DIPLOMACY: YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Hello everyone!
This is my first time blogging and I find it less stressful than talking in a seminar discussions since I prefer to write not talk. As English is not my first language, I sometimes do not prefer to talk because I get scared to make an error or say something that is not well articulated or irrelevant but in this blog I feel like free, that I can say whatever I think, so please feel free to comment, agree/disagree with me at any time as we are all here to learn!!! So let‘s begin!!!!


To start with, I would say that diplomacy is all about charisma, communication, approach and negotiation between two or more people or state. The diplomacy that was one based on secrecy and the use of power to obtain something has now revolutionized its nature by being more open and create more interaction between two or more state. Even though, diplomacy has today changed in several aspects, it is considerable to mention that they do share the same traditional base with distinct process. Thus changed started to take place at the end of the World War 2, most notably when the soviet bloc’s collapse.

Many changes occurred starting with the emergence of nongovernmental organization, the creation of the United Nations, the World trade Organization, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or even some organization that have recently emerged such as the Organization of African Unity, the International Organization of the Arab league or the Global Group of the 77. However, when I looked at the roots of diplomacy, two significant changes that I found remarkable are Globalization and the way developing countries have integrated themselves in diplomacy.

When we talk about the significant change in the nature of diplomacy, one of the development that touch me most is Globalization in a sense that things have speed up in a incredible way from the immense growing amount of nongovernmental actors and internet to the speed integration of the developing countries into the process. I would like to looked at these changes closely especially in the developing countries sectors for the reason that the number of countries representatives in each countries (embassies) have dramatically increased. Yes it existed before, where most of the countries of the world were representing their country abroad but not at a point that even the poorest country of (let me say) Africa is representing its country. Also the fact that these countries now have an amicable relationship with each other, the fact that they have learn how to negotiate in the best interest of their countries by engaging themselves into a contract such as an aid plan or a contract that would help build road in the developing countries in question for example is one important change even though there must be a beneficiary interest but the initiative in the first place is important.


Globalization also plays an important role in diplomacy due to the rapid spread of information and communication between diplomats; they no longer need to send a messenger that need to walk miles just to transmit a message like they used to do in the ancient time. Now days, we have all means of communication such as the internet/ telephone which help diplomats to save time and at the same time resolve many things at one time. Globalization have created a new world where now days diplomats compared to the old fashion, have knowledge of what they are doing and the way they should behave without the means of force. In short they have now access to all the skills needed to conduct their job in a civilized manner. The new diplomacy is more open today than it was before which makes the media a very important part of diplomacy as they are now obliged to conduct themselves and be more charismatic.


The UN as I mentioned earlier is one of the important change in a sense that it is an agency that plays different role such as promoting human rights in a sense that most diplomats now representing their countries have increased the way they look after their citizen that live in the country they are representing, they communicate more with the citizens, assist them when they have problems and even organise parties where each can meet, eat, dance and have a laugh. I mention this because I find it important in a sense where a student for example come to study abroad where he/she doesn’t know anyone, he/she can be integrated in the new life through their embassies, this because the UN is playing an important role by promoting human rights.

As I have mentioned the significant changes in the nature of diplomacy, I would like to invite anyone who is interested, agree or disagree with me and tell me what they think as mentioned above.


Thank you