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What is the primary purpose of foreign policy?
Defend a nation's national interests
Which of the following are ways foreign policy can promote world peace and a secure global environment? (Select all that apply)
Diplomacy in the 21st century emphasizes multi-tasking, improvisation, and real-time impact.
True
Diplomacy is about producing, managing, and distributing ______ goods.
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What was the purpose of diplomatic work for the Byzantines?
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What was the key tool for communication between diplomatic missions and the capital during the Renaissance?
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The French emphasis on the art of negotiation in diplomacy was primarily focused on information collection and transmission.
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During the French System of diplomacy, the primary guiding principle of foreign policy was 'raison d'état' also known as ____________.
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What is the main goal of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961?
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According to the Vienna Convention, diplomatic immunity ensures that diplomats are subject to civil and administrative jurisdiction in the host country.
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How many main provisions are outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961?
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According to the Vienna Convention, Mission premises (private residences of heads of mission) are ______.
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Match the main functions of an embassy with their descriptions:
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What was the payment system for resident ambassadors in the Renaissance diplomatic system?
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Diplomatic immunity and extraterritoriality were given great importance by the Ottoman diplomatic system.
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According to the content, what was a major weakness of the League of Nations?
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In which year was the United Nations founded?
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The first major permanent international organization was ____________.
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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Study Notes
Introduction to Foreign Policy & Diplomacy
- Diplomacy is about relationship management and maintaining international order
- Multiplication of diplomatic actors and issue areas multiplies the ways diplomats work
- 20th-century mantra of having a strong sense of history and knowledge of economic, political, and international issues is no longer sufficient; modern diplomats need to be able to multitask, improvise, control uncertainty, and maximize real-time impact
Definition of Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
- Foreign policy: a state's strategies to protect its international and domestic interests and determines how it interacts with other states and non-state actors
- Primary purpose of foreign policy: to defend a nation's national interests, which can be achieved through non-violent or violent means
- Foreign policy goals: promoting world peace, maintaining a balance of power among nations, working with allies to solve international problems, and promoting democratic values and human rights
- Diplomacy: institutionalized communication among internationally recognized representatives of internationally recognized entities to produce, manage, and distribute public goods
- Key features of diplomacy: highly institutionalized, involves a process of double recognition, and produces, manages, and distributes public goods
Historical Evolution of Diplomacy
Ancient Times to Early Modern Age
- Origins of diplomacy: early human communities reaching understanding with neighbors on topics such as territorial limits, marriages, and trade regulations
- Characteristics of ancient diplomacy:
- Lack of uniformity in diplomatic practice
- Importance of communication, negotiation, and gift-giving
- Ad hoc missions and envoys
- Examples of ancient diplomacy:
- Near East Empires: characterized by reciprocal impressions, gifts, and ceremonies between "Great Kings"
- Ancient Greek city-states: focus on mutual recognition, respectability, and eloquence of envoys
- Roman Empire: focus on imposing will rather than negotiating on a basis of reciprocity
Medieval Diplomacy
- Christian base for emerging political entities
- Professionalization of diplomatic profession
- Byzantine diplomacy: key to survival, adaptation, and longevity
- Roman Catholic Church's active diplomacy: serving as arbiters, peacemakers, and diplomats
Renaissance Diplomacy
- Emergence of permanent diplomatic missions
- Italian city-states: lack of hegemonic power, interest in solving problems peacefully
- Features of Renaissance diplomacy:
- Diplomatic reporting as a key tool
- Special reports (relazioni) providing strategic overviews
- Envoys' obligation to give gifts, not accept titles at foreign courts
Modern Diplomacy
- French System: emphasis on art of negotiation, raison d'état, and professionalization
- Art of negotiation:
- Continuous process of negotiation
- Importance of moderation, secrecy, and private negotiations
- Raison d'état: national interest takes precedence over ideologies or prejudices
- Policy of balance of power: principle of grand strategy, fueled by rationalism and calculation of power relationships### The Evolution of Diplomacy
- French gradually replaced Latin as the language of diplomacy in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- The Peace of Westphalia (1648) created a new configuration of hierarchical relations in Europe between great and smaller powers.
- Introduced regular face-to-face consultation among leaders of great powers to prevent direct conflict.
- Established permanent embassies and resident ambassadors.
- Shifted the object of diplomatic loyalty from the prince to the state.
- Recognized the sovereignty of each state and prohibited interference in domestic affairs.
Diplomacy in the 19th Century
- The Congress of Vienna (1815) recognized the diplomatic system as the foundational mechanism of international relations.
- Consolidation of the French system of diplomacy.
- The doctrine of raison d'état was accepted, where states with enough power pursued their interests with prudence, avoiding damage to international society.
Comparative Analysis: Renaissance and Ottoman Diplomatic Systems
- Renaissance diplomatic system:
- Permanent and resident ambassadors.
- Payment to diplomats was given by the host state.
- Diplomatic immunity and extraterritoriality were recognized.
- Ottoman diplomatic system:
- Non-permanent ambassadors were sent on a temporary basis.
- Payment to diplomats was given by the Ottoman sultans.
- Diplomatic immunity and extraterritoriality were not strictly regulated.
Woodrow Wilson and the New Diplomacy
- "Old diplomacy" referred to the European powers' approach during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Europe was regarded as the most important continent.
- There was a hierarchy between great and small powers.
- Great powers were responsible for maintaining peace.
- A professional diplomatic service was required.
- Continuous and confidential negotiation was used.
- The concept of "new diplomacy" was introduced by Woodrow Wilson.
- The League of Nations was established as the first major permanent international organization.
- Global concerns were addressed through multilateral means.
Cold War Diplomacy and Decolonization
- After World War II, the world was divided into two blocs, led by the United States and the Soviet Union.
- Decolonization led to the emergence of new countries, which adopted European doctrines.
- The United Nations replaced the League of Nations in 1946.
The End of Bipolarity and the New Diplomacy
- By 1989, the Cold War had ended, and there were over 7,000 diplomatic missions worldwide.
- The number of diplomatic missions began to decline due to budgetary constraints and the growing practice of joint diplomatic representation.
- International organizations and conferences attempted to regulate transnational affairs.
The Kaleidoscopic Form of Diplomacy
- Diplomacy is no longer reserved for the foreign services of states but also includes international civil servants, NGOs, and activists.
- Seven major thematic areas of global diplomacy:
- War and peace
- Economy
- Environment
- Development
- Health
- Migration
- Digital
The Context of the 1961 Vienna Convention
- The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) defines diplomatic relations between independent countries.
- The Convention has four main provisions:
- Mission premises are inviolable.
- Diplomatic immunity is recognized.
- The host state has a duty to protect the lines of communication.
- Embassies should not interfere in the internal affairs of the host country.
Functions of Diplomacy
- Ceremonial
- Management
- Information and communication
- International negotiation
- Duty of protection
- Normative/legal### Diplomacy Tasks
- Main tasks of diplomacy: messaging, negotiation, mediation, and conversation
Factors Conditioning Success
- Impartiality of the mediator
- Mediator's experience
- Participation of third parties
- Conflict ripe for resolution
- Robustness of the entity
- Legitimacy
Mediation Strategies
- Facilitation strategies: conveying messages
- Procedural strategies: creating an environment for negotiations
- Directive strategies: assuming an active role in negotiations
Diplomatic Small Talk
- Cheap talk: informal meetings increasing knowledge of the game to be played
- Rhetorical force: using discourse to delegitimize certain actors
- Advocacy through framing a narrative of the facts
- Polylogue: involving a range of actors (track two diplomacy)
- Dialogue: communicative encounters with an open mind
Foreign Policy and Foreign Ministries
- Expansion of foreign policy agendas towards technical issues
- Proliferation of ministries and fragmentation of responsibility
- Main functions of foreign ministries:
- Ceremonial
- Management
- Information and communication
- International negotiation
- Protective duty
- Contribution to international order
Role of Embassies
- Representation and main functions of an embassy:
- Representing the country
- Creating a suitable climate between states
- Informing the government of the situation and development of any event in the country of destination
- Cooperating with other representative organizations
- Encouraging friendly relations between countries
- Promoting cultural and scientific relations
- Safeguarding the country's interests
- Protecting, assisting, and informing people in the country of destination
Distribution of Representation
- Principles influencing distribution of representation: balance, reciprocity, and universality
- Availability of funding influences distribution
- Opening of new embassies may be part of a prestige policy or due to conflicts, economic factors, or the need for economic intelligence
Abnormal Relations
- Factors leading to abnormal relations: treaty derogation, reintroduction of key demands, and economic sanctions
- Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations outlines implications for diplomatic agents, property, and protection of interests in the event of armed conflict
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Description
This quiz introduces the basics of foreign policy and diplomacy, including the role of diplomats in building and managing relationships.
