Define Diplomacy and its role in International Politics.
Here we learn the topic Define Diplomacy and its role in International Politics in detail.
Diplomacy
The term diplomacy covers a variety of ideas. In his classical book on diplomacy, Harold Nicholson stated that people use the term diplomacy to mean five different words. They use it as a synonym for “foreign policy.” They signifies ‘negotiation. It also denotes ‘the processes and machinery that carry out such negotiation. Its fourth meaning is ‘foreign service’ and the fifth interpretation which this word carries is an abstract quality or skill in the conduct of international negotiation’. However, all of these meanings cannot completely accept us. Tact, skill, and glue serve as standards or criteria of good diplomacy but do not define diplomacy in general. Diplomacy is not a diplomatic career. In a diplomatic career, a limited number of people work, but they find diplomacy somewhat broader.
If diplomacy means foreign policy, it becomes too broad. Diplomacy is only a means by which decision-makers put the policies into effect. It is only one part of the process by which officials formulate and execute foreign policy. Diplomacy is, in fact, “the management of international relations by means of negotiation; the method by which ambassadors and envoys adjust and manage these relations; the business or art of the diplomat.”
Quincy Wright defines diplomacy at two levels -in the popular sense and in the special sense.
In the popular sense, it means “the employment of tact, shrewdness, and skill in any negotiation or transaction, and in
the special sense it means the art of negotiation or transaction, and in the special sense it means the art
of negotiation, in order to achieve the maximum of group objectives with a minimum of costs, with a system of
politics in which war is a possibility.”
In Quincy Wright definition the second part i.e., the art of negotiation is more correct for the purpose of defining
diplomacy. Diplomacy is the art of negotiating the issues which may involve war and it is the duty of diplomacy to
avert such a crisis.
Only in the areas of possible agreement diplomacy has a scope. It will be irrelevant if there is complete agreement and ineffective in areas of complete disagreement.
Earnest B. Hass & Allen S. Whiting feels that the rival parties in negotiations put forth diplomacy as a cumulative effect.
They say, “The accumulative political economic, and military pressure upon each side, formalized in the exchange of demands and concessions between negotiations.”
In the view of Prof. Morgenthau, ‘diplomacy is the promotion of the nation’s interests by peaceful means.’
Here we learn the topic Define Diplomacy and its role in International Politics in detail.
Nature of Diplomacy
In the background of diplomacy there exist some political, economic and military pressures. Support, demands and concessions are also exchanged in diplomacy. Negotiations are adopted as a means of dealing by the diplomats. Thus, the function of diplomacy is to extend concessions and seek concessions.
The basis of diplomacy is always the peaceful method like negotiation. Morgenthau holds the view that diplomacy strives to promote national interests by peaceful means and Nicholson has derived the outbreak of war in the case of failure of diplomacy. Palmer and Perkins do not agree with Nicholson’s view. In their words, “Diplomacy does not cease to function, as Nicholson suggests, during the time of wars, although it necessarily plays a different role. The work of diplomats, as of foreign ministers, may even expand during the time of war. The diplomacy of two World Wars of this century provides convincing support of this contention.” Diplomacy provides an opportunity for limited use of force.
Whenever there is a stalemate in a conference, one of the parties may suggest the use of limited force or threat to use force to compel the other party in question to concede to the demands. Many examples from history may be quoted to support this contention. Thus, diplomacy may be best understood by subscribing the following characteristics to it, ie.-
( A ) Diplomacy is like a machine neither moral nor immoral. Its utility depends upon the motives and merits of the users of it.
( B ) Diplomacy functions through a labyrinth of foreign offices embassies, legations, consulates, and special missions all over the world,
( C ) It is commonly bilateral in character.
( D ) In modern times its multilateral aspects have become increasingly significant. International conferences, international organizations, regional arrangements and collective security are the multilateral aspects of diplomacy.
( E ) Diplomacy is related with a multitude of interests, from the simplest manner of details in the relations between two states to vital issues of war and peace. When it breaks down, the danger of war, or at least of a major crisis is very real.
Role of Diplomacy
Diplomacy had been one of the most popular commonly used craft since the very inception of human civilization. In our religious scriptures, there are very many references which illustrate the prevalence of the highest kind of diplomacy mission of Angada to dissuade Ravana from precipitating a crisis and that of Sri Krishna to settle the dispute in Mahabharata amicably are fine illustrations. Kautilya’s Arthashtra’s and ‘Sukra Niti’ are the monumental works on the art of diplomacy.
The Romans did little to advance the art of diplomacy by negotiation but they did make important contributions to international law. The diplomatic methods, by Roman emperors and eastern emperor, were used with greater skill and greater effect. For a clear understanding of the role of diplomacy, its history from the treaty of Westphallia (1648) must be carefully studied. With this analysis the role of diplomacy can be illustrated as follows –
Here we learn the topic Define Diplomacy and its role in International Politics in detail.
(i) Balance of Power System (the Period of Monarchies)
After the treaty of Westphallia (1648). Europe saw the emergence of many sovereign states which had designed their relations. For the security of smaller states and for stopping any other states from accumulating power to such proportions as may endanger the security of other, on the principle of balance of power. A vast network of treaties came to existence in this era in which the members changed their sides as needs and circumstances demanded. The Holy Alliance and Concert of Europe buttressed by the operations of the balance of the power system brought systematic conduct in international relations. The game was played according to the new rules with a fair degree of success. The system broke down in the twentieth century. Nevertheless, it provided the framework for the practice of diplomacy.
(ii) Modern Period (The System of Collective Security)
The first World War totally destroyed the balance of the power system. Scientific and technological developments have a rapid increase in communications, the growing sense of the community of nations and the increasing appreciation of the importance of public opinion have contributed to the total eclipse of sacred diplomacy. This has led to the enormous increase in a diplomat’s functions. As the number of international organizations, groupings, and conferences increased, multilateral diplomacy took an added significance. The system of collective security was one with which the diplomacy of this period can be associated.
(iii) Between Two World Wars
The treaty of Versailles failed in its mission of maintaining peace and security in Europe as it had some inherent weaknesses which made it a force. The terms of this treaty were so harsh and revengeful that instead of maintaining peace it bred contempt. Hitler kicked it as the first opportunity. The fascist regimes of Europe evolved a diplomacy of malicious propaganda, threat of war, use of force and arrogance in diplomatic conduct. In the western democracies, where collective security and balance of power still existed in ghost form, chose the diplomacy of appeasement. From 1939 to 1941, the role of diplomacy was confined to prevent the occurrence of war in their territories.
(iv) The making of International Law
The international law, which different diplomatic conferences again shaped, brought the old concept of balance of power in the political sense. In the eighteenth century, its multilateral aspect became more significant. The multilateral aspect could evolve some general norms of diplomatic conduct which the family of nations was to practice. The general norms of diplomatic conduct were- (i) Sovereignty, (ii) Recognition by other States, (iii) Self defence, (iv) International obligations, (v) Consent, (vi) Good faith, and (vii) Freedom of the High Seas. Thus, diplomacy played a very significant role in the evolution and codification of international law. The Hague conventions of 1899, 1907, 1930, 1956 and 1966, Geneva conventions gave international law a crystallized form.
(v) Maintenance of peace
The most important role of diplomacy is to maintain such a peace which may help the state to promote national starved for imperial peace for a major power, and peace for dominance and balance of power.
(vi) Uneasy Peace
The sentence cannot be converted to active voice. This is an environment in which the rival states indulge in sabotaging the interest of each other without an armed hostility. The role of diplomacy, under such conditions, is related to vicious propaganda, sabotaging, espionage and murders. A large number of subsidiary services assist traditional diplomacy here to pass on the information or care on the under-hand practices. To harm to
interests of other states with the means other than war is the intention of diplomacy.
(vii) War
Harold Nicholson was of the view that the outbreak of war is the failure of diplomacy. His contention is not wholly right. Diplomacy, in times of war, is more important and its role is more significant than in the times of peace. In times of war, diplomacy may successfully try to alienate the enemy, to break the morale of the enemy populace and convince upon the world public the justification of declaring war. It may successfully mobilize resources and public opinion in its favour.
(viii) Mobilization of World Public Opinion
It is an art of presenting the interests of the state in an appealing way. High human ideals give the interests of the state their colour. The motive behind all these endeavours is to mobilize world public opinion. The states participate in intentional diplomatic conferences feigning sincerity and honesty, while at heat they conspire to sabotage them to pursue their interests, by placing a joker
Here we learn the topic Define Diplomacy and its role in International Politics in detail.