Diplomatic relations involve the formal interactions of sovereign countries through their appointed representatives, known as diplomats. This interaction is guided by a complex set of rules and customs, and aims at maintaining peaceful and constructive engagements between nations. Diplomatic procedures include exchanges of ambassadors and the establishment of embassies and consulates, as well as a variety of other official channels for communication between states.
Diplomats seek to establish satisfying interactions with a range of foreign partners, but are usually most concerned with the home country’s “first circle” of priorities—the group of states that is most vital to the state’s security or economic interests. In addition, diplomatic efforts can be targeted at specific global issues such as international trade, environmental protection, labor standards, or the regulation of intellectual property.
While diplomacy is often perceived as the exclusive preserve of powerful nation-states, it is important to recognize that it has a long history and has been transformed in response to a range of different historical challenges. Furthermore, it is a deeply interdisciplinary field. Political science provides the framework for understanding international systems and the patterns of cooperation and conflict between countries; history illuminates the evolution of diplomatic norms and institutions; law defines the rules that guide international conduct; and sociology, anthropology, and psychology offer insight into cultural differences, individual decision-making, and the dynamics of negotiations.