Simone Lawson
Diplomacy 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. Diplomacy is often confused with foreign policy, but the terms are not synonymous. Foreign policy is set by political leaders, and diplomats may advise them. Diplomacy is the primary instrument of foreign policy. The term diplomacy is derived from the ancient Greek diplōma, composed of diplo, meaning “folded in two,” and the suffix -ma, meaning “an object.”. In the 18th century, the French term diplomate referred to a person authorized to negotiate on behalf of a state. The origins of early modern diplomacy are often traced to the states of Northern Italy in the early Renaissance, with the first embassies being established in the 13th century. Permanent diplomatic missions are established by mutual consent between two states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy | Foreign policy is set by political leaders, with diplomats, military and intelligence officers advising them |
| 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 |
| It is often confused with foreign policy | Foreign policy establishes goals, prescribes strategies, and sets the broad tactics to be used in their accomplishment |
| The term is derived from the ancient Greek diplōma, composed of diplo, meaning “folded in two,” and the suffix -ma, meaning “an object.” | The folded document conferred a privilege—often a permit to travel—on the bearer |
| The first embassies were established in the 13th century in Northern Italy | Permanent embassies were established by Milan to the other city-states of Northern Italy |
| Permanent missions became customary by the late 16th century | The ambassador was a nobleman, the rank of the noble assigned varying with the prestige of the country he was delegated to |
| The primary tools of diplomacy are international dialogue and negotiation | Dialogue and negotiation are conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders |
| It is conducted in confidence | The fact that it is in progress and its results are almost always made public in contemporary international relations |
| It is conducted to influence the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples | |
| It is conducted by royal families, government officials and politicians | In the past, the people have been regarded as outsiders in diplomatic arenas |
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What You'll Learn
Diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy
Diplomacy is often confused with foreign policy, but the two are not synonymous. Diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy, which is set by political leaders. Diplomats, along with military and intelligence officers, advise these political leaders. 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.
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 may be coercive, i.e. backed by the threat to apply punitive measures or to use force, but it is overtly nonviolent. Its primary tools are international dialogue and negotiation, primarily conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders.
The term diplomacy is derived from the 18th-century French term "diplomate" ("diplomat" or "diplomatist"), based on the ancient Greek "diplo" meaning "folded in two". This reflected the practice of sovereigns providing a folded document to confer some official privilege; prior to the invention of the envelope, folding a document served to protect the privacy of its content. The term was later applied to all official documents, such as those containing agreements between governments, and thus became identified with international relations.
Diplomats are the primary—but far from the only—practitioners of diplomacy. They are specialists in carrying messages and negotiating adjustments in relations and the resolution of quarrels between states and peoples. Their weapons are words, backed by the power of the state or organization they represent. Diplomats help leaders to understand the attitudes and actions of foreigners and to develop strategies and tactics that will shape the behaviour of foreigners, especially foreign governments. The wise use of diplomats is a key to successful foreign policy.
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Envoys and ambassadors
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. Envoys and ambassadors are key to this process. The term diplomacy is derived from the ancient Greek diplōma, composed of diplo, meaning "folded in two", and the suffix -ma, meaning "an object". The folded document conferred a privilege, often a permit to travel, on the bearer. 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 authorised to negotiate on behalf of a state. Envoys are derived from the French "envoyé", meaning "one who is sent". Envoys and ambassadors are accredited representatives of their state, often conducting diplomacy in confidence.
In Europe, early modern diplomacy's origins are often traced to the states of Northern Italy in the early Renaissance, with the first embassies being established in the 13th century. By the late 16th century, permanent missions became customary. The earliest ambassadors were often nobles with little foreign experience and no expectation of a career in diplomacy. They were supported by their embassy staff, who would be sent on longer assignments and would be far more knowledgeable about the host country.
The role of ambassadors was clarified by President Kennedy in 1961, when he sent a letter to all ambassadors and department heads reminding them that they were in charge of all US activities in their respective countries and were responsible for all members of the mission, no matter which agency originally sent them.
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The role of the State Department
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. Diplomacy 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. Diplomacy is the chief, but not the only, instrument of foreign policy.
The State Department uses diplomacy in all regions of the world to keep local conflicts from becoming wider wars that may harm US interests. The State Department joins with other countries in international organizations to promote stability and economic prosperity. For example, in the Middle East, the State Department promotes and supports the development of democracy in Iraq and works with Israel, Egypt, other Middle Eastern countries, and the Palestinians to find a way for them to live peacefully together.
The State Department also uses diplomacy to protect America from international terrorism, which threatens the United States, its allies, and interests, and the world community. The State Department provides foreign policy oversight and guidance to all US Government international counterterrorism activities, including designating Foreign Terrorist Organizations to freeze their assets and isolate them internationally, providing deterrence and rapid response to international terrorist incidents, delivering creative and flexible anti-terrorism and counterterrorism finance training, and enhancing border security and global terrorism watch listing.
Additionally, the State Department engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society, and values to help create an environment receptive to US national interests. They communicate with foreign opinion-makers and other publics through a variety of public diplomacy programs, using cutting-edge technologies, including websites in English and several foreign languages, as well as traditional text publications. Each year, the United States also allows tens of thousands of refugees to live in America permanently.
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The evolution of diplomacy
Diplomacy has evolved significantly over time, adapting to the changing landscape of international relations and the growing influence of the public in political decision-making.
The Early Years
In ancient times, diplomacy was already a key aspect of statecraft, with ancient India's kingdoms and dynasties serving as an example. The Arthashastra, attributed to Kautilya, adviser to the founder of the Maurya dynasty, is the oldest treatise on statecraft and diplomacy. It outlines a theory of diplomacy, advising how a wise king can build alliances and outmaneuver adversaries in a context of competing kingdoms. The emergence of powerful entities like the Ottoman Empire further influenced the evolution of diplomacy, with interactions between merchants, diplomats, and clergymen from the Italian and Ottoman empires shaping new forms of diplomacy.
The Renaissance and Modern Diplomacy
The states of Northern Italy during the early Renaissance played a pivotal role in shaping early modern diplomacy. The first embassies emerged in the 13th century, with Milan, Tuscany, and Venice as flourishing centers of diplomatic activity. The presentation of ambassador credentials to the head of state, a tradition that continues today, originated in Italy and later spread across Europe. By the late 16th century, permanent diplomatic missions became customary, with ambassadors often hailing from noble backgrounds.
The Expansion of Diplomacy
The primary role of a diplomat was originally that of a negotiator, but it evolved into representing an autonomous state in all aspects of political affairs. As international relations became more complex, knowledge of scientific, economic, cultural, and social issues became essential for diplomats. The Kennedy Administration's establishment of a separate Agency for International Development (AID) underscored the expanding scope of diplomatic work beyond traditional negotiation and reporting.
The Information Age and People Diplomacy
The advent of the Information Age and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have transformed the diplomatic landscape. "People diplomacy," a concept institutionalized by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflects the growing influence of the public in international politics. People diplomacy involves domestic interactions between a government and its citizens, covering a wide range of issues, from political and economic affairs to culture and education. It empowers citizens to actively participate in diplomacy planning, implementation, and evaluation, marking a significant shift from traditional diplomacy conducted exclusively by diplomats, government officials, and politicians.
Diplomacy continues to adapt to the evolving needs of international relations and the increasing role of the public in foreign affairs, reflecting a dynamic interplay between governments and their citizens in shaping global interactions.
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International dialogue and negotiation
Diplomacy is the chief instrument of foreign policy, which is set by political leaders, and it is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. The term diplomacy is derived from the ancient Greek "diploma", which means a "folded document". In the 18th century, the French term "diplomate" referred to a person authorised to negotiate on behalf of a state. Diplomacy is often conducted in confidence, and its primary tools are international dialogue and negotiation, conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders.
The establishment of permanent diplomatic missions and relations between states takes place by mutual consent. The sending state may accredit a head of the mission or assign a member of diplomatic staff to more than one state. The receiving state must respect and protect the premises, property and archives of the mission, even in the case of armed conflict.
Diplomacy has evolved from being the exclusive property of diplomats, including royal families, government officials and politicians, to include the people. This is known as "people diplomacy", which refers to domestic interaction between a government and its own society. People diplomacy is conducted by the people of a country towards its government, and the people can suggest and participate in the implementation of foreign policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional diplomacy 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. It is often conducted by accredited envoys and other political leaders.
The term diplomacy is derived from the ancient Greek diplōma, composed of diplo, meaning “folded in two”, and the suffix -ma, meaning “an object”. The folded document conferred a privilege, often a permit to travel, on the bearer. Later, it applied to all solemn documents issued by chancelleries, especially those containing agreements between sovereigns.
The origins of modern diplomacy are often traced to the states of Northern Italy in the early Renaissance, with the first embassies being established in the 13th century. By the late 16th century, permanent missions became customary.
Traditional diplomacy has evolved from being conducted exclusively by diplomats, including royal families, government officials, and politicians, to include the public through "public diplomacy" and "citizen diplomacy". The latter refers to domestic interaction between a government and its own society, covering areas such as culture, education, knowledge, and policy.
