Diplomacy is about communicating with and influencing people across borders. It is about making new friends and allies, resolving disputes and creating peaceful societies. It is a vital part of our world, and it’s time to support the diplomats that make it work.
The broadest definition of diplomacy is a system of international relations conducted through diplomatic channels—by government agencies, embassies and consulates, and international organizations. Jovan Kurbalija, the founder and executive director of DiploFoundation, describes three pillars that form the foundation of his three-layered definition of diplomacy:
A key to good diplomacy is the ability to seize an historical moment, as George HW Bush and Jim Baker did after the fall of the Berlin Wall; the courage to break from established patterns, like Anwar Sadat with Israel or John Hume with Northern Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant communities; and the intelligence to understand people—not just test scores or grades, but wisdom and understanding. These skills allow diplomats to navigate complicated issues and find solutions that serve their own nations as well as those of their counterparts.
Other important functions include promoting and protecting a state’s interests, defending foreign policy in an adversarial environment, and strengthening bilateral (conventional and non-conventional) and multilateral relations. In addition, the diplomatic profession must rely on its contacts—people who can help diplomats advance their own country’s interests—and manage the risk of a hostile attack, such as a bombing raid or a coup. This requires the sanctity of diplomats and the principle of diplomatic immunity, a fundamental component of modern international affairs.