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

Bilateral institutions such as Embassies are age old institutions that represent state-to-state relationship binded by” article 3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961” (Berridge) which is basically, representing one’s state abroad, protecting of foreign nationals and the interest of their state, promoting friendly relations between the two states and so on. Historically, diplomacy started by sending messengers which later developed into keeping resident ambassadors. This process seems to have run out of supporters in some quarters for various reasons. Their argument is with the spread of globalisation, the world is almost like one big village, with high level of technology of travel and communication system- there is nothing shuttle diplomacy could not achieve. This is also considered open and inclusive. So, keeping embassies and ambassadors abroad is not only costly but considered as outdated and stuffy. Besides, the traditional role of embassies as the source of information for their state has become pretty irrelevant; thanks to the revolution in Information technology. The problem with that argument is we are in danger of forgetting that states are terribly traditional- they like protocol. A relationship between states is like a marriage. You know each other very well. Likes and dislikes good and bad habits and you know how to handle it. Like wise, embassies abroad are not there only to issue visas and passport but to form a relationship, represent the interests of their country, gain influence, gather information by adopting local customs and most of all, lobby. Business and political negotiations bring the desired effect only when they are conducted between established relationships of states. These are complicated processes which require time, knowledge, and personal skill upon which lay the fundamental for any state to state relationship. So, far from being outmoded, old diplomacy remains to be just that but with room for improvement and inclusiveness for new ideas and bodies within the existing structure.