What do you consider to be the most significant change in the nature of diplomacy?

The Treaty of Westphalia /1648/ is often recognized as significant step for evolution of modern nation-states. Nation-states have always tried to seek various interests, and therefore the diplomacy as such gained meaning within the discipline of international relations. This blog argues that the most significant change in nature of diplomacy was transition from so-called „old“ diplomacy to „new“ diplomacy.

„The First World War was a „watershed“ in the history of diplomacy“ /Baylis and Smith, 395, 2005/. Many scholars argue that the „new“ diplomacy began after the First World War, because the „old“ diplomacy failed to prevent the Great War. Secrecy was vital aspect of traditional „old“ diplomacy. Citizens did not know about anything that was going on behind the scenes, and therefore the „new“ diplomacy transformed partly diplomacy onto public, meaning that citizens are able to know about the foreign policy, which is interconnected with diplomacy, but they necessarily do not have to know about means and processes involved in negotiations.

The involvement of non-state actors and concern about other interests than only military and security were the main changes from „old“ to „new“ diplomacy. „New“ diplomacy set up the basis for the diplomacy in the present global era, meaning that nowadays the number of non-state actors is high and the areas of interests, such as social, economic, and others have transboundary and international dimension, because the sovereignty of nation-states is constantly challenged, for instance by the „Charter for Human Rights“. George F. Kennan argued that „no international organization can be stronger than the structure of relationships among the Great Powers“ /Russell, 171, 2000 /. Although, there are examples of successful diplomacy in which international organizations played important roles. Globalization has made the pace of international organizations faster, however, with no basis from 1918, it would be less likely, as well as significance of multi-lateral diplomacy. Even though this blog argues that the the most significant change of diplomacy was transition from „old“ to „new“ diplomacy, it is vital to keep in mind that while diplomacy does what it needs to, peace-preserving, the changes in nature of diplomacy are just steps towards its main role.