Traditional diplomacy: What are your impressions of the 'old 'diplomacy Has it become outmoded ?

Traditional diplomacy: What are your impressions of the ‘old’ diplomacy Has it become outmoded?

Traditional Diplomacy –
Ancient Greece
15th century – first permanent embassies
Traditionally bilateral
secrecy
Ambassador direct repressive of monarch

Diplomacy has evolved of the years due to the impact of two world wars, Technology, Globalization, Terrorism, NGOs, Treaty of Westphalia and the end of colonization and so on. Traditional diplomacy has gone back over thousands of years far back as to 2500 BC. Traditional Diplomacy was conducted through three main dimensions Structure, Process, and Agenda.

Structure- Traditional diplomacy was conducted between states; States were the only actors during this time period Churches were excluded as well as other groups. States at this point were the most important thing in the international sphere. Furthermore during this period diplomacy became institutionalized and regular negotiations between diplomats were occurring. Finally networks of permanent embassies were set up in most countries all over the world.

Process- Traditional diplomacy also involved bilateral talks or meetings between two states, during these meetings the diplomats will undertake secrecy so that only they knew the information of their private rendezvous. From the 15th century and on wards diplomacy began to be a regulated processes and under go certain rules in which the diplomats had to follow also the States in which the diplomats were visiting or staying had to go along with these rules for example diplomats had certain privileges and immunities, moreover diplomats have the right to conduct their business with out fear.

Agenda- Agenda used to be narrow foreign policy used to be exclusively directed by monarchs and their advisors. Diplomats during this period usually lied to other diplomats during meetings. As Sir Henry Wotton put it “honesty has proven to be more effective than deceit”. After this many diplomats tried to be truthful while conducting their business.

New Diplomacy- New Diplomacy more or less has evolved after WWII. Diplomats now know that traditionally diplomacy was not effective enough in preventing WWII. New Diplomacy is more open than in pervious times, furthermore the United Nations which was created after WWII has a major impact on diplomats and the way they conduct business. NGOs are now following and regulating everything that diplomats do. Openness in the international community allows the public more say about what goes on around them. This would have been an outrage during traditional times. The dimension of both Traditional and New diplomacy are similar but the impact of globalization, has effected the way diplomats carry out their affairs they are more multilateral. Traditional diplomacy in some sense has become out- moded but its original foundations are still as strong as ever.