone of modern international relations and international law and is almost universally ratified and observed. It is considered one of the most successful legal instruments drafted under the United Nations.
The Vienna Convention of 1961 defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. Its aim is to facilitate "the development of friendly relations" among governments through a uniform set of practices and principles. It codifies the rules for the exchange and treatment of envoys between states, ensuring that diplomats can work without threats of influence by the host government. The Convention lays down the duties of the receiving state, which has the overarching responsibility to protect any agents of missions in their territory. This includes ensuring that all operations and missions can run their course without any unnecessary problems arising, such as the exemption and immunity of searching premises or the transport of any diplomatic mission.
The Convention also establishes rules for the appointment of foreign representatives and the protection of diplomats and their families from any form of arrest or detention. It grants diplomatic missions privileges that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. This includes the protection of all forms of diplomatic communication, immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction, and the inviolability of diplomatic archives and documents. The Vienna Convention of 1961 also establishes the duties and functions of diplomats, which were previously not consolidated into a written agreement.
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Diplomacy is closely linked to espionage
Diplomacy is a method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. It is often confused with foreign policy, but diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy. Foreign policy is generally enunciated publicly, while diplomacy is conducted in confidence.
Diplomats are the public voice of the government. They occupy an inherently ambiguous position at the boundary between the private realm of governmental reflection and the public realm of policy promotion. They are participants in the private sphere of government, and their communications should be sacrosanct. When diplomats spy, they soil their image and it does not help them carry out their principal task in the long run. Division of labour is of the essence.
The state needs a "private sphere" in order to function. Within this sphere, the state can reflect, weigh options, and elaborate positions, strategies, and tactics without having to answer for its thoughts or reveal them. Privacy is intimately linked to activities that allow for planning and acting for the future. Civilization is built on privacy. The need for a sphere of privacy and autonomy is universal.
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Gunboat diplomacy is the use of conspicuous displays of military power
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is the established method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. The term "diplomacy" originally referred to documents that granted the holder some privilege or permission, such as the right to travel or trade. Over time, the term became associated with the people who carried out negotiations on behalf of a state, and today, it is synonymous with international relations.
Gunboat diplomacy is a form of diplomacy that involves the conspicuous display of military power to imply a threat of warfare as a means of forcing cooperation. It is considered a form of hegemony and emerged during the late 19th-century period of imperialism when Western powers competed to establish colonial trading empires in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The term itself comes from the naval power displays that were common during this era, with fleets of warships appearing off the coasts of less powerful nations to intimidate them into granting concessions.
A classic example of gunboat diplomacy is the case of Commodore Matthew Perry and the "Black Ships". In 1853, Perry sailed a fleet of four black warships into Japan's Tokyo Bay, forcing Japan to open its ports to trade with the West for the first time in over 200 years. Another notable instance of gunboat diplomacy was the Don Pacifico affair in 1850, where the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, dispatched a squadron of the Royal Navy to the coast of Greece.
Gunboat diplomacy is not limited to naval displays of power. Land-based equivalents include military mobilisation, the massing of troops near international borders, and appropriately timed and situated military manoeuvres or "exercises". In the modern era, gunboat diplomacy has evolved to include the use of aircraft carriers, Tomahawk missiles, and airborne surveillance aircraft. For instance, in 2010, President Obama ordered an aircraft carrier strike force headed by the USS George Washington into the Yellow Sea, off the western shore of North Korea, risking a confrontation with China.
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City diplomacy seeks to build international strategies
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is the established method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. Foreign policy, on the other hand, is publicly enunciated and establishes goals, prescribes strategies, and sets the broad tactics to be used in their accomplishment.
City diplomacy is a form of subnational diplomacy that has been on the rise. It is practised through a variety of platforms and programs, with cities playing a significant role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, terrorism, and pandemics. Cities form networks, engage in dialogue, facilitate public diplomacy, share best practices, and encourage collaboration between international private and public entities. They also negotiate agreements, protect human rights and the environment, resolve conflicts, and engage in peacekeeping and agenda-setting.
City diplomacy can serve to protect populations marginalized by or subjugated by unjust conditions at the hands of national-level forces. For example, cities can intervene to enforce universal norms when the national government violates or fails to enforce them. This was seen in global cities recommitting to the Paris Accord in response to the Trump administration's withdrawal. Additionally, cities can act as commercially concerned entities, focusing on economic growth and governance issues, such as international urban climate change cooperation aimed at foreign market entry, export promotion, and investment attraction.
The practice of city diplomacy varies based on the local context of a city and its capacity to bridge local practice to global influence. The political structure of a city is important as it affects the funding mechanisms for the office of international affairs, its stability, and its ability to engage in international events. Hosting special international events is a global engagement strategy that enhances a city's reach and influence, allowing it to position itself as an influential global actor.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations, influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. It is often confused with foreign policy, but diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy.
Diplomats are responsible for conducting negotiations and handling affairs without arousing hostility. They advise political leaders and work to resolve issues and influence the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments.
In 1776, Benjamin Franklin sailed from Philadelphia to France on a diplomatic mission that would determine America's quest for independence from Great Britain. During the French Revolution, future U.S. president James Monroe used his connections to free Thomas Paine, who had been jailed for involving himself in political fights.
Gunboat diplomacy is the use of conspicuous displays of military power to intimidate others. Hostage diplomacy is the taking of hostages to fulfil diplomatic goals. Humanitarian diplomacy is the intervention in contexts where human rights are at risk. Other types of diplomacy include classical diplomacy, espionage, and the use of official documents to confer privileges.
