PSI 201

WHAT IS DIPLOMACY?

 Diplomacy is not a system of moral philosophy.

 It is not the equivalent of foreign policy. It is an instrument used by foreign

policy. It is the management of foreign policy by negotiation.

 Diplomacy has three components: REPRESENTATION, NEGOTIATION

and COMMUNICATION.

 It has contradictions hidden in its nature. It is the profession of ANGELS and

DEMONS.

 Imagination vs. Reason

 Romantic vs. Sensible

 Heroic vs. Mercantile

 Idealist vs. Realist

 OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY: “Diplomacy is the management of

international relations by negotiation; the method by which these relations are
adjusted and managed by ambassadors and envoys; the business or art of
diplomatist.”

 The word diplomacy was not used till 1776 in English. It was an unflattering
word. First used in 1870 in Britannica as a morally suspicious activity.

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  It was Edmund Burke who first used the word diplomacy in English as such:
“The only excuse for all our mendicant diplomacy is…that it has been founded
on absolute necessity.”

 Diplomacy was derived from the word DIPLOMA. Diploma is a paper that
had been folded into two (before envelope was invented). Therefore, diploma
is originally a state paper or official document granting some privileges. It was
sealed.

 Secret communication: shaved head/invisible ink/poison

 Since a diplomat was someone who negotiates treaties and the like, to be a
good diplomat meant that one was a skilled negotiator.

 Angels and Demons: HERMES is the brother of Apollo. Famous for his
charm, cunning words, trickery. For Zeus, he created lies, used deceiving
words and nurtured a deceitful heart. i.e. Pandora’s Box.

 The oldest known diplomatic treaty is between Egypt (Ramses II) (on
papyrus) and Hittites (on a clay plate). It is the Kadesh Treaty and a
commercial agreement. The papyrus is on display at the UN Building in New
York and the clay plate is on display at the Turkish Archaeology Museum in
Istanbul.

 Messengers and envoys were accredited, sacred and inviolable. They should
not be harmed as they were not ordinary.

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  They should know law and foreign languages.

 The greatest records of diplomacy come from the Middle East, Mediterranean,
China and India.

 Event the most savage groups would need negotiation for a pause in the
battlefield. A pause at the battlefield is required to negotiate to bury the dead
ones.

 Foreign relations: Hunting, marriages, trade and war.

SCHOOLS OF DIPLOMACY

GREECE

 With the emergence of the city-states from the 6th century BC diplomacy
became important. The major motive was trade.

 The Greek diplomats were the finest orators. They had superior convincing
abilities.

 Acquiring information and writing reports were equally important.

 Athens vs. Persia (speaking of the language of barbarians)

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  Sparta vs. Persia (nobles offered their heads instead)

 Greek concept of natural law is a code of law, which is valid for everyone.

ROME

 The sanctity of treaties PACTA SUNT SERVANDA  mutuality, equity and

reason.

 Roman doctrine of validity of contracts depends on the preservation of

archives and the analysis of past treaties.

 Roman legacy: ARCHIVE, PRECEDENT and PROCEDURE .

 The Roman contribution is more to the theory rather than practice.

 Treaties are drafted within the framework of ius gentium (the law as it is
applied as between citizens and foreigners)

 Knowledge of treaties is more important than skilled negotiators unlike the

Greek diplomats.

 Roman diplomat, therefore, is an administrator rather than a negotiator.

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BYZANTINE

 With Byzantium, negotiation became equally important. It is a combination

of the Greek and Roman schools.

 The Byzantine ‘tricks’

1. Weaken the ‘barbarians’ by increasing the rivalry between

them

2. Purchase the friendship by subsidies and flattery

3. Convert the ‘heathens’ to Christian faith

4. Play off neighboring rulers one against the other

THE LEGACY OF ALL THREE SCHOOLS

 ACQUIRE CONSTANT INFORMATION

 WRITE FULL REPORTS

 BE A TRAINED OBSERVER

 The ideal diplomat is the combination of an educated archivist, skilled orator

and an awake person who pays attention.

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