New blogs on the New Diplomacy

The students posting their thoughts on this blog have now completed the module. I have set up a series of new blogs for the students who are about to start the module this week. Please follow and comment on their work at:

http://thenewdiplomacya.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacyb.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacyc.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacyd.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacye.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacyf.blogspot.com/
http://thenewdiplomacyg.blogspot.com/

The diplomacy of Global Village

As the world has become increasingly interconnected and interdependent, so does politics amongst states has entered different stage in the way they are conducted. In this globalized world the diplomacy had become a necessity in building up bridges amongst states in variety of issues. Looking back in the history, it is clearly evident that diplomatic activities were mainly in bilateral bases. Furthermore, the old diplomacy lacked the concept of transparency and openness and was of a main concern in regards of security issues. It is argued, it remained so till the end of the Cold War. It was after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the liberal democracy triumphed as the global ideology and led to the transformation in the conduct of diplomatic activities towards a new, transparent way of work. The notion of bilateral diplomacy began fading away, since the need of multilateral negotiations was the key element in establishing a new, peaceful international stage. And as states are not longer willing to fight a war in order to gain status of a super power, the role of diplomacy has increased its importance. In this sense, is inevitable not to mention the role of the public diplomacy, which has been widely accepted as a positive force, where diplomats had become co-ordinators, facilitators and catalysts in the establishment of dialogue between states. In contrary to the propagandistic way of communicating with foreign states, the contemporary public diplomacy is based on the notions of credibility and reliability to promote a positive image in international stage. And what actually the new diplomacy tends to do, is to create a long term relationship amongst states.

The international relations tend to be a lot more complex compared to the ones 20-30 years ago. Huge changes have taken place and especially the increasing role of NGO's in recent diplomatic activities. Inevitable, NGO's and civil service has proven successful on particular issues of global importance, such as climate change, human rights issues and so on. They have managed to gather public support towards these issues and they have been accepted to get involve in a diplomatic activities, which would not been accepted in the traditional diplomacy. NGO's have not only been able to lobby governments but they have also been able to represent underdeveloped states in a multilateral venues, such as the Johannesburg summit, Copenhagen summit, etc. However, NGO's still play a limited role in shaping policies, but they have managed to put pressure on government about certain issues.

As mentioned above, it could be argued, that diplomacy has evolved dramatically in recent years. But on the other hand, it is seen , that the core elements of the traditional diplomacy are still very much intact. Bilateral diplomacy, associated with secrecy and lack of openness still exist. However, at the end of the day, secret or not, diplomacy is the only way international affairs are conducted. But what is the new about diplomacy, is the fact, that it does not longer serve the interest of the few, but is rather trying to work towards the common good.

What is Diplomacy?

Honestly, there were so many interested things learned about diplomacy since the start of the module that is hard so say exactly what the main role of diplomacy is today. I admit in the first lecture when I was asked about the reasons why I have chosen the module, I was not confident about my answer, but today nearly at the end the module I would definitely tell that one of the main roles of diplomacy is to bring peace and dialogue between countries whether bilateral or multilateral diplomacy is used. Before we visited the Swedish Embassy, I would never guess the importance of embassies, because in my mind they are just involved on issuing visas for foreigners who want to visit their countries, issuing or renewing passports for their own nationals and representing their countries abroad. But when we were received by the Vice-Consul of the Swedish embassy who took his time to explain to us that the role of the embassy is more than just issuing visas and passports. For instance he told us that direct contact between personalities of two different countries is very important in the conduct of bilateral relations, meaning that technology is not the most important factor in diplomacy. He also explained how the embassy promotes their country’s brand abroad by working closely with their foreign investors. I understand know why Berridge argues that: ‘The resident embassy is still alive. It has survived the communications and transport revolutions... (Berridge, 2010, 123)’.
In short, I learned more about the embassy and the role played by their diplomats and that gives the envy to become a diplomat myself.
The second interesting factor that has really increased my knowledge in Diplomacy is without doubt the roles played by Non Government Organisations (NGOs). Before we start Multilateral Diplomacy, I could not weight how NGOs were important for states and how closely they were working with the United Nations (UN). This makes me stick to the argument of Ambassador Don Mills who says: ‘The right of NGOs to a presence during UN deliberations rests originally on provisions in Article 71 of the Charter, but the new situation goes far beyond the founders vision (Aviel et al, 2005, 34)’.
Before the module I was not aware that they were heavily involved the same way like the UN in Human Rights, Humanitarian Interventions, landmines etc...
Finally, I would say that the module has really motivated me to learn more about diplomacy and it has also makes me realised that we are all diplomats, to be conscious or not about it is something different.

My understanding of diplomacy today

The new diplomacy module has offered me a deeper understanding of the process of diplomacy. I cannot say that my opinions have radically changed, but I have got a chance to better understand, how it really works and I can better support my arguments. I can now give much more evidence about what I say. I have learnt some important historical facts about how the diplomacy has developed and got a chance to make a comparison between the old and new diplomacy. I have also realized how the public diplomacy is important and how it is used by states and all its limitations and advantages. I have realized some new facts about the embassies in foreign countries and mainly how those embassies work. It was very helpful to talk about all actors that act in the diplomatic process and how significant they are or eventually are not. I have recognized how particular actors in states’ governments are important in negotiating, for instance, the prime minister can sometimes overcome the foreign minister in negotiating and even negotiate without the foreign minister knowing about it. It is also related to secrecy in the diplomacy and that states are not like one unit, but there are many parts and departments in states that can even negotiate on their own.

My understanding of diplomacy today

I have recently listened to a podcast of Professor Brian Hocking from 2009 delivered in the Governance and International Relations Research Seminar Series at London Metropolitan University in which he stated that “the essence of diplomacy is communications”. At the beginning of the module my view about the discipline was concentrated on the relations among states and their skills of negotiation.


Ten weeks later, my scope of view broadened including non-state actors taking part in the negotiations and in this way multiplying the number of people involved in the discipline. Not only their number increased but also the matters diplomacy is concerned with- the “globalization” of the trade, the widening scope of environmental disasters spreading beyond state borders, and the disrespect of human rights by numerous governments. With the democratization of the state system and the freedom of expression the expectation for openness of the international diplomatic relations was and still is just ostensibly true. Nevertheless, the citizens find another way of participating indirectly in the profession of diplomacy- through membership in non-governmental organizations, signing petitions or moratoriums etc.
Now, my opinion expanded to that

Diplomacy did not lose its essence; it won complexity of matters and actors cooperating and integrating themselves into the discipline.
Pictures borrowed from:
• www.blogs.worldbank.org/governance/page?page=1
• www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/02/shaking-hands.jpg

My understandings of diplomacy today

Looking back to my first impression of Diplomacy it gives a different view of your understand of diplomacy. Diplomacy has embraced different styles of diplomacy form the European style, the American revolutionary style and the third world styles which gives the great importance were and how is the diplomacy, with new factors involved. Form traditional diplomacy that attributes his negotiations, protocols and secrecy to a more modern diplomacy open so to speak diplomacy which involve tackling more now a days issues, such as security, military controls and environmental. The changes varied from states as no longer the main actors, more participation from international organisations and the non-actors engagements helped to change the nature of the diplomacy. The new development of diplomacy brings the public diplomacy, the Internet, World Wide Web all are involved in process of diplomacy. Nevertheless diplomacy is involvement that links countries into low politics in order for the self benefit of their own countries and exercises the culture and policies to a neighbour country it also exercise the negotiations that involve with abroad embassies, diplomats meetings, summitry, trade and bilateral. Today with more involvement with non-actors and non organisations (NGOs) involvements helps to expand the diplomacy agenda to tackle poverty and developments from developing countries. Diplomacy is a good method for forming alliances with countries in order to help the development of a particular governments or country , the public diplomacy as well cultural collaborations, the creations of embassies especial from third world countries, the in or out of people around the world it all contribute for the diplomacy to be more efficient and right because is still long way and still lots of issues that many ambassadors should tackle(health, poverty ,stopping the hard power usage) we just have to wait and see is ,it is the beginner of things that is what I understand what diplomacy is.

Changes in my way of understanding "New Diplomacy"

During those few months of studying the "new diplomacy" my view on the topic did not change too much. My first idea about what is new in diplomacy was creating new ways of creating and mainaining relations between states. The process of globalization made it easier to communicate and commute, technological development allowed politicians to attend conferences virtually, via telephone or videocameras. What was not surprising for me as well was the change within the international relation's system, specifically that "states were no longer the only actors involved" (Baylis and Smith 2005:390). Numbers speak for themselves: 1909 - 176 NGOs, 1954 - 1255 NGOs, 2007 - 27723 NGOs ( Kegley 2009:190). NGOs play a very important part in negotiations, they are able to influence states and other NGOs. What is more, after the period of Cold War and bilateral world, there came a time for more participants to take part in diplomacy processes. That is why the phenomenon of multilateral diplomacy was a thing that must have occured in order to restore balance in the world. Although I might have surmised what the "new" diplomacy is about, but it would not be so clear without attending this module, which gave me a wider look at the diplomacy.

Sources:
Kegley, Ch (2009) World Politics. Trend and Transformation, Cengage
Baylis, J and Smith, S (2005) The Globalization of the World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press