Diplomacy – The Art and Science of Negotiation

Diplomacy is a way of managing international relationships by communicating and negotiating with one another. It is a long process, it can be frustrating and even painful at times. But, ultimately, it is what shapes the world we live in today. Every treaty, every Security Council or UN General Assembly resolution, every law and even the United Nations Charter itself rely on the practice of diplomacy.

There are many forms of diplomatic practice – back-channel talks, summits, and envoys among them. Thousands of civil servants run embassies, manage international organizations and institutions, and carry out day-to-day diplomacy. They are the people that liaise with foreign governments, negotiate on behalf of their nation, and even exchange pandas.

The word diploma derives from the ancient Greek words , meaning “folded in two” and , meaning an object conferring privileges (like a license or chart). Later, it came to refer to any solemn document through which princes granted such favours to their subjects. The modern definition of diplomacy is much more expansive. It is now seen as a system of international relations, with its corresponding institutions – such as embassies and consulates, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and an established hierarchy of diplomatic ranks.

There are three main skills that make a diplomat successful. First, they must understand history. This helps them understand how things have changed and why the world is the way it is today. They also need to master cultural nuances and be people persons. The best diplomats are able to see their counterpart’s point of view and empathise with them. For example, Jimmy Carter understood Menachem Begin’s love for his grandchildren and used this as a tactic in his Camp David negotiations with Israel and Syria following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

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