Meaning of Diplomacy
Diplomacy describes the political representation of a country and its foreign affairs with international relations to the foreign nations. It refers to methods of political interaction between states including negotiation techniques in states treaties, agreements and other forms of international communication. However, diplomacy is not confined to politics; it is a tool that offers successful communication between individuals. It plays an important role in preventing wars, in settling disputes over resources, territories, and authority, and in encouraging peaceful discussions. Diplomacy can be considered a method dating from time immemorial of influencing decisions and behavior from foreign governments and peoples by the means of discussion and negotiation.
The conventional usage of the term has until recently been formal relations between independent states. Successive developments have since extended it to include summit meetings, international conferences, parliamentary diplomacy, the activities of supra-national and sub-national entities, informal diplomacy by non-governmental actors, and the work of international civil service employees. The Greek word "diploma," referring to certain official documents giving specific privileges, is the source of the term "diplomacy." Later, its use was extended to refer to international relations and thereby lost its direct relevance to documents.
During the 18th century, the French word diplomate was used to describe a person who was given power to represent or negotiate a state.
Types of Diplomacy
Traditionally, diplomacy has been categorized into seven types:
Politics of Pacification:
This deals with soothing the war between nations and avoiding aggravating situations that are already at a standoff. It assumes that give-and-take from the two opposing parties will eventually solve a deadlock.
Gunboat diplomacy:
This refers to those forms of diplomacy that emphasize the use of military power for the attainment of objectives in foreign policy. It institutionalizes the use of military force as opposed to classical forms of diplomacy.
Dollar Diplomacy:
In this kind of diplomacy, the national objectives are pursued through economic means, such as loans. The general implication here is economic exploitation of smaller nations to the influence of great foreign banking and corporate interests.
Public Diplomacy:
Public diplomacy differs from traditional forms of diplomacy in that it aims at the achievement of desired objectives via influencing foreign public opinion. It accomplishes its ends not by forcing or bribing people but by appealing presentations.
People's Diplomacy:
It is the day-to-day communication between nations, a process of mutual understanding, and a way of achieving a rich cultural exchange between two societies.
Economic Diplomacy:
Modern area of diplomatic activity using the tools of economic issues to carry on cooperation in international relations. Included are such things as boosting export, foreign investments attraction, and international economic organizations engagement.
Electronic Diplomacy:
This deals with addressing diplomatic issues via the internet, communications technology, social media, blogs, and global media platforms. The objectives are to advance the interests of foreign policy and manage media relations online.
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