Omar Bennett
Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships between nations, groups, or individuals. Historically, diplomacy meant the conduct of official bilateral relations between sovereign states. By the 20th century, diplomatic practices had expanded to include summit meetings, international conferences, and the work of international civil servants. Conventional diplomacy is mainly focused on political and economic affairs and is conducted by governments towards their foreign counterparts. It is the primary method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conducted between governments | Political and economic affairs |
| Exclusive to diplomats, including royal families, government officials, and politicians | Foreign policy |
| International relations | |
| Dialogue and negotiation | |
| Treaties | |
| International conferences |
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What You'll Learn
The evolution of conventional diplomacy
The concept of diplomacy has evolved significantly over time, reflecting the changing nature of international relations and the growing influence of the public in domestic and international politics.
Diplomacy, derived from the ancient Greek diplōma, meaning a "folded document", initially referred to official bilateral relations between sovereign states. This evolved in Europe during the post-Renaissance period, with the spread of European power resulting in the adoption of its diplomatic model in Asia and beyond. The term "diplomat" emerged in 18th-century France to denote a person authorised to negotiate on behalf of a state. By the 20th century, diplomatic practices had expanded to include international conferences, parliamentary diplomacy, and the work of international civil servants.
However, traditional or conventional diplomacy has been criticised for being exclusive to diplomats, government officials, and politicians, excluding the public from diplomatic arenas. The advent of the Information Age, democratisation, and globalisation have empowered individuals and civil societies to become decisive actors in international politics, leading to the emergence of "public diplomacy" and "citizen diplomacy". Public diplomacy focuses on influencing the general public of another nation through communication, while citizen diplomacy emphasises mutual exchanges and interactions between average citizens of different nations.
The evolution of diplomacy is also evident in the rise of "people diplomacy", exemplified by South Korea's diplomatic experimentation. This approach seeks to democratise diplomacy, increase public engagement in developing foreign policy, and provide platforms for people's participation in diplomatic processes. People diplomacy transcends the traditional boundaries of government-to-government or government-to-public interactions, allowing individuals to directly suggest and participate in implementing foreign policy ideas.
Furthermore, the concept of "preventive diplomacy" aims to prevent or resolve violent conflicts through peaceful means, as outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter. Quiet diplomacy, a form of preventive diplomacy, involves influencing the behaviour of another state through secret negotiations or refraining from certain actions. Additionally, science diplomacy addresses common global challenges through international scientific collaborations, and soft power focuses on cultivating relationships and respect to gain influence.
In conclusion, the evolution of conventional diplomacy reflects a shift towards inclusivity and the recognition of the people's power in international relations. From its traditional confines within diplomatic circles, diplomacy has expanded to embrace public participation, citizen exchanges, and democratic decision-making processes, adapting to the contemporary trends and political needs of an increasingly globalised world.
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How conventional diplomacy differs from public diplomacy
Diplomacy is the principal substitute for the use of force or underhanded means in statecraft. It 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. Modern diplomatic practices are a product of the post-Renaissance European state system. Historically, diplomacy meant the conduct of official (usually bilateral) relations between sovereign states.
Conventional diplomacy differs from public diplomacy in several ways. Firstly, conventional diplomacy is conducted between governments, whereas public diplomacy is performed for the foreign public. Conventional diplomacy is mainly focused on political and economic affairs, while public diplomacy concentrates on culture, education, knowledge, and policy. Public diplomacy aims to influence public opinion and positions, which directly influence the foreign political decisions of another government. It includes all official efforts to convince targeted sectors of foreign opinion to support or tolerate a government's strategic objectives.
Public diplomacy uses various methods to achieve its goals, including statements by decision-makers, purposeful campaigns conducted by government organizations, and efforts to persuade international media to portray official policies favourably to foreign audiences. It also involves branding or cultural communication, where the government tries to improve its image without seeking support for any immediate policy objectives. During the Cold War, for example, the United States used public diplomacy to showcase the superiority of democratic governments and capitalist enterprises over Soviet alternatives.
Additionally, public diplomacy can facilitate more rapid results through political advocacy campaigns, which build foreign support for immediate policy objectives. For instance, Kuwait hired an American public relations firm in 1990 to gain US popular support for an attack against Iraq, demonstrating how public diplomacy can help foreign leaders cooperate by reducing the threat of backlash at home.
In conclusion, while conventional diplomacy focuses on government-to-government interactions and political-economic affairs, public diplomacy targets foreign publics and emphasizes cultural and educational aspects, with the ultimate goal of influencing public opinion and gaining support for strategic objectives.
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How conventional diplomacy differs from citizen diplomacy
Diplomacy is the practice 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 primary tool for the peaceful adjustment of differences between states.
Conventional diplomacy is conducted between governments and is mainly focused on political and economic affairs. It involves the management of relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the people of other countries. For example, the US State Department manages America's relationships with foreign governments and conveys US policies to them.
Citizen diplomacy, on the other hand, is a form of diplomacy that is conducted by the people of a country towards their government, rather than by the government towards foreign counterparts. It involves mutual exchanges and peer-to-peer interactions between individuals of different countries. Citizen diplomacy recognises the importance of individuals in solving global challenges and advocating for solutions to shared problems. For instance, physicist Robert W. Fuller, a pioneer of citizen diplomacy, travelled frequently to the Soviet Union in an effort to alleviate the Cold War.
Another difference is that conventional diplomacy is restricted by the characteristics of its projects and activities, whereas citizen diplomacy is not bound by such restrictions. Citizen diplomacy can be seen as a form of soft power, where direct government control is minimised to maintain authenticity and avoid the perception of propaganda.
In conclusion, conventional diplomacy is government-led and focused on political and economic affairs, while citizen diplomacy is conducted by individuals towards their own government and involves unrestricted mutual exchanges and peer-to-peer interactions with foreign counterparts.
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How conventional diplomacy differs from people diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships between nations, groups, or individuals. It involves dialogue, negotiation, and other non-violent measures to influence the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples.
Historically, diplomacy was the conduct of official bilateral relations between sovereign states. Over time, diplomatic practices have evolved to include various forms, such as summit meetings, international conferences, parliamentary diplomacy, and the work of international civil servants. The term "conventional diplomacy" often refers to the traditional form of diplomacy conducted exclusively by diplomats, government officials, and politicians, with the people having little to no involvement in the process.
In contrast, people diplomacy, also known as citizen diplomacy or public diplomacy, involves the direct participation of citizens in the diplomatic process. It is conducted by the people of a country towards its government, addressing the government's foreign counterparts. People diplomacy covers a broader range of areas, including political, economic, cultural, and educational matters, without restrictions on content or participation. This evolution in diplomacy reflects the increasing power of the people in a globalized and democratic world, where individuals and civil societies are becoming decisive actors in international politics.
While conventional diplomacy is primarily focused on political and economic affairs between governments, people diplomacy emphasizes the role of citizens in shaping foreign policy. Citizens can suggest ideas and participate in their implementation, as seen in South Korea's "People Diplomacy," which aims to collect people's opinions and provide platforms for their participation in diplomatic processes.
Additionally, people diplomacy utilizes modern technologies and digital platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, to facilitate instant communication and interaction between citizens of different nations. This direct engagement fosters mutual understanding, enhances international relations, and can lead to the peaceful resolution of differences, reflecting the evolving nature of diplomacy in the Information Age.
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The role of diplomats in conventional diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships between nations, groups, or individuals. It is often confused with foreign policy, but the two are not synonymous. Foreign policy establishes goals and strategies and prescribes the tactics to be used in their accomplishment, and it may employ secret agents, subversion, war, or other forms of violence as well as diplomacy to achieve its objectives. Diplomacy is the primary 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 has traditionally been considered the exclusive property of diplomats, including government officials and politicians. The term "diplomat" refers to a person authorized to negotiate on behalf of a state. Diplomats help their own country, encourage cooperation between nations, and maintain peace. They carry out the President's foreign policy and help build a more free, prosperous, and secure world. They represent their country overseas and convey their country's policies to foreign governments and international organizations through embassies and consulates in foreign countries and diplomatic missions.
In conventional diplomacy, diplomats advise political leaders on foreign policy and may influence the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. They also negotiate and conclude agreements and treaties on issues ranging from trade to nuclear weapons. For example, the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in treaties that reduced the number of nuclear weapons being produced.
With the advent of the Information Age and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the people, including individuals and civil societies, are emerging as overarching and sometimes decisive actors in international politics. This has led to the development of new forms of diplomacy, such as public diplomacy and citizen diplomacy, which involve the people of a country in the conduct of diplomatic relations. However, conventional diplomacy still plays a crucial role in international relations, and diplomats remain essential in maintaining peaceful relationships between nations.
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Frequently asked questions
Conventional diplomacy is the traditional form of diplomacy conducted between governments. It is mainly focused on political and economic affairs.
Conventional diplomacy has traditionally been considered the exclusive domain of diplomats, including government officials and politicians. It involves influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence.
Conventional diplomacy differs from public diplomacy, citizen diplomacy, and people diplomacy. While conventional diplomacy is conducted between governments, public diplomacy focuses on culture and education, citizen diplomacy on mutual exchanges, and people diplomacy is conducted by the people of a country towards its government.
Conventional diplomacy can take many forms, including summit meetings, international conferences, parliamentary diplomacy, and the work of international civil servants. An example of conventional diplomacy is the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the United States and the Soviet Union, which resulted in treaties that reduced the number of nuclear weapons being produced.
