Malcolm Rivera
Diplomacy advocates are individuals who work to influence policy and political scenes, both domestically and internationally. Diplomacy advocates need to understand the principles and practices of diplomacy and public advocacy, and they must be adept at navigating the nuances of international relations. Their work involves advocating for issues that are important to their country, organisation, or constituents, and they may represent foreign embassies, non-profit organisations, or interest groups. Effective diplomacy advocates are skilled at leveraging information and public opinion to shape public policy and achieve their objectives.
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What You'll Learn
Advocacy in non-profit organisations
Diplomacy advocates are skilled in advocacy and emotional intelligence, conducting international relations and negotiations with tact and skill. Advocacy, in this context, refers to the act of creating change by influencing decisions, practices, policies, and resource allocation.
Non-profit organisations, such as charities, play a crucial role in advocating for their beneficiaries, communities, and students. They engage in advocacy to create greater impact by raising awareness, educating the public, and mobilising support for their cause. This can lead to systemic change, which cannot be achieved through service delivery alone. Non-profits can address the root causes of issues and bring about lasting change by advocating for policy changes and systemic improvements.
For example, Students United is a non-profit organisation run by students, with a board of directors comprising student body presidents from various universities. They successfully advocated for an affirmative consent policy across 54 colleges and universities. Similarly, Donnel Kay aims to improve public education in Colorado through research, policy, creative dialogue, and critical thinking.
Effective advocacy enables non-profits to shape public debates, protect their mission, and ensure their constituents' voices are heard in decision-making processes. It also helps them become more sustainable by shaping policies and funding priorities that align with their values and safeguarding them from potential threats, such as misinformation or harmful policies.
However, it is important to distinguish between advocacy and lobbying. Lobbying is a form of direct communication with government officials to influence specific legislation or policies, whereas advocacy generally refers to raising awareness and promoting a cause. Non-profits must be cautious not to endorse specific candidates or pieces of legislation to remain compliant with regulations.
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The role of advocacy in policy-making
Advocacy plays a critical role in policy-making, particularly in the realm of international relations and diplomacy. It involves speaking in favour of and defending a cause, pleading on another's behalf, and applying the skills of emotional intelligence and tactful negotiation. In the context of diplomacy, advocacy is essential for mediating between parties in disagreement and achieving successful outcomes.
A key aspect of advocacy in policy-making is understanding the regulations and legal restrictions that govern the practice. For example, in the United States, there are specific disclosure requirements for lobbying activities, and restrictions on gifts that members of Congress and staffers can accept. Effective advocacy requires navigating these rules and working at all levels of the policy-making process, from bureaucrats crafting policy approaches to leadership enacting them.
Advocacy is also crucial for non-profit organisations, including charities and international organisations. By engaging in policy advocacy, these groups can access government resources, challenge decision-making processes, and drive systemic change to achieve their aims. They must navigate the fine line between educating policymakers and rallying grassroots support, ensuring compliance with regulations while still effectively advocating for their causes.
In international diplomacy, advocacy takes on a unique dimension. Political advocacy campaigns, for instance, can be used to build foreign support for immediate policy objectives. Countries may engage in public diplomacy to discredit adversaries, urging foreign publics to oppose leaders who do not align with their strategic interests. However, these campaigns are often met with scepticism and can be challenging to execute successfully.
Senior diplomats must understand the intricacies of advocacy and diplomacy to navigate the complex world of international relations effectively. They must advocate for the issues that are important to their countries while also applying the principles of tact and skill in dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. Ultimately, advocacy in policy-making is about influencing and shaping decisions, whether at the local, national, or international level, to drive positive change and achieve desired outcomes.
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Political advocacy campaigns
Diplomacy advocates are skilled in the art of international relations, negotiating alliances, treaties, and agreements with tact and finesse. Advocacy, in this context, refers to the act of speaking in favour of and defending a cause or country, and it is a crucial tool for diplomats.
Understanding the Landscape
Diplomacy advocates must be adept at navigating the political landscape, which includes understanding the current and proposed regulations that govern advocacy practices. This is especially important when dealing with lobbying, as there are often strict rules surrounding the disclosure of information and the conduct of lobbyists. For example, in the United States, members of Congress and their staffers must declare any gifts over $10. Additionally, any efforts made by US lobbying or public affairs firms on behalf of an embassy must be disclosed.
Targeting the Right People
Effective advocacy requires a targeted approach. Diplomacy advocates should identify the most influential people to target within their campaign, which could range from local neighbourhood commissions to members of Congress and their staff. It is crucial to engage with members who share similar interests or backgrounds and to target them at their local and DC offices.
Crafting a Clear Message
Advocacy campaigns should have a clear and consistent message. This involves understanding the issues at hand, the needs of the people or countries involved, and how to communicate effectively. Diplomacy advocates must consider how they listen, talk, and write to convey their message persuasively.
Leveraging Information and Public Opinion
Information and public opinion are powerful tools in advocacy. Diplomacy advocates should learn how to leverage these tools to shape public policy. This includes utilising constituencies and framing the narrative around the issues they care about to gain support and influence decision-makers.
Utilising Peer Networking
Networking with peers can be a valuable strategy for diplomacy advocates. By sharing experiences and insights, advocates can better navigate the complex world of politics and policy. Events and programmes that encourage peer networking, like the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement's Diplocraft series, provide excellent opportunities for senior diplomats to enhance their advocacy skills.
Complying with Legal Restrictions
It is essential for diplomacy advocates to comply with legal restrictions, especially when dealing with lobbying activities. Understanding the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in the United States is crucial, as these laws impact the disclosure requirements and conduct of lobbyists.
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Advocacy in diplomacy
Diplomacy and advocacy are closely linked, and a successful diplomat must understand the principles and practices of both diplomacy and public advocacy. Advocacy in diplomacy is about understanding the art or practice of conducting international relations, and using advocacy skills to negotiate alliances, treaties and agreements.
In an age of conflict and disagreement, diplomacy is key to mediating successfully between disagreeing parties and achieving a positive result. Advocacy is a powerful tool to achieve this, and it involves tact and skill in dealing with people. It is about speaking in favour of and defending a cause, or pleading on another's behalf.
In the context of international relations, advocacy is about effectively communicating and influencing Washington, or other world capitals, to support the issues that are important to your country. This involves understanding the legal and regulatory landscape, including disclosure requirements and conduct rules for lobbyists. It also requires an understanding of how to leverage the power of information and public opinion, and how to frame the narrative of the issues that are important to you.
Advocacy is also important for non-profit organisations, including charities and international organisations, to achieve their aims and access government resources. They can do this by using policy advocacy to challenge decision-making and influence policy.
Public diplomacy is a type of government-sponsored advocacy, aimed at communicating directly with foreign publics. It can be used to build goodwill, facilitate cooperation, and maintain alliances. It can also be used to achieve more rapid results, such as foreign support for immediate policy objectives, or costly military alliance strategies.
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Advocacy and emotional intelligence
Diplomacy advocates are those who speak in favour of and defend a cause or country, negotiating alliances, treaties and agreements. They are skilled in the art of dealing with people, employing tact and strategy.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a crucial skill for diplomacy advocates, who must navigate complex and sensitive situations. Developing EI can help advocates build rapport with important figures, cope with stress and improve their performance.
EI is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and those of others. It is a skill that can be developed through life experience, trauma and healing, and by observing and learning from others with high EI. Self-assessment and mindfulness are also key to developing EI.
EI is particularly important when it comes to self-advocacy, which is the ability to communicate one's interests, desires, needs and rights effectively. Self-advocacy can be verbal or non-verbal, and it can be difficult, especially when one does not feel safe or supported. However, it is important to speak up and be bold, and to be aware of one's own emotions and the emotions of others.
There are several strategies to improve self-advocacy through EI. Firstly, self-awareness is key. Knowing one's interests, desires, needs and rights can help others understand how to communicate with you. Secondly, motivation is important. When one feels emotionally secure, they can focus on internal and external motivators to show up for themselves and others. Thirdly, empathy is vital. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes and trying to see a situation from their perspective will help you realise that you are not alone. Finally, social skills are important. Being able to adapt and invite unique differences and communication styles will help you be seen, supported and safe.
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Frequently asked questions
A diplomacy advocate is someone who speaks in favour of and defends a cause or a country by tactfully and skilfully dealing with people, often foreign publics, to achieve a successful result.
During the Cold War, the United States used public diplomacy to broadcast directly into the Warsaw Pact nations of Eastern Europe to dispel myths about the West. In 1990, Kuwait hired an American public relations firm to convince US voters that liberation from Saddam Hussein was worthwhile and morally correct.
It is critical to understand current and proposed regulations regarding the practice of advocacy, such as disclosure of information and conduct of lobbyists. It is also important to utilise your constituency and frame the narrative of the issues that are important to you.
The Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement's Diplocraft series helps senior diplomats navigate the policy and political scenes in Washington through peer networking and policy deep dives.
