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International Diplomacy. International College Khon Kaen University Week 1 – Introduction to International Diplomacy. Diplomacy - Definition. Diplomacy is the process of peaceful communication and negotiation between states to advance their goals of welfare, security and prestige.
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International Diplomacy International College KhonKaen University Week 1 – Introduction to International Diplomacy
Diplomacy - Definition Diplomacy is the process of peaceful communication and negotiation between states to advance their goals of welfare, security and prestige
Diplomacy as Policy Instrument • Every state has interests, or goals, it wishes to advance to ensure the freedom, health and happiness of its people • Many of these interests can be met through domestic means – an efficient and effective legal system and police force, hospitals and affordable medical care, education system, etcetera …
Diplomacy as Policy Instrument • But many interests of a state cannot be met by the state acting on its own – they involve other countries • Welfare, security and prestigeinterests are all important in international relations • States can seek to advance these interests in a number of ways: • conflict and/or competition are one option • cooperation and mutual benefit are another
Diplomacy as Policy Instrument • Most often, governments will set out their international objectives in their foreign policy • Diplomacy is the preferred way of most governments to try to achieve their foreign policy goals • Diplomacy normally involves direct government-to-government contact in which officials communicate and negotiate on behalf of their governments
International Relations • International relations is about how governments, organizations and citizens from different countries interact with each other • Governments generally provide the lead and set the rules for international political and economic engagement • 3 main goals of governments: • welfare • security and • prestige
Issues in International Relations • Welfare • trade and investment • financial security • access to resources • public health (supplies of drugs, protection from epidemics) • protection from transnational crime, illicit goods, unsafe food imports, human trafficking and terrorism • environmental sustainability • human rights
Issues in International Relations • Security • border integrity (state sovereignty) • protection from terrorism • non-proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons • mutual security pacts, such as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation • defence cooperation • economic security (welfare)
Issues in International Relations • Prestige • culture • development assistance • human rights • peacekeeping • summitry
International Relations • International relations is the art and practice of pursuing these goals in an international context • Governments are not the only players in international relations • Other significant players include: • Corporations and business interests • Intergovernmental and regional organizations • Civil society and non-governmental organizations
Conduct of International Relations • International relations are generally conducted at three levels: • Bilateral relations (one-on-one with eg. neighboring countries) • Regionally (mainly through regional organizations) • Multilaterally (through global organizations, such as the UN, WTO)
Conduct of International Relations • Examples of bilateral relations: • Thai/Lao talks on the return of displaced Hmong to their home villages • A visit by Viet Nam’s Foreign Minister to France to discuss technical cooperation • China/Australia talks aimed at concluding a free trade agreement between the two countries
Conduct of International Relations • Examples of regional relations: • A meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers to discuss regional security • An APEC Leaders’ Meeting • Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) ministers of transport meet to discuss the East West Economic Corridor • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Conduct of International Relations • Examples of multilateral relations: • The United Nations and all its specialized agencies • World Trade Organisation (WTO) • World Bank and International Monetary Fund • World Federation of Muslim Communities • G8 and G20 meetings of world leaders
Tools of International Relations • How then are international relations conducted ? • Some of the tools and mechanisms by which influence is exerted: • diplomacy • threats and sanctions • adjusting tariffs and other trade regulations • war • mobilization of international shame • rewards and benefits (eg. of membership of an international organization, development assistance)
International Diplomacy • International diplomacy is just one of the tools, the mechanisms, through which international relations are conducted • It is normally only when diplomacy has failed that the other tools of international relations are used – sanctions, penalties or conflict • The ultimate objective of diplomacy is to prevent competition and conflict between states from spilling over into war
International Diplomacy • So diplomacy is fundamentally related to stability and order in the global system • Diplomacy is the process of peaceful communication and negotiation between states to advance their goals of welfare, security and prestige • But diplomacy is available only to governments – businesses, NGOs and other non-governmental players generally have no formal role in diplomacy
The Work of Diplomats • The major functions of diplomats are: • A) Communication: • Advocacy of home government’s policies and views to other governments • Maintenance of lines of communication between home policy makers and their counterparts in other countries • Advice to home government on ways to advance or defend its policy interests
The Work of Diplomats • Promoting trade and investment • Analysing, and reporting to home government, on relevant local developments • Cultivating an image of the home nation favorable to its interests • B) Negotiation • Negotiation on any matters of conflict, competition or cooperation relating to political, security, economic, cultural or environmental interests
The Work of Diplomats • C) Representation • Attending important functions and speaking as a representative of the home government • D) Administration • Protection of compatriots • Management of programs of cooperation • These ten functions are inseparably connected