My Understanding Of Dipomacy Today

Few weeks back, Despite disruption created in London the snow was exciting for me as I am from twelve months sunshine country. But more than the snow I was excited about the New Diplomacy Module. And I decided to do whatever it takes to attend the first lecture. And on that freezing morning Steven had given us basic questions of diplomacy. To begin with my knowledge of diplomacy was limited. I was seeing diplomacy in terms of necessary interaction between two equal States in which the Embassy serves as representation mainly as symbol with some functions including information gathering and hold secret negotiations. In other words my understanding was only on bilateral diplomacy.

However since we started the module my understanding of diplomacy has been transformed beyond comprehension. And the first thing I have learned that Bilateral diplomacy is under attack from various issues including from the rapid growth of globalization, information and communication technologies (ICT) and the summitry & shuttle diplomacy and the evolving nature of diplomacy undermined bilateral diplomacy. Therefore States had to adapt with new forms of diplomacy such as Public Diplomacy, 'Paradiplomacy' of non-state actors and inclusive form of multilateralism.

some countries such as Norway and Canada make good use of this new form of diplomacy. particularly with the public diplomacy has been doing well to promote their culture and policy by informing and influencing foreign population. the case with Canada and Norway their influence is direct action of their deeds not by broadcasting and in return have healthy image. Although Americans had been abolished their major public tools United States Information Agency (USIA) prior September 11. But after 9/11 began to consolidate their public diplomacy in order to improve their image by emphasising on winning hearts and minds of moderate Muslims and to receive cooperation from foreign nations. And also states has to embrace the fact that 'paradiplomacy' of non-state actors are getting more power full than before and their expertise and resources are enormous, they playing great role in setting the agenda and also NGOs have large and engaged memberships and world wide followers and they command respect and credible. Although the NGOs and multilateral diplomacy are interconnected the growth of international organizations and conference shows inclusiveness in which states are not limited to bilateral diplomacy and can negotiate in wider range of issues in international level.

I have now deeper understanding of diplomacy. The New Diplomacy Module has been one of the most interesting course and I have enjoying it immensely. We must count ourselves lucky that Steven has introduced this exciting module this year.