Diplomacy is the conduct of international relations, primarily through dialogue and negotiation, to implement foreign policy interests and resolve conflicts. This non-coercive approach to international affairs is largely driven by the desire to avoid war and to foster goodwill with foreign states and peoples.
The practice of diplomacy combines art and science, a craft that requires both patience and empathy. Its practitioners have the ability to see things from a variety of angles, analyzing the myriad facets of human nature that can undermine agreement and stoke conflict. They have the stamina to push through difficult negotiations—as exemplified by Kissinger’s two weeks without sleep in shuttle diplomacy after the Yom Kippur War or Carter’s 13 days at Camp David in an attempt to reach an agreement on climate change.
Although diplomacy can sometimes be coercive and backed by threats to use force, it is overwhelmingly a process of peaceful negotiation, often with the help of international arbitration and mediation. In addition to international agreements and conferences, diplomats can also represent their home countries at formal tribunals, commissions and agencies, such as the International Court of Justice at the Hague or the ICRC.
Despite the best efforts of diplomats, there is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached in any given situation or that any agreement that is reached will be adhered to by all parties. This is why diplomats must be adept at framing their negotiations as win-win situations, ensuring that their opposite number will view the outcome as something they can live with and a step in the right direction for both their own national interest and public opinion.
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