Traditional vs New

Diplomacy
Nur Fazzillah Mohamed Noordin
ZGA 150011
 Presentation flow
• Definition of Diplomacy
• Functions of Diplomacy
• Traditional/Old Diplomacy
• New Diplomacy
• Similarities of Old and New Diplomacy
• Differences in Old and New Diplomacy
• Conclusion
 Definition of Diplomacy
• The application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of
official relations between governments of independent
states – Sir Ernest Satow
• Represents the accumulative political, economic, and
military pressures upon each side formalized in the
exchange of demands and concessions between
negotiators – William Olson
 Functions of Diplomacy
• Determine its objectives in the light of the power actually
and potentially available for the pursuit of these objectives
• Assess the objectives of other nations and the power
actually and potentially available for the pursuit of these
objectives
• Determine to what extent these different objectives are
compatible with each other
• Employ the means suited to the pursuit of its objectives
Traditional/Old
Diplomacy
 What is Traditional / Old
Diplomacy?
• Furthers the interests of a small group of leaders
• Secretive agreements/treaties
• Bipolar world based on ideology
• Opposing forces have military and diplomatic battles
between states
 Features of Old Diplomacy
• Europe-centric
• Monopoly of aristocrats and elite diplomats
• Bilateral basis and usually in secrecy
• Agendas were parochial and narrow
Example of Traditional
Diplomacy
 New
Diplomacy
 What is new diplomacy?

The power politics and manoeuvrings of a group

that called itself ‘like-minded states’
and their collaborators, the NGOs.
 How did new diplomacy begin?
• Precipitated by the end of the Cold War.
• In 1992, George Bush boasted that the US is the sole and
preeminent power and undisputed leader of the age.
 Setting the stage for new
diplomacy
• BUT, change happened;
• International law and politics
• Actors (189 nations instead of 51 in1945 + ‘000s of NGOs)
• Methods (media eg. CNN)
• Globalization of world economy
• Spread of democracy brought on the Power of Ideas, instead of
economic/military power alone
 Features of New Diplomacy
• Emerged with Balance of Power system
• Role of diplomacy merged with secrecy and espionage
• Diplomacy to thrive in public view rather than in private
international understandings – Woodrow Wilson
• Stage is shared with non-state actors (NGOs)
• Agenda includes economic and social (in addition to
military)
Example of new diplomacy
Similarities
Differences
 Similarities in Old And New
Diplomacy
• Both are the point of first contact between states; to reach
an agreement without resorting to drastic measures and
avoid serious conflicts
• Both are used to strengthen relations between states
• Conducted between governments of independent states
• An exchange of demands and concessions between
negotiators
 Differences in Old and New
Diplomacy
Traditional/Old Diplomacy New Diplomacy
Secretive/Private Open/Public
Eg. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Eg. Kyoto Protocol, Paris Climate
Agreement
Military battles Soft ‘battle’
Eg. WWI and II Eg. Media ‘war’ or portrayal of ‘evil’
Russia
Narrow Agenda Wide Agenda
Eg. Communist ideology Eg. Economic, trade, environmental,
human rights
Europe-Centric Entire world
Eg. Germany, France, Russia, GB Eg. Malaysia-US, Malaysia-Japan,
Malaysia-??
Only states play a role Non-state actors have a role
 Conclusion
• Traditional/Old Diplomacy laid the foundation for New
Diplomacy. The main basis, although has evolved to
include other paradigms, remains the same in essence.
• Although New Diplomacy is perceived as open/inclusive,
the actual amount of information given out is controlled by
the media.
• Although non-state actors now play a role in diplomacy, it
does not undermine the actual power of a state in serving
its own interests.
 Bibliography
• Davenport, David; 2002. The New Diplomacy. Policy Review,
December 2002, pp.17-30.
• Morgenthau, Hans J; 1948. The Four Tasks of Diplomacy. The
Future of Diplomacy. Accessed in November 2016 at
https://celinerochecrespo.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/the-future-of-diplomacy.pdf
• Olson, William Clinton; 1994. The Theory and Practice of
International Relations. Prentice Hall College.
• Satow, Ernest Mason; 1932. A Guide To Diplomatic Practice.
Longmans, Green and Co. London.