Diplomacy has long been a vital part of organized human society’s attempt to navigate shared existence. Before modern state systems emerged, communities negotiated with each other over trading routes, hunting grounds and alliances. Whether through messengers bearing gifts or heralds representing the sovereign, these early interactions demonstrate a fundamental need for communication and understanding that transcended political borders.
As the international system developed, diplomacy became a formalized practice of structured communication between states. Envoys are sent to other countries to represent their home government and negotiate issues relating to international security, trade or conflict resolution. Diplomatic relations are often complex, requiring the stewardship of an ambassador, a position that typically requires years of extensive professional training.
Contemporary diplomatic relations are shaped by a variety of factors, including power dynamics, material interests and underlying philosophical differences. These may be revealed in negotiations over a trade agreement or in a dispute over cultural influence, involving complex strategies that draw on political science theories of alliances and deterrence. Diplomatic interaction also reflects broader ethical questions, like the nature of human rights or the relationship between humanity and the natural world.
Increasingly, diplomatic interactions are supplemented by grassroots engagements facilitated by global travel and new communications technologies. These include meetings with foreign publics and conversations between citizens of different nations, reflected in the recent expansion of consular functions that allow students or tourists, for example, to be classified as ‘unofficial diplomats’ when traveling abroad. Similarly, the growing relevance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in multilateral diplomatic processes underscores how diplomacy is increasingly being redefined to encompass a broader spectrum of global concerns.