Diplomacy is a complex and varied process of communication and negotiation between nations, peoples, and organizations. Diplomacy seeks to strengthen the position of a group in relation to others without resorting to coercion or anger, and to promote peaceful solutions to international disputes. The best diplomats use empathy to bridge gaps and create mutually beneficial outcomes. Diplomacy consists of an institutional system run by diplomatic services (including ministries of foreign affairs and embassies) and regulated by international law. It is also a practice of human interaction and the art of building strong relationships, both personal and professional.
Diplomatic practice has a long history, beginning with treaties between cities in Mesopotamia as early as 2850 B.C.E. Writings on the walls of ancient Mayan buildings show that leaders exchanged diplomatic letters. Diplomatic relations became more formalized during the medieval and modern ages, as empires rose and fell, as religions and ideologies spread, and as globalization reshaped the world’s political map.
Historically, most diplomacy involved bilateral relations—the negotiations between one nation and another. Larger states would send ambassadors, and smaller ones sent envoys, whose rank was typically somewhere between the minister plenipotentiary and the ambassador. In the 18th century, a number of diplomatic innovations were introduced, including ranks of precedence and diplomatic immunity, which protects diplomats from being prosecuted for crimes committed while on duty abroad.
Today, diplomatic relationships are shaped by a variety of factors, from the personalities of individual leaders to the geopolitical landscape. Ultimately, diplomacy is about making connections that lead to mutually beneficial outcomes, and these connections begin with the right words.
