PSI 201

EVOLUTION OF DIPLOMACY TO AN INSTITUTION

 Diplomacy did not become a true profession until the 15th century, at which
time the Italian city-states began to appoint permanent ambassadors.

 Ambassadors are expected to be famous. Among the well-known

ambassadors, there were

 Dante (1265-1321)

 Petrarch (1304-1374)

 Boccacio (1313-1375)

 Machiavelli (1469-1527)

These men were known as the Fathers of Organized Diplomacy.

 All European states opened a permanent residence for the Pope.

 Although the profession of diplomat started with the Italians, it was the
French, which institutionalized it. In 1629, first Foreign Ministry in history
was established by Cardinal Richelieu.

 Here’s a timeline of the evolution of diplomacy:

1435 Congress of Arras (the First International Congress of Peace to end the
100 Years War)

PSI 201 EVOLUTION OF DIPLOMACY 1

1453 End of Hundred Years War

1475 End of Feudalism

1517 Martin Luther and Reformation (end of Papal power over international
relations)

1625 Hugo Grotius and International Law

1626 Cardinal Richelieu: “the diplomacy should be a continuous process

aimed at creating durable relationships rather than attempting to make
opportunistic advances.

1648 Congress of Westphalia (sovereignty, equality, non-intervention,

monopoly use of violence, neutrality)

1676-1678 Congress of Nijmegen (the first Westphalian peace conference with all
the belligerent powers present to restore peace in Europe)

1679 Abraham de Wicquefort (the first handbook for the conduct of a

diplomat)

1713 Congress of Utrecht (the textual inclusion of the principle of ‘balance

of power’)

1815 Congress of Vienna (the first summit-like diplomatic conference that

did not end war but signed after the peace had been concluded)

1917 New Diplomacy (Wilsonian Principles, open and transparent

diplomacy, the League of Nations and the United Nations)

1961 Vienna Convention (universal definition of diplomacy with legal

diplomatic immunity)

PSI 201 EVOLUTION OF DIPLOMACY 2