Diplomacy is the art, science and means by which nations, groups or individuals conduct their affairs in relations with other states, aiming to safeguard interests and promote political, economic, cultural, scientific or other ties. It conducts the passages from protest to menace, dialogue to negotiation, ultimatum to reprisal and war’s termination, laying the foundations of peace and international cooperation.
As an art, diplomacy demands a certain amount of formality but also the capacity to listen to others and to compromise. In an era of hyper-partisanship, skewed rhetoric and abrasive, unproductive political debate, diplomacy offers a path toward mutual understanding and respectful dialogue.
Often, diplomats are hired for their ability to engage in complex, multi-issue, long-term negotiations and to deal with conflict and controversy. In other cases, the diplomatic process itself selects its negotiator. For example, in the climate change case, a negotiator’s subject matter expertise, commitment and patience made him or her the natural choice for the job.
However, diplomacy is not limited to the realm of government, with non-governmental organizations, international agencies and multinational corporations often using their powers to negotiate on behalf of their stakeholders. Even individuals can engage in diplomacy on a daily basis, resolving class conflicts, navigating workplace tensions or handling sensitive family matters. In fact, it is likely that many of the skills involved in diplomacy are used on a smaller scale when engaging with peers and friends. These courtesies, including proper greetings and introductions, listening attentively to others’ opinions, deferring to those in power or sending thanks notes for hospitality, can help to calm tense conversations.
