The Evolution of Diplomcay

The Evolution of Diplomacy

Okay, I’m totally new to this subject so still learning :)

Diplomacy is always evolving to incorporate the present important issues in international society. Much of the work done by Diplomats is spent revising and regulating international law and introducing treaties to help states collaborate and coexist happily with one another. In Old diplomacy, a secretive affair between two states, negotiations were predominantly centred on matters of state security (high politics). These exclusive bilateral discussions generally took place between elite aristocratic members of society and government, and were handled confidentially with no public acknowledgement. New diplomacy on the other hand is inclusive and involves open participation and multilateral discussions with collective negotiations. Agendas aren’t only about ‘high politics’ but also include ‘low politics’ involving social, economic and welfare issues, for example climate change. With growing access to new technologies and communications, and in an era of globalisation, states are more inclined to work together to address issues more openly involving more than two states and these events incorporate non-state actors in decision making such as NGOs and MNCs. Decisions are openly shared with the public once negotiations have taken place (which are still generally established upon behind closed doors).

I think the most significant change in the nature of diplomacy from those mentioned above is that in new diplomacy non state actors are now largely acknowledged when it comes to negotiations and they can heavily influence decision making. NGOs don’t work along any state sovereignty and they are usually not swayed by one state or another. Their powers are based primarily on the greater common good and generally focus more in areas of environment or marginalized populations which sovereign states might otherwise disregard. NGOs can have a stronger influence on more citizens worldwide than sovereign states as their organisations reach out to a wider audience and multiple nationalities. With the new transparency of diplomatic negotiations as it is today states are being encouraged to also act for the greater common good and not necessarily for their sole survival within the system as was the case prior to globalisation and the inclusion of NGOs in diplomacy.

Sophie