
Open diplomacy without secret treaties was the first of President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, a 14-point program for world peace proposed in a speech to Congress on January 8, 1918. The Fourteen Points were designed as guidelines for the rebuilding of the postwar world, including Wilson's ideas regarding nations' conduct of foreign policy, such as freedom of the seas, free trade, and national self-determination. Open diplomacy, as opposed to traditional diplomacy, is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors. It aims to assist official actors in managing and resolving disputes by discussing potential alternatives extracted from public opinion without the need for substantive agreement or negotiating for advantage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature | Nongovernmental, informal, unofficial |
| Involves | Interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors |
| Aim | To assist official actors in managing and resolving disputes by discussing potential alternatives extracted from public opinion |
| Differences from traditional diplomacy | Traditional diplomacy is formal and governmental, conducted across official government channels |
| Advantages | More successful outcomes, open discussions, and public influence |
| Advantages | Better performance due to its inclusion and the long-term options achieved through active collaboration |
| Advantages | Facilitates global governance, which seeks to provide services, especially peace and stability, justice and dispute resolution processes, working economies, and unified norms for trade and industry |
| Advantages | Helps avert global problems such as pandemics, wars, etc. |
| Disadvantages | Open discussions and public influence can be contributing factors to the halt of negotiations between parties |
| Disadvantages | Never implemented by any nations following the conclusion of World War I |
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What You'll Learn
- Open diplomacy is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions between private citizens
- Open diplomacy encourages public dialogue on sensitive topics
- Open diplomacy and traditional diplomacy
- Open diplomacy's role in modern global governance
- Open diplomacy's link with global governance

Open diplomacy is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions between private citizens
Open diplomacy is a concept that was introduced by President Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points, a program for world peace that served as the basis for peace negotiations at the end of World War I. Point one of the Fourteen Points specifically calls for "open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view." This idea of open diplomacy without secret treaties or agreements withheld from the public was intended to prevent the formation of alliance systems that contributed to the outbreak of wars.
Open diplomacy, as defined by the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR), is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors. It differs from traditional diplomacy, which is formal and governmental, conducted through official government channels. The aim of open diplomacy is to support official actors in managing and resolving disputes by discussing potential alternatives informed by public opinion, without requiring substantive agreement or negotiating for advantage.
Open diplomacy brings forward more successful outcomes due to its inclusive nature and the long-term options achieved through active collaboration. It encourages public dialogue on sensitive topics and facilitates global governance, which seeks to provide services such as peace, stability, justice, dispute resolution, working economies, and unified norms for trade and industry. Open diplomacy is particularly relevant in the modern social climate, where technical developments in communication media have created numerous opportunities for public engagement and collaboration.
In contrast to open diplomacy, traditional diplomacy can limit the creation of multilateral policies due to its focus on formal, governmental negotiations. However, traditional diplomacy allows for less public exposure and can be effective in certain contexts. Both approaches have their advantages, and they can complement each other in addressing global challenges.
Overall, open diplomacy without secret treaties promotes transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration in international relations. It empowers private citizens and non-governmental actors to engage in informal interactions that can shape global governance and contribute to the resolution of pressing global issues. By embracing open diplomacy, nations can foster a more inclusive and collaborative approach to addressing the complex challenges facing the world today.
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Open diplomacy encourages public dialogue on sensitive topics
Open diplomacy, as a concept, is not intended to be a substitute for traditional diplomacy. Instead, it is a complementary process that involves non-governmental and unofficial interactions between private citizens or groups, also known as non-state actors. Open diplomacy encourages public dialogue on sensitive topics, with the aim of assisting official actors in managing and resolving disputes. This is achieved by discussing potential alternatives informed by public opinion, without the need for a substantive agreement or negotiating for advantage.
Open diplomacy, in the modern social climate, performs better due to its inclusive nature and the long-term options achieved through active collaboration. It is particularly effective in global governance, which seeks to provide services such as peace, stability, justice, dispute resolution, working economies, and unified norms for trade and industry. Open diplomacy is well-suited to address these issues due to its inherent inclusivity, engaging a wide range of participants and perspectives in its process and strategy.
The concept of open diplomacy without secret treaties was notably advocated by President Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points, a program for world peace proposed in 1918. Wilson's first point emphasized "open covenants of peace, openly arrived at," signifying a desire for transparency and public discourse in international relations. He specifically called for the abolition of secret treaties, which he believed contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
Wilson's Fourteen Points included other significant proposals such as freedom of the seas, the removal of economic barriers, reduction of armaments, adjustment of colonial claims, and the creation of an independent Polish state. These points were designed to rebuild the postwar world and promote international cooperation to prevent future conflicts. However, despite Wilson's efforts, his Fourteen Points were largely ignored at the Paris Peace Conference, with only a few suggestions being partially implemented in the Treaty of Versailles.
The rejection of Wilson's ideas, particularly the concept of open diplomacy without secret treaties, highlights the challenges of implementing transparent and inclusive approaches to international relations. Nevertheless, open diplomacy remains a valuable tool, especially in addressing global issues and fostering collaboration between civil society, legislators, and governments to achieve mutual goals.
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Open diplomacy and traditional diplomacy
Open diplomacy, also known as public diplomacy, is a diplomatic approach that seeks to engage with the public and other non-state actors to promote mutual understanding, build relationships, and achieve diplomatic goals. It involves using various forms of communication, including social media, public speaking, cultural exchanges, and other forms of outreach, to reach foreign publics and promote a positive image of a country or its policies. Open diplomacy is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors.
The aim of open diplomacy is to foster transparency, trust, and cooperation between governments and the public, as well as between different countries. It recognizes the importance of public opinion in shaping foreign policy and seeks to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to build consensus and support for diplomatic initiatives. It is a more inclusive and transparent approach that seeks to build bridges between different countries and cultures. Open diplomacy is not intended to substitute traditional diplomacy but rather to complement it.
Traditional diplomacy, in contrast, is formal, governmental diplomacy conducted across official government channels. It is often conducted behind closed doors by diplomats and government officials, with less open and public dialogue. While this can allow for more focused and controlled negotiations, it can also limit the creation of multilateral policies as these policies are usually centred around informed and international debates. Traditional diplomacy is conducted through official government channels and involves formal interactions between diplomats and government officials.
Open diplomacy, on the other hand, is a more modern approach that has been significantly encouraged by technical developments in communications media. It allows for more public dialogue on sensitive topics and a shift in the language of dealings within governments. Open diplomacy brings forward more successful outcomes due to its inclusivity and the long-term options achieved through active collaboration.
The concept of "open diplomacy without secret treaties" was also included in President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, which were designed as guidelines for the rebuilding of the postwar world following World War I. Point 14 called for a "general association of nations" that would offer "mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small nations alike." This idea of open diplomacy without secret treaties aligned with Wilson's vision of making the world safe for democracy and promoting self-determination for nations.
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Open diplomacy's role in modern global governance
Open diplomacy refers to diplomatic relations that offer open access to prospective participants and members of the public. It is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors. Open diplomacy is not intended to be a substitute for traditional diplomacy but rather to assist official actors in managing and resolving disputes.
Open diplomacy plays a crucial role in modern global governance by promoting global security and peace. It achieves this by encouraging public dialogue on sensitive topics and facilitating the inclusion of diverse perspectives. This inclusivity is a key aspect of global governance, which seeks to provide services such as peace and stability, justice, dispute resolution, working economies, and unified norms for trade and industry.
The effectiveness of open diplomacy in modern global governance is further enhanced by technological advancements in communication media. These advancements have created numerous opportunities for public engagement and collaboration, enabling active collaboration and the exploration of long-term solutions.
Open diplomacy also serves as a backup system, supporting and uplifting formal diplomatic efforts. In cases where government diplomatic talks fail, civil society, and decision-makers can meet informally to share ideas and initiate discussions toward mutual understanding. This aspect of open diplomacy is particularly valuable in addressing global challenges such as pandemics, wars, and other pressing issues that require direct and feasible solutions.
Overall, open diplomacy facilitates the achievement of global governance goals by encouraging collaboration, inclusivity, and the exploration of diverse perspectives in addressing international issues. It serves as a valuable tool for promoting peace, security, and effective cooperation on a global scale.
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Open diplomacy's link with global governance
Open diplomacy, also known as public diplomacy, is a diplomatic approach that seeks to engage with the public and other non-state actors to promote mutual understanding, build relationships, and achieve diplomatic goals. It involves using various forms of communication, including social media, public speaking, cultural exchanges, and other forms of outreach, to reach out to foreign publics and promote a positive image of a country and its policies. Open diplomacy is non-governmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors. It differs from traditional diplomacy, which is often conducted behind closed doors by diplomats and government officials and is formal and governmental, conducted across official government channels.
Open diplomacy is not intended to be a substitute for traditional diplomacy but rather to complement it. It is effective in promoting global security and peace and is particularly relevant in the modern social climate due to its inclusivity and the long-term options achieved through active collaboration. Open diplomacy fosters transparency, trust, and cooperation between governments and the public, as well as between different countries. It recognizes the importance of public opinion in shaping foreign policy and seeks to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to build consensus and support for diplomatic initiatives.
Global governance seeks to provide services such as peace and stability, justice and dispute resolution processes, working economies, and unified norms for trade and industry. Diplomacy plays a crucial role in ensuring cooperation and effective global governance, emphasizing the need for diplomatic efforts in maintaining peace and fostering international relations. Open diplomacy is linked to global governance as it facilitates the attainment of these goals by encouraging collaboration and the inclusion of diverse perspectives.
Open diplomacy, as a concept, gained prominence following World War I with President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points. Point 1 of these guidelines for the rebuilding of the postwar world called for "open diplomacy without secret treaties". Wilson's Fourteen Points also included ideas such as freedom of the seas, free trade, national self-determination, and the creation of a "general association of nations" to offer mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small nations alike. While the United States Senate ultimately rejected the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, the concept of open diplomacy continued to evolve and remains relevant in modern global governance.
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Frequently asked questions
Open diplomacy is nongovernmental, informal, and involves unofficial interactions and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals, also known as non-state actors. It is intended to assist official actors in managing and resolving disputes by discussing potential alternatives extracted from public opinion.
Open diplomacy is intended to prevent the formation of alliance systems, which can be a factor in the outbreak of wars. It seeks to avert global problems such as pandemics and wars through the coalition of three global networks: the governmental network, parliamentarians, and civil society.
Open diplomacy brings forward more successful outcomes due to its inclusion and long-term options achieved through active collaboration. However, open discussions and public influence can also contribute to the halt of negotiations between parties.

























