Changing ones ideas

Question: What do you understand by the word diplomacy?
Answer: Diplomacy is the relationship and conversing of parties/ states in an international arena.

This was the question proposed to us on our first day of ‘The New Diplomacy’ module followed by my very naive answer. While fundamentally true, I had no idea that the subject of diplomacy was going to entail so much and at the same time involve no foreign policy what so ever. (A rookie mistake I grant you!)

Since then I have come to discover an array of topics within the module which were fascinating, as well as a varied history that has developed according to society in each particular era. I tended to think of diplomacy only in relation to conflict but have been pleasantly surprised to find that it relates to all fields. When we watch the news or hear of certain stories we don’t tend to think of all that goes on behind the scenes yet the process is immense. This module has broadened my scope and has changed my views with regards to politics, NGO’s and negotiation; and the way it is conducted. The different ways that a government approaches these dilemmas and the relationships between countries are so dynamic and at times so sensitive that diplomacy is really the only option.

I have personally found that diplomacy in relation to security is the most fascinating as it involves not only the public forum but the secret one as well. It is here that you truly see negotiation developing into an art form. It encompasses more that just one countries relationship with another but rather with international society as a whole.

With the development of globalisation the need for diplomacy on an international level has increased. It is quite possibly the most important factor of our global society as without it we would not have trade agreements, international security or environmental policies. It is embedded in every part of our system even without our full knowledge and as society develops diplomacy will continue to do so as well. This module has been called ‘The New Diplomacy’ as it has stemmed out of what we consider the ‘old’ diplomacy but with the rapid development of technologies and our world in general what we call ‘new’ at this moment won’t be for very long.

Explaining diplomacy a different way: