Diplomacy has always been associated with embassies, international relations and high politics but it’s also a set of skills that matter in many other areas. Take our Introduction to Politics ExpertTrack to learn the underlying skills that help you be diplomatic in your career and everyday life.
Initially, diplomacy developed as a way to deal with the inherent problems of interstate relationships. Leaders of rival states were liable to inflame passions and start a disastrous war if they met face to face, so they learned to send envoys who could state their case in less inflammatory ways and who wouldn’t be so personally invested in the issue at hand.
Larger countries had ambassadors, while smaller ones sent envoys or ministers plenipotentiary. These emmissaries would meet face to face, discuss and agree on solutions that were then authorised with a formal diplomatic agreement. These meetings are still a key part of the modern world order, and they’re governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Diplomacy doesn’t just happen between governments but also between sites of power and influence such as huge corporations, religious organisations and even terrorist groups. It’s the mechanism that tries to keep these entities from destroying their own citizens and it can also be used as a tool for building and sustaining peace. In some cases, it’s a last resort in the face of conflict and is conducted through tracks like public, track II and cultural diplomacy.
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