The Functions of Diplomacy Essay

finesse has existed since the beginning of the hu humanity race. The act of conducting negotiations between two persons, or two nations at a large context is es displaceial to the upkeep of international affairs. Among the many functions of delicacy, some include preventing war and violence, and fortifying traffic between two nations. finesse is most importantly used to commit a specific agenda. Therefore without discretion, much of the worlds affairs would be abolished, international organizations would not exist, and above either the world would be at a constant give in of war. It is for statesmanship that certain countries abide exist in harmony. There has not been a documented start of statecraft but there have been instances ranging back to the 5th century where diplomacy arose in certain nations. Dating back to 432 B.C, the Congress of Sparta was an illustration of diplomacy as organise by the Greek City States (Nicolson 1). The origin of the word diploma comes fro m different sides of the earth. In Greece diploma meant folded in two, while in Ancient capital of Italy the word was used to describe travel documents. Often times the word diplomacy is given many meanings.Many times will the words indemnity and the word negotiation be seen as synonyms hence the word diplomacy and foreign diplomacy are deemed to be similar (Nicolson 3). These synonyms of diplomacy are every(prenominal) faulty. While they whitethorn be very similar in some cases, they are not the exactly the same. Sir Harold Nicolson who was an English Diplomat born in Tehran, Persia, states that Diplomacy is neither the invention nor the pastime of some particular political system, but is an essential element in any reason up to(p) relation between man and man and between nation and nation (Nicolson 4). For the upkeep of the International System, diplomacy is used in every corner of the world. Without it many nations would not be able to conduct successful negotiations. While ma ny are not able to find a clear beginning or creation of diplomacy, modern diplomacy has become much more advanced and many aspects have changed over the years. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 created the first modern diplomatic congress in assenting to creating a new world order in central Europe based on state sovereignty.Much of Europe began to change after the demonstration of modern diplomacy. For example, France under Cardinal Richelieu introduced the modern approachto international relations, based on the nation-state and motivated by national interest as its ultimate inclination (Kissinger 17). The New orbit Order began to bloom in all of Central and Western Europe. Great Britain argued for the balance of power which kept European diplomacy animate for the next 200 years (Kissinger 17). Every boorish in Europe contributed a little to the diplomacy the world has today. The balance of powers theory that many historied realists such as Francsesco Sforza, Machiavelli, an d Guiciardini argued was and still is an essential component of modern diplomacy. Many could argue that diplomacy is a product of society and history itself. As countries rise different aspects are added to diplomacy. Separation of powers, national interest, and a countrys sovereignty are unless a few elements that were added to modern diplomatic history. Therefore, diplomacy can be seen as an ever-changing concept, the same way International Relations between countries fluctuate.Author of The Pure Concept of Diplomacy Jos Calvet De Magalhes tell that continuity of the diplomatic institution throughout thousands of years and in all known civilizations shows that diplomacy is an institution inherent to international life itself, one that may undergo transformations or may be used with more or less intensity, but cannot be dispensed with (Szykman). As Henry Kissinger states By prosecute its own selfish interests, each state is presumed to contribute to progress, as if some unseen h and were guaranteeing that freedom of choice for eac state assured well-being for all (Kissinger 22), In the course of all diplomatic history no country has influenced international relations as decisively and at the same time as ambivalently as the unify States. No society, has more firmly insisted on the inadmissibility of intervention in the domestic affairs of other states, or more passionately maintain that its own values were universally applicable. No nation has been more pragmatic in the day-to-day conduct of its diplomacy, or more ideological in the chase of its history moral convictions.No country has been more reluctant to engage itself abroad even while undertaking alliances and commitments of unprecedented reach and scope (Kissinger 18). The United States headstrong tendencies to succeed have made it one of the most influential countries in the course of diplomacy. The most famous of all peace proposals following World War I was the program of Fourteen Points, deliv ered by President Woodrow Wilson in1918 (Szykman). Most can argue that without the United States, much of modern diplomacy would be gone. There are in fact many functions of diplomacy that make diplomacy an essential ingredient for any collected and efficient change. The reason to carry on with other persons has always been the same, to have better relations. Over the course of diplomacy being in existence, the structure of diplomatic posts has changed from a loose one to an organised institution made for a specific purpose.While the structure of diplomatic posts has changed, the functions always remained the same. There are four functions of diplomacy. The first function involves representing a states interests and conducting negotiations or discussions designed to identify common interests as well as areas of disagreement between the parties, for the purpose of achieving the states goals and avoiding conflict (Ameri 1). Representations of a state as well as negotiation are the most important functions of diplomacy. Negotiations between two representatives are a key component in diplomacy, because in doing so the representatives find a common interest. Finding a common interest is alert in conducting negotiations because with a common interest representatives are able to devise a solution that is in the interest of both sides. G.R. Berridge that negotiation can produce the advantages obtainable from the cooperative pursuit of common interests and it is only this activity that can prevent violence from being employed to settle remaining arguments over conflicting ones (Berridge 1).The second function of diplomacy involves the gathering of education and subsequent identification and evaluation of the receiving states foreign policy goals (Ameri 1). Diplomatic posts are concerned with gathering information however when the information is sent back to their native country a Foreign Ministry analyzes the data and determines what foreign policy should be enact ed. Political leaders choose what path is right for their country then. The third major function of diplomacy is expansion of political, economic, and cultural ties between two countries (Ameri 2). For example, after WWII countries such as the United States and Britain aimed their foreign policy at the extermination of communism. In present day, the United States State Department engages international audiences to speak about politics, security, and their values to help create an environment receptive to US national interests. In addition, the State Department annually sponsors more than 40,000educational and cultural exchanges (Diplomacy).Finally, the fourth function of diplomacy is that diplomacy is the facilitating or enforcing vehicle for the watching of international law (Ameri 2). It is the diplomats job to promote the countrys national interests and keep ties with other countries open. The emphasis put on diplomacy is not just dominant in todays world, however it was a develo ping concept in the Renaissance as well. Great thinkers such as Machiavelli, Guicciardini, Grotius, Richelieu, Wicquefort, Satow, Nicolson, and Kissinger had a profound continue on diplomacy. For Machiavelli diplomacy was a tool of deception to grant more power to the state (Beridge 24). Machiavellis impact on leaders was a major one because he argued for leaders to be headstrong as well as reserved. Guicciardini promoted the upkeep of good relations to be careful with whom one deals with and that reputation is key in a negotiation (Berridge 43). His contribution to diplomacy was that diplomatic posts are given to people who can be trusted and can promote their countrys state interests. What these great thinkers contributed to diplomacy was immense. All of them contributed a different element to the ever-growing concept of diplomacy.Since the theatre of operations of diplomacy is always growing and changing, it can be said that because of its vast effect on the world, everybody ne eds diplomacy to survive. It has become such a vital part of everyones life that is indirectly becoming a trait for survival. Throughout the course of history diplomacy has been a paramount element in the upkeep of peace and in the creation of positive change. Without diplomacy much of the worlds affairs would not exist. There are many examples of how diplomacy has affected countries, and even individual citizens. An example of how negotiation positively can affect someone is Clintons negotiation with Kim Jung Il in North Korea. Their peaceful negotiation resulted in the release of two American citizens. An example of how power can corrupt diplomacy is Libya and Switzerland.With the introduction of power, in other words oil, countries such as Libya with the leader Ghaddafi are able to have a stronger presence in the world and say things that can normally not be said. male monarch corrupts, however diplomacy seeks to rid corruption and reinforce the international system as well as i nternational law. It is for diplomacy that international organizations can exist. In a diplomatic way, an international organization is merely a manymembers finding a common ground on a particular subject. In the United Nations for example, all the members try to find a common interest for positive change. Although it is sometimes perceived to be slow change, the method of diplomacy causes few casualties than any other one. If diplomacy were not in existence, international organizations would not exist. The world would be at a constant state of war, and war would in fact never end because they normally end with diplomatic negotiations.Selected BibliographyAdam, Watson,. Diplomacy the dialogue between states. New York McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1983. Berridge, G. R. Diplomatic Theory From Machievelli to Kissinger. New York Palgrave, 2001. Diplomacy The U.S. Department of State at Work. U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs, June 2008. Web. 2 Sept. 2009. . Eban, Abba Solomon . New diplomacy international affairs in the modern age. New York stochastic House, 1983. Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy (A Touchstone Book). New York Simon & Schuster, 1995. Kwong, Maj Tang Mun. The Roles of Diplomacy and Deterrence in the 21 st Century. Journal V27 N1 Jan-Mar (2001). Newsom, David D. Diplomacy under a Foreign Flag When Nations dislocation Relations. Washington DC Institute for the Study of Diplomacy,1991. Nicolson, Harold. Diplomacy. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1977. Satow, Ernest M. A guide to diplomatic practice. London Longmans, 1932. Written by Christopher Amacker