Importance Of Diplomacy As A Foreign Policy Instrument

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Diplomacy: A Foreign Policy Instrument

In the context of foreign policy, diplomacy refers to the practise of negotiation as an appropriate policy instrument in association with other instruments such as economic or military force to facilitate an international actor to accomplish its policy objectives. As early 2,500 BC, the first diplomatic document was found in 1970. It was sent from a kingdom called Ebla near the Mediterranean coast, also known as the Middle East to the kingdom of Hamazi which is now located at Northern Iran. The document was sent by a messenger who made the journey of delivering almost to 2,000 kilometres. This type of diplomacy is known as the traditional diplomacy which has evolved over a long historical period. Essentially the traditional diplomacy can be characterised by its agenda and the negotiation process was undertaken in secrecy.

The rising number of wars and the evolvement of nation-states have proven that the world need a new form of diplomacy concerning on the factor that the former does not have the ability to prevent wars to occur. Historically, the new form of diplomacy was breed after the First World War, emerged from two main ideas which are; (1) diplomacy should be more open to public scrutiny and control. Having said that, the new diplomacy should involve the community in the decision making process and; (2) establishing an international organisation that would act both as an international forum for peaceful settlement of