Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships between nations, groups, or individuals. It is often confused with foreign policy, but diplomacy is the primary instrument of foreign policy, which is set by political leaders. The purpose of diplomacy is to strengthen the state, nation, or organization it serves in relation to others by advancing its interests. It is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is how comprehensive national power is applied to the peaceful adjustment of differences between states. Diplomacy is one of the best ways to protect a country and its citizens. For example, the US State Department uses diplomacy to protect Americans at home and abroad by fighting international terrorism, fostering mutual understanding between Americans and people in other countries, and advancing environmental stewardship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary objective | To strengthen the nation in relation to others |
| Purpose | To advance the interests of the nation it serves |
| Methods | Dialogue, negotiation, treaties, summits, diplomatic visits, and other measures short of war or violence |
| Subjects | Conflict, trade, the environment, technology, security, terrorism, economic growth, social development, and cultural or scientific relations |
| Practitioners | Diplomats, ambassadors, foreign service officers, foreign service specialists, and political leaders |
| Formality | Formal and informal |
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What You'll Learn
Formal and informal diplomacy
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is how comprehensive national power is applied to the peaceful adjustment of differences between states. It is often confused with foreign policy, but the terms are not synonymous. Foreign policy 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. The purpose of foreign policy is to further a state's interests, which are derived from geography, history, economics, and the distribution of international power.
Diplomacy, on the other hand, 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. Its primary tools are international dialogue and negotiation, primarily conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders.
Formal diplomacy, also known as Track I Diplomacy, is government-to-government diplomacy that goes through formal, traditional channels of communication to interact with foreign governments. This includes written documents, meetings, summits, and diplomatic visits. This type of diplomacy is conducted by diplomats of one nation with diplomats and other officials of another nation or international organisation.
Informal diplomacy includes public diplomacy, which involves government-to-people diplomacy and reaching out to non-executive branch officials and the broader public, particularly opinion-shapers, in foreign countries. Public diplomacy is carried out by diplomats and, under their programs, non-officials such as journalists, scholars, and members of non-governmental organisations. It involves explaining foreign policy and the national context from which that policy arises.
Informal diplomacy also includes science diplomacy, which is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and build constructive international partnerships. Science diplomacy has become an umbrella term to describe a number of formal or informal technical, research-based, academic, or engineering exchanges, with notable examples including CERN, the International Space Station, and ITER.
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National security
Diplomacy is a vital tool for any nation to achieve its foreign policy goals and to protect its national interests. National security is a key aspect of a nation's foreign policy, and diplomacy plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing it.
Through diplomacy, nations can build and maintain alliances, negotiate treaties and agreements, and resolve conflicts peacefully. It allows countries to project their power and influence on the world stage, and to shape international norms and standards. Strong diplomatic relations can also provide early warning systems for potential threats, and help to de-escalate tensions before they escalate into full-blown crises.
Effective diplomacy is essential for national security. It allows countries to gather information, build trust, and influence the decisions and actions of other nations. Diplomats represent their country's interests abroad, and their work can help to prevent conflicts, resolve disputes, and foster cooperation on issues of mutual concern. They also play a critical role in promoting their country's values and interests, and in protecting the rights and well-being of their citizens overseas.
Diplomacy can take many forms, including official government-to-government negotiations, track-two diplomacy involving non-official actors, and public diplomacy aimed at engaging directly with foreign publics. All of these tools can be leveraged to enhance national security. For example, public diplomacy can be used to counter misinformation campaigns, promote a positive image of one's country, and build support for policies that advance national interests.
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Foreign policy
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. Foreign policy 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.
The formulation of foreign policy is influenced by various factors such as domestic considerations, the behavior of other states, and geopolitical strategies. It is often directed for defense and security, economic benefit, or to provide assistance to states in need. All foreign policy objectives are interconnected and contribute to a single, comprehensive foreign policy for each state.
Unlike domestic policy, foreign policy issues often arise suddenly in response to developments and major events in foreign countries. It is central to a country's role within the world economy and international trade. Economic interests, including trade agreements and foreign aid, are central to a country's role in the global economy. Many states have also developed humanitarian programs based on the responsibility to protect, supporting less powerful countries through various forms of assistance.
Political institutions and forms of government also play a role in a country's foreign policy. In a democracy, public opinion and the methods of political representation affect a country's foreign policy. Democratic countries are also believed to be less likely to resort to military conflict with one another. Under a dictatorship, a state's foreign policy may depend heavily on the preferences of the dictator.
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International cooperation
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is how comprehensive national power is applied to the peaceful adjustment of differences between states. The primary tools of diplomacy are international dialogue and negotiation, conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders.
- Bilateral Relations: This is a common form of diplomacy where negotiations and relations are conducted between two nations. For example, the United States and Cuba have a bilateral relationship, with each country being represented by a branch of the Swiss embassy in the other country.
- Multilateral Relations: This involves multiple nations working together on a particular issue or agreement. An example is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance formed to protect Western European nations from threats by the Soviet Union.
- International Organizations: Organizations such as the United Nations (UN) play a significant role in promoting cooperation and settling conflicts among nations. The UN includes the General Assembly, which has 195 member states, and various other bodies that work to maintain international peace and security.
- Summit Meetings: Summit meetings are gatherings of top government officials, such as presidents or prime ministers, to discuss important issues and negotiate agreements. For instance, the Camp David Accords, a result of a summit between President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, led to the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty, which is still enforced today.
- International Conferences: International conferences are similar to summits but involve a larger number of participants, including heads of state and other national leaders. These conferences address a range of topics, such as migration, border issues, trade, and the environment.
- Conventions: Conventions are agreements between countries on specific global matters that are less formal than treaties. They often include a large number of signatory countries, and new countries can join even after the original agreement is reached. An example is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which was agreed upon by 80 countries to protect rare plants and animals from extinction.
- Alliances: Alliances are formed among nations for mutual economic, political, or security benefits. They can be multilateral or bilateral. For instance, NATO has expanded to include many Eastern European nations since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Through these various forms of international cooperation, nations work together to promote mutual understanding, advance their interests, and address global challenges while maintaining peaceful relationships.
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Safeguarding national interests
Diplomacy is a means of conducting international relations and safeguarding national interests. It is a peaceful method of adjusting differences between states, often through international dialogue and negotiation. While diplomacy may be coercive, it is nonviolent and seeks to avoid the use of force or underhanded means to achieve a country's goals.
The primary objective of diplomacy is to strengthen a nation's position in relation to others by advancing its interests. This includes safeguarding national independence, security, and integrity, as well as preserving freedom of action for the state. In practice, this can involve a range of activities, from fostering mutual understanding and common interests with other nations to designating foreign terrorist organizations to freeze their assets and isolate them internationally.
One of the key tools of diplomacy is the use of conventions and alliances. Conventions are less formal than treaties and often include many countries as signatories, addressing particular global matters such as the protection of endangered species. Alliances, on the other hand, are formed among nations for mutual economic, political, or security benefits and can be multilateral or bilateral. For example, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance formed to protect Western European nations against threats from the Soviet Union.
Diplomacy also involves the work of foreign service officers and specialists. Foreign service officers handle consular affairs, economic affairs, management affairs, political affairs, and public diplomacy. Foreign service specialists provide support services such as healthcare, construction, engineering, and security for Americans in foreign countries.
Through these mechanisms, nations can safeguard their national interests, promote their relations with other countries, and maintain peaceful relationships.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships between nations, groups, or individuals. It is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It is how comprehensive national power is applied to the peaceful adjustment of differences between states.
The goals of diplomacy are to strengthen the state, nation, or organization it serves in relation to others by advancing the interests in its charge. It is also used to safeguard national independence, security, and integrity—territorial, political, economic, and moral.
The primary tools of diplomacy are international dialogue and negotiation, conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders. Formal diplomacy, also known as Track I Diplomacy, involves government-to-government communication through formal channels such as written documents, meetings, summits, and diplomatic visits. Informal diplomacy, or public diplomacy, involves government-to-people communication and engaging with non-executive branch officials and the broader public in foreign countries.
Diplomacy is one of the best ways to protect a nation and its people. It is used to successfully deal with challenges that cross national boundaries, such as international terrorism, environmental degradation, and economic affairs.
