Diplomacy is a key process of communication and negotiation in world politics and the most important foreign policy instrument. Diplomacy is characterised by its agenda..So, how would we call diplomacy of today? What issues do diplomats negotiate about in the 21st century politics? Haven't we perhaps seen a rise of a new phenomenon, so called 'economic diplomacy'?The most important issues on diplomatic agenda are no more issues related to peace and war but rather economic stability..
The post-cold war order brought some significant changes to the study and practise of diplomacy. Firstly, diplomacy became more open to public scrutiny and control. Secondly, states are no longer the only actors engaged in diplomacy. Non-state actors, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations play a big role in influencing and shaping diplomacy. Just to look at the recent example of German Chancellor Angela's Merkel diplomatic talks with U.S President Barack Obama about the future of Opel and General Motors.., Green Peace campaigns to influence changes in climate policy formulations..So, diplomacy is nowadays a complex process with many actors playing the leading roles..They all try to influence inter-state behaviour to achieve their own goals....Is this a threat to stability of the international relations? Does the 'new diplomacy' bring chaos and disorder?My argument is that it does in some ways...We may wake up one day lamenting the loss of the order that the 'old diplomacy' gave to the anarchy of international relations...Challenging!
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Hi Monika
ReplyDeleteI think you made incredible good analysis and coverage for the subject, and I have to admit that you have in lighted me to some dark area of matter. I also have some thoughts to share with you that need to be explored further.
In the first paragraph you have lower the profile of diplomacy in terms of security (''The most important issues on diplomatic agenda are no more issues related to peace and war but rather economic stability''). Recently there have been many conflicts e.g. Pakistan and India which are at the brink of nuclear war, Georgia conflict, the siege of Gaza, North and South Korea, Lebanon war and many others. All this conflicts need serious international diplomacy in order in order to be solved. President Obama promised before he was get elected that he will use tough diplomacy to stop both Iran and North Korea to acquire nuclear weapons. There are many other crises relating security diplomacy such as Darfur and the civil war in Somalia. Even states used diplomacy was used to access of oil security, food security and other resources. All this examples show that the use of diplomacy in security issue is important.
I do agree with that non state actors play important role in modern world. They actively involve international issues by campaign against climate change and poverty and I also believe they have negative side. Some of the non state actor uses violence to reach their political goal which sometimes may alienate the sympathy of people.
In conclusion, Does the 'new diplomacy' bring chaos and disorder?, I believe no. imagine the war of India and Pakistan, two nuclear states 2001 without international mediation, especially the UN, the result would have been huge. climate, poverty and women issue would the in governments agenda with push from non state actors.
Many regards
Mohamed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ucCAz3eLEM
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