Diplomacy is a key tool of international relations that enables governments to influence the actions of foreign governments through peaceful tactics like dialogue and negotiation. It is typically carried out by a countries representatives abroad known as diplomats.
The art of diplomacy has a long history, and the way it is practiced and perceived has shaped international relations throughout the centuries. During the medieval and modern periods, the rise and fall of various states and empires, the emergence and spread of different religions and ideologies, and the discovery and colonization of regions and continents, have all contributed to the development and diversification of diplomacy.
In the past, diplomatic practice was often a muddled affair. For example, ambassadors were ranked according to complex levels of precedence that were often disputed. Emissaries from Catholic nations were given priority, followed by emissaries from kingdoms, then those from duchies and principalities, and finally the delegates of republics.
Despite this, diplomacy has proven to be an essential method of managing global challenges and advancing peace. It conducts the passages from protest to menace, dialogue to negotiation, ultimatum to reprisal, and war to peace and reconciliation with other states. It also shapes, tends, and sustains the coalitions that deter or make war.
Kishan Rana, an experienced former Indian Foreign Service diplomat and founder of DiploFoundation, offers an engaging overview of the field in this article. He explains the different theories of diplomacy that have evolved over the years, from Machiavelli’s emphasis on power politics to Kissinger’s approach of balancing power and morality. He also discusses the key skills that are required for the successful practice of diplomacy: