The Importance of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

The Importance of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Practice of International Relations

Background

Diplomacy and foreign policy are core tools used by governments to realize their state’s national interests, economic, political, or social. Diplomacy is defined by Harold Nicholas as “the management of international relations by means of negotiations; the method by with these relations are adjusted and managed by ambassadors and envoys the business or art of the diplomat” (Sharp, 2009). Governments leverage assets, such as their economic leverage, military power, and international ties, to realize their objectives. Foreign policy is a diplomatic instrument that is informed by a country’s national interests abroad for political, economic, and military benefits. The use of foreign policies can be accomplished through national interests is founded on strategy and actions to achieve specific objectives and goals. Therefore, diplomacy and foreign policy serve different roles in the practice of international relations that will be explored herein.

International relations refer to the relations between political actors and the connection of their actions, strategy, and goals with economic law, politics, and the law in the international environment. Such relations are determined and predicated on factors, such as psychology, geography, history, economics, and other core factors in political science. The interactions between law, such as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), and the actors, state representatives, or non-state actors, such as international non-governmental organizations (Jayamaha, 2021). Diplomacy plays a myriad of functions to make sure different states do not result in war to secure their interests or resolve conflicts.

Importance of Diplomacy and Relevant Issues

Diplomacy is perceived as an art of negotiations to secure the interests of a state without compromising on the country’s foreign policy. The representatives of states are individual actors or envoys who act on behalf of the state. Consequently, diplomacy facilitates communication between political actors and other international actors to address issues arising between states or global concerns. For example, after 9/11 there was a global concern about the use of air travel by terrorist organizations to compromise the security of the nation (German Institute for International and Security Affairs, 2018). Through diplomatic discourse, a standard measure was established among trade partners to ensure the safety of air travel, which was being carried out at their airports to ensure they sealed access and transport of weapons to the respective countries through air travel. As such, diplomacy plays a critical role in establishing ties among international actors to solve specific shared international problems.

Occasionally, differences may arise among actors, due to a conflict of interest, which could result in the need for military intervention. However, through diplomatic efforts, countries that have a conflict of interest rather than go to war can solve their differences through diplomatic relations that may involve a third non-biased actor (Jayamaha, 2021). The role of a non-biased actor is to serve as a mediator between the involved parties is to establish a harmonious negotiation process by remaining subjective and avoiding distractions that could stifle the diplomatic efforts.

For example, in 2007, Kenya held elections that were contested by the prior opposition party, which held that the results of the election had been tampered with in favor of the incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki. Since Kenya is a member of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), Kofi Anan, then the secretary-general of the AU was mediated the negotiations that resulted in the Grand Coalition government and a cease in the post-election violence (Juma, 2009). Notably, while this was an internal conflict, Kenya is an economic hub in East and Central Africa, thus, the political unrest interfered with trade not only in Kenya but with neighboring countries as well as their international trading partners. Therefore, diplomacy can be executed strategically to foster peaceful cooperation and foster harmony among nations.

Development diplomatic ties with countries facilitate the transfer of knowledge, culture, and observation of international law. For example, the U.S. sponsors 40,000 international educational exchange programs (McClelland, 2020). The creation of expansive diplomatic ties results in multiculturalism that is predicated on mutual alley ties among countries. The U.S. has participated globally in establishing its presence and peruse its interests, such as participation in peacekeeping missions and trade ties, with countries across the globe. The transfer of knowledge has been improved across the globe by the prevalence of the internet as a learning and trading medium. Consequently, countries with low per-capita income are developing by leveraging these mediums for trade as well as developing skills that are in high demand elsewhere to generate new revenue streams. The diplomatic ties with countries sourcing for labor have served as a medium for immigration and the hiring of expatriates.

One of the main issues affecting diplomacy in the 21st century has been globalization. Globalization has accelerated trade and led to the need for more trade-oriented diplomatic relations to facilitate the exchange of goods and services (Sharp, 2009). The interactions of cultures and opening up of global trade channels have necessitated previously non-existent trade channels. The development of these ties has resulted in the development of ties among countries that have lasting disagreements however, the trade agreements stipulate the terms of engagement for either country to avoid a conflict of interests.

Importance of Foreign Policies and Relevant Issues

Foreign policy is the manner a country presents the national interests it hopes to accomplish in the international environment. A country’s foreign policy seeks to protect its territorial integrity and protect the interests of its citizens within and outside the country. To operate as a sovereign state in the international environment, states have to secure their territory as well as the welfare of their citizens. Therefore, foreign policies ensure the prestige of a state is not compromised or misrepresented through the articulation of the national territorial boundaries and political ideologies in its foreign policies. The foreign policy serves as an instrumental tool in the management of relations with other countries. The adoption of a policy for cooperation and conflict resolution that serves its interests (Erba?, 2013). Therefore, while the political ideologies of a country may differ, to serve its interests, a country’s foreign policy is dedicated to pursuing its national interest despite challenges that might exist. For example, the U.S. and China\\\'s foreign policies have contradicting political ideologies but have trade ties to serve the national interests of each country despite the differences in some of the core political ideologies.

Ultimately, foreign policy\\\'s primary objectives are to ensure security, secure national interests, self-preservation, and cultivate harmonious existence with foreign partners. However, growing reliance on the internet as a source of information results in the dissemination of information using non-diplomatic paths. Rather than take a reactive response to such information, countries should use diplomatic means based on the foreign policy to gather information before making decisions on the course of action on such matters. The dynamic international environment is changing faster than the foreign policies limit the efficacy of such policies in handling emerging issues (McClelland, 2020). This challenge has been caused by the rise bureaucratic nature of institutions developing or managing foreign policy. To overcome these challenges such institutions, need to adopt more adaptive measures to facilitate agility and leverage their strengths to pursue national interest soon as opportunities arise or solve challenges promptly.

Challenges and Recommendations

The increasing globalization has caused led to the territorial boundaries being more obtuse than in the past. Cultural links were initially the facet upon which foreign policy and international relations were built, however, the prevalence of online channels of trade and communication have led to the development of a contemporary culture that has necessitated the development of ties with countries where citizens have more ties in commerce or culturally. The development of new cultures has led to more global interactions that cannot be overseen crossly by government institutions as they initially did. Rather than focus on managing these elements of international relations, governments should focus on developing foreign policies that are symbolic of their political ideologies (AS, 2018). For example, China and Russia initially had mutual socialist interests in the 1960s but split due to the perception Russia making a peace with Europe, and America, which had capitalistic ideals contrary to their prior socialist policies. Such changes serve the overarching interest of a country and its political ideals to secure its interests despite the rapid changes in the international environment.