purposeful tool for the new diplomacy

Diplomacy is a practice that underwent several changes over time and is still evolving, accommodating the changing global environment. Currently two main issues are affecting diplomacy as a result of its increased openness, inclusiveness and its engagement with low politics matters: the emergence of non-state actors in the diplomatic communication and the increasing relevance of multilateral diplomacy.

Nowadays non-state actors, such as NGOs, are acquiring more relevance in the international scenario, either because states are sometimes unable to deal with some issues, e.g. failed states, or because some issues are becoming increasingly internationalized, e.g. human rights, environmental problems etc. For the same reasons non-state actors are engaging more with diplomatic actions, as Richard Longhorne states “when crisis seem to lie beyond the control of governments or the relevant intergovernmental organizations, non-state actors come to play significant roles”(Longhorne, 2005, 332) and they are able to “transcend the constrains of the state” (ibid.).
One example which shows the importance of NGOs diplomacy is Greenpeace winning the diplomatic war over whales fishing in Japan in 2006.
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/06/wake_up_and_smell_the_cof.html.

The other important aspect of the new diplomacy is its multilateralism which is a diplomatic communication undertaken by several governments simultaneously (Walker, 2004, 16).
As said above, many global issues are crossing the states’ borders, and a pooled diplomacy can be an useful to gain mutual benefits and tackle cross border issues such as pollution or poverty.
The Non-Aligned Movement is a good example of multilateral diplomacy, and though during its existence faced problems related to the hegemonic and hierarchical structure of the international system (not only, but also internal problems due to lack of consent and consistency), it highlights an important development: it allowed weak states to have a diplomatic machinery which otherwise would have been completely absent. Moreover multilateral diplomacy allow weak states to have a seat together with the powerful ones and could permit the former to be treated equally and fairly; as Walker says “ the weak need the powerful more than vice-versa” (Walker, 2004, 25), but the powerful should leave more room for the weak for the multilateral diplomacy to work properly and fairly.
Overall diplomacy is evolving and implementing its tactics, though it is not abandoning the old practice such as bilateral diplomacy or secrecy.
However this is just the base, in fact both NGOs diplomacy and multilateral diplomacy must be improved to meet relevant goals.
Most of all, NGOs must affirm their legitimacy and multilateral conferences must not be driven by plutocracy.
Both of them are purposeful tool for diplomacy, however they need the spur to develop and improve.



Longhorne R, 2005, “The Diplomacy of Non-State Actors”, in Diplomacy and Statecraft, Vol.16, No.2, Routledge Taylor & Francis.

Walker R, 2004, “Multilateral Conferences: Purposeful International Negotiation”, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire.