Less glamour- multitasking

In a technologically advanced world, states and citizens are becoming more integrated. Therefore, it could be argued that diplomacy is also affected by this process and it has lost its privileged status due to this integration. Bolewski argues that changes in the character of diplomacy are due to several factors such as “accelerating globalization, new participants in globalized world and internationalization of domestic politics."(Bolewsi 2007: 16). I would argue that one of the most important aspect of the new diplomacy is the fact that “diplomat no longer has a controlling monopoly in carrying out diplomatic tasks” (Roberts 2009: 20). Indeed, diplomacy can be conducted not only by state institutions but also by non-governmental organizations, activists, businessmen, artists or academics. If diplomacy is as Satow states “conduct of business between states by peaceful means” (Roberts 2009: 1) then these actors definitely help to build peaceful bridges and promote a good image of their state. Diplomats have to be more prepared when addressing their communication skills than before because establishing good relations and contacts with media can be sometimes as difficult as dealing with the foreign government. New diplomacy has to be more flexible as is the environment which surrounds it- global network society. As Riordan points out,
“ Economy, trade, finance, human rights, the environment and organized crime are all issues that we now have to deal with at the international level... this represents a major intrusion into the diplomatic word of domestic politics and political agendas” (Riordan 2003:3). To sum up, new diplomacy addresses more issues, it is conducted by a broader range of actors and it is constantly “in the spotlight”.

Wilfried Bolewski, Diplomacy and International Law in Globalized Relations, (Berlin: Springer, 2007)
Sir Ivor Roberts (ed.), Satow’s Diplomatic Practice, 6th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009)
Shaun Riordan, The New Diplomacy (Cambridge: Polity, 2003)