Diplomacy of Tomorrow: Diplomacy of Tomorrow: New Developments, New New Developments, New

Methods, New ToolsMethods, New Tools

Professor Dietrich KappelerProfessor Dietrich Kappeler

►At its beginning diplomacy was the At its beginning diplomacy was the art of conducting bilateral relations art of conducting bilateral relations between states as an alternative to between states as an alternative to violent confrontation.violent confrontation.

►The Peace Conference in Paris was The Peace Conference in Paris was the beginning of high level the beginning of high level multilateral diplomacy. Diplomats multilateral diplomacy. Diplomats were required to understand such were required to understand such complex matters.complex matters.

►Bilateralism increasingly gave way to Bilateralism increasingly gave way to multilateralism.multilateralism.

New MethodsNew Methods

► Professional diplomacy itself is undergoing Professional diplomacy itself is undergoing considerable changes as regards the considerable changes as regards the methods used.methods used.

► In bilateral relations, the need to maintain In bilateral relations, the need to maintain diplomatic missions and consular posts has diplomatic missions and consular posts has been questioned, and as far as the been questioned, and as far as the traditional way of doing this is concerned, traditional way of doing this is concerned, this may well be justified.this may well be justified.

► However there is still one essential element However there is still one essential element in bilateral relations, in bilateral relations, the human interactionthe human interaction. .

► In the multilateral field too things are In the multilateral field too things are changing quickly, the fruitless changing quickly, the fruitless ideological and political confrontations ideological and political confrontations are giving way to co-operative are giving way to co-operative interaction aimed at actually dealing interaction aimed at actually dealing the problems at hand. the problems at hand.

►A more striking departure from A more striking departure from traditional methods is the growing traditional methods is the growing involvement of non-professional involvement of non-professional human actors in what used to be human actors in what used to be purely diplomatic activitiespurely diplomatic activities

►External involvement in internal issues External involvement in internal issues and conflicts also increasingly relies on and conflicts also increasingly relies on specialized and also non-governmental specialized and also non-governmental institutions.institutions.

►The International Red Cross Movement The International Red Cross Movement is a case in point. With its triple is a case in point. With its triple instruments, it is ideally prepared to instruments, it is ideally prepared to mix local and international action. mix local and international action.

►A much less controversial form of A much less controversial form of networking is already under way and networking is already under way and will again be especially useful for small will again be especially useful for small countries.countries.

► In the future this may allow a poorer In the future this may allow a poorer country to be represented only in one country to be represented only in one body if all important matters are body if all important matters are discussed in joint session with the discussed in joint session with the other. other.

►Diplomacy will keep evolving and Diplomacy will keep evolving and changing, It is thus important to keep changing, It is thus important to keep eyes open and take note of changing eyes open and take note of changing patterns and needs.patterns and needs.

Diplomacy as an instrument Diplomacy as an instrument of Good Governanceof Good Governance

Dr. Vladimir PetrovskyDr. Vladimir Petrovsky

New Challenges New Challenges

► The functioning of diplomacy is influenced The functioning of diplomacy is influenced by a complicated combination of different by a complicated combination of different interrelated factors.interrelated factors.

► During most of the twentieth century, the During most of the twentieth century, the ideologization of international affairs and ideologization of international affairs and military confrontation have made diplomacy military confrontation have made diplomacy a subsidiary instrument of power politics a subsidiary instrument of power politics and ideology. and ideology.

► The major political factor influencing The major political factor influencing diplomacy is the relative decline of the role diplomacy is the relative decline of the role of the national governments. of the national governments.

►An important factor influencing modern An important factor influencing modern diplomacy is the diplomacy is the revolution in revolution in telecommunicationtelecommunication.. Ex: UNOG Ex: UNOG introduced an electronic system of introduced an electronic system of document distribution. document distribution.

►The process of globalization The process of globalization accompanied by the fragmentation and accompanied by the fragmentation and localization by the growing gap between localization by the growing gap between rich and poor nations. rich and poor nations.

►All these transformations bring new All these transformations bring new challenges for diplomacy on a global challenges for diplomacy on a global level.level.

►Diplomats must learn to co-operate Diplomats must learn to co-operate without sacrificing the national interest without sacrificing the national interest of their countries.of their countries.

►Diplomacy is often accused of too Diplomacy is often accused of too much secrecy and indeed.much secrecy and indeed.

►However, in the world of openness and However, in the world of openness and free information flows, the cult of free information flows, the cult of diplomatic confidentially looks rather diplomatic confidentially looks rather archaic.archaic.

Multilateral DiplomacyMultilateral Diplomacy

► Interaction between bilateral and Interaction between bilateral and multilateral diplomacy creates a new multilateral diplomacy creates a new pattern of political behavior. Ex: pattern of political behavior. Ex: negotiation of nuclear test ban.negotiation of nuclear test ban.

►To use a modern analogy, bilateral To use a modern analogy, bilateral negotiations are similar to using a negotiations are similar to using a mobile telephone, whilst multilateral mobile telephone, whilst multilateral negotiations resemble using the negotiations resemble using the internet. They can naturally internet. They can naturally complement each other complement each other

►The lack of flexibility on the part of the The lack of flexibility on the part of the member states is a major problem member states is a major problem with the UN reform.with the UN reform.

►Changes in the major UN bodies are of Changes in the major UN bodies are of critical importance.critical importance.

►Diplomacy should not monopolize Diplomacy should not monopolize conflict prevention and solution.conflict prevention and solution.

►The UN should play a more active role The UN should play a more active role as a facilitator among the regional as a facilitator among the regional structures.structures.