Edward Mervyn Joseph227375Distinctions between Foreign Policy and Diplomacy.

Foreign PolicyBased on my understanding, foreign policy is an overall approach or strategy that a country takes in promoting its national interest to other state or even the world. Although the national interests may differ from one country to another, the core principle of each country is basically to sustain sovereignty and to accumulate wealth. As I mentioned earlier, foreign policy is a stepping stone for a country to promote its national interest. In order to do so (promote the national interest), there are number of strategies that a country can adhere to. Diplomacy is one of the strategies of foreign policy.

DiplomacyDiplomacy on the other hands can be referred to as a process of dealing with other countries through negotiations and discussions in order to bring benefit to both side of the negotiators. With saying that, I also understand that at times, diplomacy may not be fair to all those involved, because there is always the chance of one or more powerful states, having the upper hand in the process of diplomacy. Meeting leaders of a county and sending diplomats on behalf of states are some of the activities which are considered a form of diplomacy. Diplomacy can be unilateral, bilateral or multilateral. Previously, countries used their military capacities to promote their national interest. But now, diplomacy serves as a major substitution for diplomacy in the international arena.