Diplomatic relations are a scaled-up version of human communities learning to live together, whether they share gardens or global airspace. They require conversations, agreements and a framework for managing interactions – all of which are governed by the international laws of diplomatic relations. These laws, which include diplomatic immunity and privileges, are established in the 1961 Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations. Strip away the protocol and ornate settings, however, and you will find diplomats, envoys and negotiators who are people with their own hopes, families, values and understanding of the world, reflecting diverse cultures and histories. Their interactions are influenced by psychology – the dynamics of trust, challenges of perception biases, and our inherent tendencies towards both cooperation and conflict.
Despite its long history of being instrumentalized by hegemonistic ambitions, diplomacy remains a vital tool for weaker parties navigating relationships with stronger ones or negotiating spheres of influence. It is also an important channel for discussing underlying philosophical differences, such as differing views on the role of the state or the relationship between humanity and nature.
One of the biggest changes in recent times has been the growing number of players entering into the arena of international diplomacy. These are not primarily national governments but private business, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious groups, and increasingly local, regional and global parliamentarians who demand that their voices be heard in international policy-making. This has led to a re-working of traditional diplomatic structures, and a new sense of democracy in the realm of foreign policy.