What is Diplomacy: by Hadaitullah Baqri

Ch 1:Introduction and Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By Hadaitullah.Baqri

Email:[email protected]

Introduction to the Concept: 1. In a very broad sense, diplomacy is part of every day life. Both as individuals as well as organizations, we attempt to communicate and negotiate in order to achieve our specific goals. Thus, the simplest and broadest concept of diplomacy is as follows:

“Diplomacy is the process of achieving goals through

communication and negotiation.” 2. Thus, diplomacy has many types:

a. Social Diplomacyb. Corporate Diplomacyc. Political Diplomacy


3. The emphasis of diplomacy is on the use of peaceful means.

4. The two main methodologies used in diplomacy are communication and negotiation.

5. Diplomacy also attempts to promote self interests.

6. In a general sense, the word ‘diplomacy’ means the management of international relations and the persons who perform this task are known as ‘diplomats’.


Definitions: 1. Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting relations

between nations. 2. Diplomacy is concerned with advising, shaping, and

implementing foreign policy. (R.P. Barston)3. Diplomacy is concerned with the management of relations

between states and between states and other actors. (Barston)

4. Diplomacy is the nonviolent resolution of differences through negotiation and compromise, the promotion of cooperation for mutual gain, and the collection and analysis of information related to the advancement of national interests. (Daryl Copeland).


5. Diplomacy is the application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of official relations between the governments of independent states. (Sir Ernst Satow)

6. Diplomacy is the means by which governments seek to achieve their objectives and the principles they seek to advance in international affairs. (Smith Simpson).

7. Islamic Concept of Diplomacy is based on the belief that all human beings are created by Allah and that they are all equal before Allah, and that the relations between governments should be based on tolerance and should seek peace for all human beings. (modified from Yasin Istanbuli).


Textbook Definition:

Diplomacy is an essentially political activity with the purpose to enable states to secure the objectives of their foreign policies without using force, propaganda and law.

Historical Evolution:1. The relations between kingdoms during the period 3000-

1000 BC, were the rudimentary beginnings of diplomacy. It included the use of messengers for communication, diplomatic immunity on ordinary codes of hospitality, negotiating and agreeing on treaties, observance of treaties. In its most basic form at this time, diplomacy was not a major activity.

2. Diplomacy developed a little bit during the Greek city state system in the fourth and fifth centuries BC. Diplomatic immunity became more standardized. Resident missions started to develop using a local citizen to represent the foreign state. Such a person was known as proxenos.



3. During the first hundred years after the advent of Islam (seventh and eighth centuries AD), the specifically Islamic form of diplomacy developed. It was focused primarily on the principles of honesty, keeping the promise under all circumstances, stronger standards of diplomatic immunity, and fear of Allah.

4. In the medieval Europe (tenth to fourteenth century AD), diplomacy further developed and was used by Venice and Eastern Roman Empire. Its main focus was on the use of Special Envoys.


5. The first phase of modern diplomacy took shape in the Italian city states system in the late fifteenth century. Conditions were very favorable for this development. The need for perpetual diplomacy was reinforced by relatively quick communications and no barriers of language or religion. The most important development at this time was the establishment of resident mission (resident embassy) headed by the citizen of the state whom he represented. The nature and methods of diplomacy at this time were well described by Machiavelli.

Ch 1: Introduction and Ministry of Foreign Affairs

6. In the eighteenth century, diplomacy developed into a more sophisticated form in the United Kingdom based on the doctrine of balance of power. It was at this time that this process of political activity, until then known as negotiation, was given the title Diplomacy by Edmund Burke in 1796.

7. In the nineteenth century, the Italian system evolved into the French system which was the first fully developed version of diplomacy. It was the basis for the true modern diplomacy. It was mainly focused on bilateral relations.

8. In the early twentieth century, the French system was further strengthened and is now believed to be the first full-scale system of modern diplomacy. It was evolved by bringing together the bilateral relations and communications on the one hand and the open diplomacy of multi-country groups and conferences (such as the League of Nations).


9. In the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries, diplomacy has rapidly become more sophisticated and complex mainly because of (i) secure and fast telecommunications, (ii) advent of major international issues such as security and development. However, the basic structure of diplomacy remains the same as propounded in the modern French system of multilateral communications superimposed upon bilateral relations.

10.During the later half of the twentieth century, Soviet Union and Communist China put forth their own system of international relations (known as anti-diplomacy), but it did not survive long.


The Two Main Dimensions of Diplomacy

1. Resident Missions (Embassies/Diplomats)2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Home-based)

Tasks of Diplomacy (Resident Mission)3. Ceremonial

1.1 Protocol1.2 Representation1.3 Visits


2. Management2.1 Day-to-day Problems2.2 Promotion of Interests

a. Politicalb. Economicc. Scientificd. Militarye. Tourism

2.3 Explanation and Defense of Policy2.4 Strengthening Bilateral Relations2.5 Bilateral Coordination’2.6 Multilateral Cooperation

3. Information and Communication3.1 Assessment of Reporting3.2 Monitoring


4. International Negotiation5. Duty of Protection6. Contribution to International Order

6.1 Normative6.2 Rule Making6.3 Mediation/Pacific Settlement

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Most states have two important state organs dealing with foreign policy and its implementation abroad. These are:

1. The Diplomatic Service or the Resident Missions

(Embassies)2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ch 1: Introduction and Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe earliest Resident Missions were established around the fifteenth century and became quickly popular in Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) came into formal existence only in the eighteenth century. Before the establishment of MFA, diplomacy was handled by several bureaucracies (departments headed by Secretaries of State). In the eighteenth century, the MFA came into existence in Europe. In Britain the Foreign Office was established in 1782. In USA, the Department of Foreign Affairs was established in 1781, and was renamed as the Department of State in 1789. In the middle of the nineteenth century, MFAs were established in Turkey, Japan and China.


Functions of Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

1. Staffing and Supporting Missions Abroad2. Policy Advice and Implementation3. Policy Coordination4. Dealing with Foreign Diplomats at Home5. Public Diplomacy6. Building Support at Home


Formal titles and popular namesAustralia: Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeAustria: Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs (‘Ballahausplatz’)Barbados: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeBrazil: Ministry of Foreign Relations (‘Itamaraty’)Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International TradeChina, People’s Republic of: Ministry of Foreign Affairs France: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (‘Quai d’Orsay’)India: Ministry of External Affairs (‘South Block’)Italy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina’)


Korea, Republic of: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeMalaysia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (‘Wisma Putra’)Russia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senegal: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese AbroadUnited Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Foreign Office’ or ‘FO’United States of America: Department of State (Foggy Bottom’)

What is Diplomacy: by Hadaitullah Baqri

Documents

Transcript of What is Diplomacy: by Hadaitullah Baqri