Changing Trends in International

Relations and Practice of Diplomacy

Ghanshyam Bhandari
Joint Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Presentation Outline
 The Basics: International Relations, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
 Genealogy of International Relations: Then and Now
 Major Theories and Approaches to International Relations
 New Global Context: Trends and Issues in International Relations
 Diplomacy as a Tool in International Relations
 Changing Nature of Diplomacy: From Secrecy to Nakedness?
 Negotiation as an Instrument of Diplomacy
 Conclusion: Moving beyond ‘Protocol’
 The Basics: International Relations,
Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
 IR- Narrow sense: Interaction between/among nation states
 Broader sense: totality of interactions between, below or above nation states
(also includes organizations, communities, peoples, etc.- Palmer and Perkins,
1997)

 Foreign Policy: ‘a systematic statement of deliberately selected national

interests’- F.H. Hartman
 Totality of objectives, plans and actions taken by a state in its external
relations

 Diplomacy : Tool of foreign policy in international relations

 Substance of foreign relations
 Application of intelligence and tact in the conduct of official relations by
independent states (Satow)
 Genealogy of International
Relations: Then and Now
 Traditional View: Upto the end of WW I, IR was studied in
terms of historical description
 After WW I the focus was on current affairs
 Soon after WW II, scientific understanding of causes of war
was the focus

 Modern/Current View: Broadening of meaning, scope,

dimensions
 Multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional
 Multiplicity of actors- states, people, societies, institutions
 Genealogy….(Contd.)
 In general IR is now understood as management of
independence, interdependence, integration and interaction
of states and other actors below and above states
 It includes diverse issues pertaining to national interest,
power, institutions, international politics, law, organizations,
etc.
 Major Theories and Approaches to
International Relations
 Positivist: (realism, liberalism, regime)- human reason, states,
power, human laws, science and linear view of history are at the
centre.
 Post-positivist: (International society theory, social
constructivism)- opposes the notion of ‘power’ as a ‘just there’
phenomenon
 Reason as a human construct, beliefs/cultural practices matter
 Institutions and collective identities are important
 Post-structuralist: (feminism, post-colonialism)- redefining
power as a construct, post-truth, discourse, ‘centre under erasure’
 New Global Context: Trends and
Issues in International Relations
 Political fragmentation but economic integration
 Trends towards regionalism and globalization- the paradox?
 Five escapes- ethnoscapes, technoscapes, financescapes,
mediascapes, ideoscapes (Arjun Apadurai, 1997)
 Dominance of non-traditional issues: trade, climate change,
sustainable development, IP, health, migration, etc.
 Emergence of non-state actors, changing nature of power
(military, economic and smart)
New Global Context….(Contd.)
 Five waves: geo-political realignment, ‘triadization of world
economy’ (Joseph S Nye), countering terrorism, emergence
of BRICS and other developing countries, growing
importance of climate change and sustainable development
 Five major challenges: doing away with ‘The Great Divide’
(Joseph E. Stiglitz) and managing globalization,
unemployment,, tackling geo-political tensions, addressing
climate change challenges and fighting ‘post-truth’
phenomenon
 Diplomacy as a Tool in
International Relations
 Diplomacy: a tool to implement foreign policy of a nation
state
 Opposed to sanctions, war, other coercive means
 Art of negotiation: ‘getting others to yes’
 Its instruments include persuasion, agreement, adjustment,
alliances, imperialism, allegiances
 Method or art of a diplomat, hence typical skills required
Diplomacy as a Tool ….(Contd.)
 Fundamentals of diplomacy
 National interest
 Tact and intelligence ( to see and solve problems)
 Relations based on common interests
 Desire to use peaceful means
 Skills:-
Rhetoric
Protocol and etiquette
Language
Media skills
Common sense
Diplomatic correspondence
Key ingredients of National Interest: Main
Stake of Diplomacy

Security

National
Survival Interest
Development

Dignity
Institutional Coordination
National Consensus on Key
Issues

Reporting/Feedback Policy statement by the

Ministry/Missions Government

Lead role of MOFA in

Implementation through
ensuring coordination for
Diplomatic Missions
effective implementation
 Changing Nature of Diplomacy: From
Secrecy to Nakedness?
 Traditional view:
 State centered approach, government-to-government relations,
limited actors, primacy of geo-strategic and security issues ; war and
peace; acquiring and losing territory ; alliances and counter-
alliances; balance of power

 Modern View:
 Competence in unlimited areas: from agriculture to culture to
biotechnology to climate change; economic development and
technological progress dominating the agenda
 Broad-based relationship, cooperative networks, government and
non-government actors, the private sector, civil society and people-
to-people contacts
 Changing Nature….(Contd.)
• New Trends: economic diplomacy, public diplomacy,
cultural diplomacy (examples of China, Russia ) digital
diplomacy, diaspora diplomacy

• From secret and opaque to people centred approach,

democratic decision-making

• Networked organizations, synergies

• Transparency, accountability, impact of ICT and public
opinion, informatics, speed- the naked diplomacy? (Tom
Fletcher)
 Changing Nature…(Contd.)
 The ‘nakedness’ through disruptive technologies:
 ‘disruptive’ technologies: to use or not to use in negotiation,
that is the question,
 Challenges: Getting in tune, security, no ‘humane’ touch,
distance
 Need to be more alert, cope with distance/space/time
differences
 Different situation skills: dealing with powerful opponents,
human side? more objective?
 Negotiation as an Instrument of
Diplomacy
 Negotiation: You must be fully prepared to lose a great deal to
make a great deal (Ancient proverb)
 ‘Getting to Yes without Giving in’ (Roger Fisher and Willian
Ury)
 Do not bargain over positions but interest
 Separate people from the problem (hard on problem, soft on people)
 Focus on interests and principle
 Use objective criteria
 Develop BATNA (‘What if’ option)
 Be aware of ‘dirty tricks’
 Negotiation as an ….(Contd.)
 Approaches: avoiding, collaborating, competing,
compromising, accommodating
 Game Theories: win-lose options (prisoner's dilemma)
 Nepali scenario: ‘one track’ syndrome, win-lose syndrome,
random walk syndrome, conflict avoidance syndrome
 Six useful tactics: sharing information, rank your priorities,
know your target outcomes, make the first offer, don’t
counter too low, flexibility-the key (Grant and Galinsky)
 Take Aways
 Diplomacy is the craft to conduct IR
 Enduring instrumentalities, not just business as usual
approaches
 Negotiation: role of homework and consultations
 Global context, local practice and individual skills- all make
the difference
Nepali Diplomacy: Status,
Prospects and Pathways
 Presentation Outline
 Diplomacy: National Scenario
 Foundations of Nepal’s Foreign Policy
 Evolution of Nepal’s Foreign Office
 Nepal’s Diplomatic Architecture: Issues and Institutions
 Old Challenges, New Vulnerabilities
 Current Prospects
 Pathways: Role of MoFA and MIssions
 Conclusion: Time to Thrive
 Diplomacy: National Scenario
 Nepal’s Case: A Slow but Steady Evolution
Strong foundation, slower progress
Managing interests- national and external
Focus on institutionalization
Geopolitics and the question of balance (Yadunath Khanal)
Collaborative partnerships and networks- government institutions,
diaspora and communities (the common man narrative)
Elusive national consensus
Diplomatic Engagement: What is
at Stake For Nepal
 Nepal’s options: containment ? self-sufficiency ? sovereign
obligation (Richard Hass)
 Politics, economics, and trust
 Multilateralism and use of soft power
 Championing the cause of LDCs and LLDCs
 SDGs and climate change
 Foundations of Nepal’s Foreign
Policy
 Directive Principle-enhancing the dignity of the nation [---]
while safeguarding freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity,
independence and national interest of Nepal [Article 50(4)]
 State Policies: Foreign policy based on Panchsheel, UN
Charter, Non-alignment, International law and norms of
world peace [Article 51(m)]
 The principles of neutrality and peace not only guide our FP
but are intrinsically attached to our people
 Development dimension, a new thrust
 Foreign Policy: Settings
 Bilateral (diplomatic relations with 143 countries, including
all the permanent members of the UN Security Council)
 Regional (SAARC, BIMSTEC, SCO)
 Multilateral (UN and Specialized Agencies)
 Theme-based conferences
Foreign Policy Priorities

Neighboring countries and

region

Regional and multilateral

Donor community
organizations

Rest of the world (diplomatic

relations)
 Evolution of Nepal’s Foreign
Office
 Legacy of Jaisi Kotha and Munshi Khana
 Isolationist approach constrained the development during
Rana regime
 Establishment of independent Foreign Ministry in 1951
 Pronouncement to consolidation phase (2007-17)
 Execution phase (Panchayat Era)
 Democratization and institutionalization post-2047
 Nepal’s Diplomatic Architecture: Issues
and Institutions
 Issues:
 Geopolitical sensitivities
 Capitalizing from the rise of India and China, the schoolmates
of modernization (Lii Haibo)
 Using soft power and strategic space
 Economic diplomacy, the key priority
 Multilateralism – building on international goodwill
 Creating synergies and coordination
 Nepal’s Diplomatic
Architecture…(contd.)
 Institutional Architecture:
 MoFA - 2 Departments, 10 Divisions and 36 Missions (27
Embassies, 3 Permanent Missions, 6 Consulates)
 Human resources (278 foreign service officials)
 Departments and divisions at MoFA coordinate with embassies
and missions
 Division/Department Head–Ambassadors’ point of contact
 Ambassadors report to the foreign secretary
 Old Challenges, New
Vulnerabilities
• National consensus • Consistency and
• Institution building Coordination
• Resources
• Political guidance

Systemic Operational

Transformational Exogenous

• Economic orientation • Neighbourhood

• Managing external interests dynamism
• Inclusion and public participation • Anti-currents of
globalisation
 Our Strengths
 An old nation-state with independent political history, established
identify
 Neutrality
 All friends, no enemy;
 Tremendous international goodwill and support
 Committed internationalist
 Possibility to act as Economic and civilizational bridge between India
and China
 World landmarks (Mt. Everest, Lumbini)
 Current Prospects

At the national level
Principled foreign policy and soft power
Conclusion of peace process and promulgation of the new
constitution

Gradual evolution of economic orientation

International scenario
Tremendous goodwill towards Nepal
Dynamic communities and diaspora dividend
Expansion and professionalization of Nepali missions
and diplomats
 Pathways: Role of MoFA and
Missions
 ToR – the main guideposts for ambassadors
 Active diplomatic engagement with the host government and diplomatic community
 Building synergies and partnerships with local governments, think tanks and
epistemic communities
 Economic diplomacy: exploring and exploiting the potentials available in the host
country
 Public diplomacy: engagement with academia, media and local communities
 Digital diplomacy (branding and promoting Nepal through social media)
 Promote the interest of Nepali diaspora and facilitate their engagement in Nepal’s
development efforts
 Engagement through B2B, G2G, G2C and others
 Pathways…..(Contd.)
 Diplomatic Engagement (negotiating not to win but losing is
definitely not an answer)
 Negotiation, not demonstrating on the streets
 Connectivity and building linkages
 Join new initiatives
 Pathways…(Contd.)
Foreign Policy

Political
will/national Economic
consensus orientation

Issues Institutions Individuals

 Conclusion: Time to Thrive, not Just Survive
 Political will and consensus
 Need to walk the talk, lest it becomes a mere ‘diplomatic’
rhetoric
 MoFA and Embassies need plans and programmes with
concrete deliverables.
 Management of resources
 Clarity of roles and responsibilities,
 No straitjackets will help (wind and windmill narrative)
 Thank you
(Questions and Comments are Welcome.)