What is diplomacy today?

The module ‘The New Diplomacy’ has been a journey. Within a space of a few weeks I have acquired such a vast amount of knowledge. Personally, when the module began I believe I had a very limited approach as to what diplomacy or diplomatic practice was. However, since the module began, my understanding and perspective of diplomatic practice has changed considerably. Not only have I spent considerable amount of time looking and trying to understand diplomatic practice through text, but have also had the opportunity to take part in practical mock diplomatic work as well as embassy visits.

What I have learnt throughout this module experience is that diplomacy isn’t one confined between states which is what I thought diplomacy ought to be and that non state actors as well as multilateral forums were ineffective nuisance. But, in a world today that has developed technologically bringing the world closer and enabling a wider arena, the dimension of diplomatic practice has changed. However, the traditional bilateral diplomatic practice is still of great importance.

Tackling bigger issues such as climate change, nuclear proliferation and poverty are better to discuss on a multilateral platform as they are problems that affect people globally. However, national security, border control and immigration are not things that can be dealt with on a multilateral dimension, they are things that concern a nation state.

To summarise, over the last month or two, I have gathered that the change in technology and communication have affected diplomatic practice, but it cannot bring into question its existence. Diplomacy is just as important as it once was, what has had t change is the style of diplomacy.