my understanding of diplomacy today

My understanding of diplomacy today?

My initial perception of diplomacy at the beginning of the module, was extremely vague, at least more so than now. I considered it to be more closely related to what is now best known as the ‘old’ diplomacy, assuming that it was merely (communicative) relations between states and its primary concerns focusing on issues of war and peace. However I now understand that it is a much more complex process, with a series of an ever growing numbers of players within the diplomatic world. The contemporary globalising world, demonstrates the importance of diplomacy, in terms of managing issues, which would not only concern single entities, but the majority of the world also. The technological and communications revolution has in some ways undermined the traditional structure o f diplomacy, and allowed new diplomatic innovations to take place, such as video conferencing. The forces of globalisation have ensured that diplomatic practices have expanded to a broader scope of interstate relations as well as the growing role of non state actors. Diplomacy appears to be an institution with many separate branches attached, with different diplomatic players concerning different issues, as well as the role on non diplomatic players depending on circumstances. It has proved to be a process which has and will continue to evolve adapting it self to changing forces surrounding it.