International Relations &

Current Affairs
By: Obaid Gulzar
University of Education, Lahore
 Topics to be Covered
• Introduction and History of Diplomacy
• Difference between Diplomacy & Foreign Policy
• Traditional Vs Modern Diplomacy
• Instruments of Diplomacy
• Diplomatic Procedures & Practices
• Functions of Diplomacy
• Introduction to Foreign Policy
• Objectives and Components of Foreign Policy
 Diplomacy

• Diplomacy is the management of IR through negotiations or the method by

which these relations are adjusted or managed.

• Diplomacy tries to achieve the maximum objectives (national interests) with

a minimum of costs in a system of politics where war remains a possibility
 Diplomacy

• There are two major forms of diplomacy. The simplest and the oldest is
bilateral diplomacy between two states. Bilateral diplomacy is still common
with many treaties between two states, and it is a main concern of
embassies.

• The other form of diplomacy is multilateral diplomacy involving many

states.
 Diplomacy

• Formal multilateral diplomacy is normally dated to the Congress of Vienna

in the nineteenth century. Since then, multilateralism has grown in
importance, today most trade treaties, such as the World Trade
Organization (WTO) etc.

• The United Nations (UN) is the most important institution of multilateral

diplomacy.
 Diplomacy from a Historical Perspective

• The ability to practice diplomacy is one of the defining elements of a state,

and diplomacy has been practiced since the first city states were formed
millennia ago (around 5th BC).

• For the majority of human history diplomats were sent only for specific
negotiations, and would return immediately after their mission concluded.
 Diplomacy from a Historical Perspective

• Diplomats were usually relatives of the ruling family or of very high rank in
order to give them legitimacy when they sought to negotiate with the other
state. Envoys eventually became negotiators rather than being just
messengers.

• During the Middle Ages (6th to 18th century), the scope of diplomacy did
not grow much and diplomats were mostly confined to maintaining archives
rather than negotiating them.
 Diplomacy from a Historical Perspective

• In the late Middle Ages, in Genoa, the Duke of Milan established the first
foreign mission. But this was still diplomacy of the court rather than that of
the people.

• After the American and French revolutions, diplomacy became more

democratic and less aristocratic. The Congress of Vienna (1815) laid down
procedures for diplomatic immunities and defined diplomatic hierarchies.
 How Diplomacy Functions

• Diplomacy functions through a network of foreign officers, embassies,

consulates, and special missions operating around the globe.

• Diplomacy is bilateral in character but as a result of growing international

and regional organizations, it is becoming increasingly multilateral in
character.
 Difference Between Diplomacy & Foreign
Policy

• Foreign policy in a nutshell is the process by which a State pursues its

national interest in relation to other States and on an International level
while Diplomacy is the management of International relations by
negotiations. Diplomacy is also an instrument of foreign policy
 Traditional Vs Modern Diplomacy

• Traditional diplomacy assumed that major European powers had special

responsibility for maintaining world peace and the colonies had no more
significant diplomatic role than that of satellites.

• Traditional diplomacy was professional but secretive and relied on a limited

cadre rather than extended diplomatic channels.
 Traditional Vs Modern Diplomacy

• Modern diplomacy is more open and democratic; it requires reciprocal

bargains and compromises so it is not possible for diplomats to spell out a
given stance in advance.

• Multilateralism is increasingly evident in the practice of modern diplomacy.

It includes conference or summit diplomacy, with behind the scenes
preparations by diplomatic officials.
 Instruments of Diplomacy

• Most nation-states maintain state departments of Foreign Affairs or a

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign office officials include career diplomats
and political diplomats appointed by home governments.

• Ambassadors head foreign missions and serve as the personal

representative of the home state in host country (they can be career
diplomats or political appointees).
 Instruments of Diplomacy
• Councilors of embassies rank second to the ambassador and are career
diplomats.

• Secretaries, with first, second and third rankings are mid-career officials
implementing foreign policies of their home countries.

• Attaches are junior career or non-career personnel focusing on specific areas

(commercial, agricultural, naval, press attaches are common).
 Diplomatic Procedures & Practices

• Presentation of credentials and assuming charge in host country involves

interaction with host governments.

• Agreation: involves presenting credentials of diplomatic envoys, which are

then approved by host countries where they are to be appointed.
 Diplomatic Procedures & Practices

• Diplomatic missions and personnel enjoy certain immunities and privileges

like the rights of extraterritoriality and inviolability.

• Home states can dismiss diplomats or they can be declared persona-non-

grata by host countries, due to different reasons, including rising tensions
between the two states in question.
 Functions of Diplomacy

• Diplomatic functions include reporting socio-cultural, economic and political

conditions of the host country to the home country for formulating
diplomatic strategies and formulating foreign policies.

• Negotiating includes transmission of messages between foreign ministries

of host and home states and the pursuit of agreements by compromise and
direct contact.
 Foreign Policy

• Foreign Policy can be defined as a set of principles, decisions and means,

adopted and followed by a nation for securing her goals of national interest
in international relations.

• Foreign Policy defines the goals of national interest and then tries to secure
these through the exercise of national power.
 Components of Foreign Policy

• Formulation of the objective in the most precise terms possible.

• The nature of the action to be undertaken, stated with sufficient clarity to

guide and direct the state’s other officials and

• The forms and perhaps the amounts of national power to be applied in

pursuit of the objective
 Objectives of Foreign Policy

Common objectives of the foreign policy of all nations are:

• Maintaining the integrity of the state,

• Promoting economic interest

 Objectives of Foreign Policy

• Providing for national security,

• Protecting national prestige and developing national power, and

• Maintaining world order.

 THANK YOU

In case of any queries, write me down at

obaid.gulzar@ue.edu.pk