Diplomacy

[Page 191]Diplomacy is one of the most central concepts in international relations. It has long played a vital role in instituting and maintaining peace among states. Generally speaking, diplomacy is the process through which states conduct their foreign relations. It is a principal means for allies to cooperate and for adversaries to resolve conflicts without force. In a narrower sense, diplomacy is the implementation of foreign policy, as distinct from the study of policy formation. It reflects in this sense how states communicate, bargain, influence one another, and adjust their differences. As the individual agents of diplomacy, diplomats can influence policy through their negotiation with the representatives of other countries. Ambassadors, ministers, and envoys are official spokespersons for their country abroad, and the instruments through ...