Diplomacy is the web of relationships that makes international relations work – or doesn’t. It involves services, wisdom and consensus-building. Diplomacy enables countries to realize their own goals in a global context and help create a better world. It is the foundation for all international treaties, agreements and laws. It brings leaders together to make international decisions and resolve global crisis. It shapes the international landscape today and is the common language that unites all United Nations Member States.
Diplomats are the people who shape this complex and often confusing process, and there are many different stories to be told about their careers. This article is a collection of interviews with diplomats and people who have been close to them, including former diplomats and academics.
Good diplomats have the ability to explain their nation’s interests to their counterparts and the people they meet in a way that will maximize opportunities and minimize risks. They understand how other delegations see the issues, and they are able to find common ground on the most difficult subjects. They also know how to convey the options and outcomes of meetings quickly and clearly enough for policymakers to act on.
Throughout history, diplomatic relations have been built up by the sending and receiving of envoys – or diplomats – who represent their national governments in foreign territory. These envoys, who are normally called ambassadors or ministers plenipotentiary, were originally ranked according to complex levels of precedence that were often disputed.
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