'New Diplomacy' and my own experience

The last 3 months have been a great journey through the world of diplomacy..Before starting this module I have had very high hopes and expectations towards it and I have to be honest, the teaching programme and methods used, all made it an extraordinary experience.
I did not only examine the role of diplomacy in the main theoretical approaches to International Relations but also practised my knowledge through such events like visit to the Swedish Embassy or Ghanian High Commision. By meeting diplomatic officials and been able to ask questions regarding their work, I had an opportunity to expand my knowledge even more.

This module has proved that diplomacy is a very complex process. I was unaware of all complexities and different actors that shape modern diplomacy. We have not only identified diplomacy as a key foreign policy instrument, process of communication and negotiation in world politics but examined the changing nature of diplomacy, with particular emphasis on the interaction of traditional state diplomatic representatives with NGO's. We have explored the activities of different pressure groups, every time trying to raise questions whether they are/ or should be seen as legitimate 'diplomats'..especially when it comes to negotiations concerning global issues like the environment and trade. Looking at Berridge's articles, we found some very passionate arguments about this issue and had a great debate in the class.

Exploring the evolution of diplomacy, we looked at historically different stages in the development of modern diplomacy, distinguishing terms like 'traditional' and 'new' diplomacy. We looked at historical frames of diplomacy and how it evolved once originated in ancient Greece. Reading Hamilon and Langhorne, we 'took' it to fifteenth century Italy, when first permanent embassies were established and diplomatic agents acting on behalf of of their states became institutionalized and professionalized. All these approaches were structured to influence our thinking and to move from general to specific meanings of the term diplomacy. We have learnt that there are many types of diplomatic practice, that diplomacy can be bilateral, multilateral..and above all, we have discovered that the changing interests of states and the whole process of globalization makes it a real phenomenon