Diplomacy, the art of communicating with other countries, reaches into all aspects of our lives. Its core elements include negotiation, communication and representation. Understanding their interplay enriches our comprehension of global affairs and the mechanisms that govern them.
Diplomatic relations are the scaled-up version of human neighbors learning to live together, whether they are sharing a garden, managing water resources or even navigating migratory paths for wildlife. In this context, a quiet exchange of information can be as important as a formal agreement or even a public protest. Diplomats and envoys, when stripped away of their protocol and ornate settings, are people with their own families, hopes and concerns. They also reflect a wide range of cultures and histories. Their interactions are influenced by psychology — the dynamics of trust and perceived biases – and driven by their natural proclivities towards both cooperation and conflict.
Successful negotiation results in an agreement, often a formal one called a treaty. Occasionally, diplomats will resort to coercion to achieve their goals – for example, in resolving the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait in 1990. They may also withdraw ambassadors or envoys, signaling their displeasure with a host country. In extreme cases, they can even sever diplomatic relations, a severe act that is only undertaken in very severe situations.
The practice of diplomacy has evolved and adapted over time. For example, smaller states used to send and receive envoys, a rung below the minister of plenipotentiary. This morphed into the modern institution of permanent diplomatic missions. Larger nations, meanwhile, opted to hold international conferences on issues such as migration or trade, where dozens of heads of state could meet to discuss common interests.
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