DIPLOMACY

28.01.2013

Parameters
Structure- Actors involved
Process The Method in

which organized
Agenda- what issues taken
up or substance

Types of Diplomacy
Open or Secret
Private or Public
Pure or Mixed
Traditional or New
Cold War and post Cold

War

Traditional Diplomacy: Structure

Communication process between states
Specialised institutions1. Embassies or resident missions
2. Professional diplomats

Processes
Bilateral
Secretive
Based on mutual agreement for

settling disputes
Diplomatic Protocols(15th century
onwards)
Extra-territoriality
Confined to Europe

Agenda
Bilateral
Issues of physical security
Issues reflected personal ambitions

of rulers(Henry Wotton, Elizabethan

Diplomat)

NEW Diplomacy
Early 20th century
After the failure of traditional diplomacy to

prevent the World War II

Two reasons for emergence:
a) There was a demand that Diplomacy
should be more open to public scrutiny
and control.
b) Importance of creating a world orgn.
(League)to initiate collective action
against potential aggressors

Structure
New aspects of communication between states
New institutions- NGOs , HR and Envt Groups
New procedures
Well-established network of embassies

Process:
Growing no. of IOs, IGOs ,non-state actors in

addition to states
Secret deliberations but outcomes open
Not confined to Europe
Discussed high politics issues

Agenda
Multilateral
Complex due to involvement of

many issues and actors

Changing role and competence of
diplomats was reflected

Comparison : New and Old

Old

New

1. Essentially European

More universal and widespread

2. Bilateral

Multilateral

2. Only big powers

Concerned with big and small power

2. Monarch was sovereign

Sovereign had constitutional status

3. States and their representatives

main actors

Plethora of actors

4. Agenda-Conservative issues
demonstrating the vision and
interest of the rulers

New agenda like human rights,

environment and economic issues

5. Secret

Open

6. Flexibility in negotiation

Definite rules for negotiation

9. Diplomats had discretion

Diplomats had to follow instructions

from foreign office

10. Friendly, humane and polite

Career diplomats were more

professional and aggressive

Cold War Diplomacy

After the second World War
Late 1940s until end of 1980s
Marked by ideological confrontation beteen

USA and USSR

Multilateralism
Increasing no. of specialized agenda
Established rules and principles of
Diplomacy were given the status of
International Law in the 1961 Viennna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Agenda
Avoiding East-West confrontation
Avoiding a global nuclear conflict that could

destroy the international system.

New low politics issues related to
political ,social and economic aspects
Relationship between Hard(targeted,
immediate, coercive and physical) and Soft
Power(indirect, persuasive and long term)

Types of Cold war Diplomacy

Nuclear Diplomacy- interaction between

nuclear-armed states
a) Deterrence-dissuade an opponent from
undertaking an action
b) Compellence- persuade to halt an action
already begun
)Crisis Diplomacy- delicate communication
and negotiations involved in a crisis that
could escalate into a nuclear war e.g.
Cuban Missile Crisis
)Summit Diplomacy- direct meeting
between heads of govt., superpowers in

Post cold war diplomacy

21st century
End of ideological conflict between East

and West
Demise of Soviet union
Two important eventsa) disintegration of Yugoslavia and
b) Ist Gulf war

Agenda
Global diplomacy
North-south dimension added
Complex and fragmented
Wide agenda of issues

Structure
Complex multilateral as well as bilateral

process

Types
Developmental diplomacy
Peacekeeping as Diplomacy
Counter-terrorism Diplomacy
Cultural diplomacy
Cookie diplomacy
Sports Diplomacy-Use of sports as a means

of influence
Track I and Track II Diplomacy
Citizen diplomacy

Track I diplomacy
Diplomats act in official capacity on behalf

of the state or IGO

Have direct stake in dispute
Routine
Mediation and incentives
Importance during peacemaking and
peacekeeping

Track II diplomacy
Rather than using govt representatives,

informal channels are used

NGOs, regional or grassroot workers
Back channel discussions, workshops
Conflict prevention and peace building

Recent issues
The first target in case of deteriorating

relations between two countries are the

diplomatic staff- so embassies lose contact
with local population and build fortressstyle embassies.
Diplomats in Danger- India Mhatre,1984 UK
and Venkateswara Rao killed in Kabul in
2008.
1998- Al qaeda attack on US embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania
Benghazi controversy- 11 attacks on US
diplomatic outpost in Libya

Diplomacy by expulsion- 1996 SU

demanded expulsion of 4 British diplomats

in Moscow embassy. Britain reciprocated
with a tit for tat.
Diplomacy by Subversion The US govt.
was using this tactics against Allende govt
to bring it down. Finally in 1973, he was
ousted in a coup.

Conclusion

Key role in foreign policies of states

Has

comparative advantage if used with other

instruments-economic, social and subversion
Can guarantee international peace
Traditional diplomat has to enhance his management
skill in the complex system because diplomacy is not an
art anymore
No panacea but facilitates co-operation
State-based diplomacy has been challenged due to
globalization.
Revolution
in
communication
technology
has
transformed the process
The ability of actors to control outcomes has been
diluted