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?

Diplomacy dating as far as 2500BC was operational mainly among states and was bilateral and secretive in nature thriving amongst the small elite - the aristocrats.
This included concerns for peace negotiations in times of war, issues of commerce and industry and resolution of conflicts regarding territorial borders.

The ceremonial nature of modern day diplomacy has not changed much as it still retains the core structures of ‘the old’. However, after World Wars I and II, there has been significant reforms in its operations giving rise to ‘the new diplomacy’.

Like ‘the old’, the new diplomacy, depicts similar characteristics in terms of bilateral relations among States. For instance, the USA and the UK exchange and share sensitive information regarding Security issues and this practice has become prevalent in this terror ‘terror age’. However, it is clearly distinct in its adaptations to global issues and showcases features of public involvement in its procedures.

A number of today’s global challenges include concerns of global warming and climate change, HIV/AIDS; decimating populations of many countries thus affecting the working class (labour force) and consequently dwindling the hopes of economic development for many.
Human rights concerns in Zimbabwe have caught the attention of many due the decadence of balanced political rule its leaders usurp.

This has birthed the involvement of non state actors mostly International Non – governmental organizations in the likes of Green Peace, Human Rights Watch and PEPFAR acting as specialist agencies to help deal with current global challenges.

A very practical example of new diplomacy is the big question lingering in the public domain about why the United Kingdom took part in the Iraqi war six years ago. The demand by the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, to make public the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held days before the United Kingdom’s declaration to go to war against Iraq- would arguably hardly happen a century ago and would probably not be of much public interest.

Even though this stance is causing a simmering chaos among political divides and interest groups over issues of National security, it is a glaring example of the different phase of diplomacy in modern world politics.

I think the old diplomacy is neither completely changed nor outmoded, but rather evolved to meet the speeding pace and unique demands of an ever changing globalized world.