Diplomacy changing, along with the International system

Diplomacy is communication and negotiation between states to settle agreements or disputes, and the main purpose being to have good relations between states. One of the biggest differences between "old" and "new" diplomacy is that more states and also other actors, such as NGOs and MNCs, are represented and allowed to participate in these negotiations. Diplomacy today is usually not practiced between a selected few, but rather multilateraly, so it is not as closed, exclusive and secret as it used to be. This may be due to the changing nature of international relations; many new important issues on the agenda, such as the environment, which affects us all and requires global cooperation and discussion. It can be questioned whether all states have the same amount of power to affect negotiations, as a realist could argue that the big powers are still the ones making the decisions at the end of the day, they can use soft power to persuade in order to achieve their own goals. A positive view could be the NGOs' participation, as they are not controlled by any one state and therefore not all actors are driven by national interest. Another big change is that the public actually gets to see what the states are up to, for example the Copenhagen conference last year, and can be more aware about the diplomatic relations between the states and what deals are being made. It is arguable whether this is a good thing or not, as diplomacy then is in front of a big audience, where many may not have broad knowledge about international relations and politics.