Thursday, 14 May 2009
My Understanding of Diplomacy Today
My study of the module "The New Diplomacy" has broadened my scope on what I have always known as diplomacy - contact between representatives of states on various issues. Diplomacy today as I see it is vastly different from what it was in the 19th century. I have also come to realize that many things have changed in diplomacy since the 19th century. I now see states gradually losing their monopolistic hold on subjects of international interest, thereby paving the way for international organizations and other entities to be recognized as diplomats. More than 15000 Non-Governmental Organizations directly or indirectly involved themselves in international affairs. Institutions like Greenpeace, Amnesty International act through their staff today to fulfill diplomatic functions. One of the most important challenges facing the global community is the prevention of destructive conflicts. I notice a new addition to diplomatic vocabulary is peace building. This refers to efforts made by those concerned to supervise elections, revamp the economy, humanitarian aid, resettling refuges, which in the most part are carried out by NGOs. Technology has pushed forward the old diplomcy. The days of filing procedures are gone, as new electronic innovations are developed. I see modern communications technology offering the diplomat easy and fast access to broad areas of information and speedy and reliable methods of transmission.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Diplomacy Evolves
We have to look at the meaning of diplomcy before concluding that it has two variants i.e. Old Diplomacy and New Diplomcacy. We also have to distinguish between foreign policy and diplomacy. Diplomacy is the means to carry out a nation's foreign policy while such foreign policy comprises of the general goals such country seeks to achieve in its relations with other countries." Diplomacy is the means to carry out a nation's foreign policy while such policy foreign policy comprises of the general goals such country seeks to achieve in its relations with other countries.
Diplomacy is an on-going process compressed by time because each generation experiences changes in complicated combination of different interrelated factors. Hillary Clinton recently said she intends to revitalize the mission of diplomacy in American foreign policy, calling for a "smart power" strategy in the Middle East. She said, "America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America."
Secretary Cordell Hull is also said, "Twenty critical years have changed this traditional pattern dramatically. As our responsibilities in world affairs grew, the task of our diplomacy became more complex and its instruments multiplied correspondingly." Diplomacy has evolved, meeting head-on new demands. One of them is the decline of the role of national governments. Other actors such as religious groups, the media, private sector have emerged on the political as well as economic scene to challenge governments in having a say in making and implementing foreign policy. The rise of NGOs has challenged national government monopoly on diplomatic issues as they often participate in diplomatic processes, particularly those decisions involved with human rights issues and the environment.
Technology has also been an instrument which has shaped the nature of diplomacy, whether Old or New Diplomacy. Satellite broadcasting and digital networks, including the internet are among the new implemented innovations. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors as well as Multicorporation CEOs are now able to hold direct face to face communication via video conferencing instantaneously .
Some political negotiations between states could be secret in other not to incite public unrest, however, in an ever changing world, diplomacy evolves and so bodies like the EU, UN, NGOs have become active players in solving conflict- for instance the Israeli/Palestinian conflict which has span several decades but also witnessing different diplomatic approaches.
Diplomacy is an on-going process compressed by time because each generation experiences changes in complicated combination of different interrelated factors. Hillary Clinton recently said she intends to revitalize the mission of diplomacy in American foreign policy, calling for a "smart power" strategy in the Middle East. She said, "America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America."
Secretary Cordell Hull is also said, "Twenty critical years have changed this traditional pattern dramatically. As our responsibilities in world affairs grew, the task of our diplomacy became more complex and its instruments multiplied correspondingly." Diplomacy has evolved, meeting head-on new demands. One of them is the decline of the role of national governments. Other actors such as religious groups, the media, private sector have emerged on the political as well as economic scene to challenge governments in having a say in making and implementing foreign policy. The rise of NGOs has challenged national government monopoly on diplomatic issues as they often participate in diplomatic processes, particularly those decisions involved with human rights issues and the environment.
Technology has also been an instrument which has shaped the nature of diplomacy, whether Old or New Diplomacy. Satellite broadcasting and digital networks, including the internet are among the new implemented innovations. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors as well as Multicorporation CEOs are now able to hold direct face to face communication via video conferencing instantaneously .
Some political negotiations between states could be secret in other not to incite public unrest, however, in an ever changing world, diplomacy evolves and so bodies like the EU, UN, NGOs have become active players in solving conflict- for instance the Israeli/Palestinian conflict which has span several decades but also witnessing different diplomatic approaches.
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