Diplomacy is the practice of navigating tense interactions and finding healthy compromises in daily life. It is an important skill for establishing stronger relationships and creating more cohesive societies.
In a broad sense, the term “diplomacy” refers to the activities carried out by diplomats, envoys, representatives, and agents of states, international organizations, businesses, and individuals in pursuing their political, economic, cultural, or scientific interests in relation to others. It is structured as an institutional system operated by diplomatic services, which include ministries of foreign affairs, embassies, consulates, and international organizations.
Henry Wotton, a British diplomat, is credited with saying around 1604 that an envoy is “an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.” This quote has given rise to a common caricature: the euphemistic dissembler—often male—who is willing to sacrifice principles in pursuit of national interests.
The word diploma derives from the Greek prefix diplo, meaning “folded,” in reference to a document conferring privileges (such as a travel permit). In the Middle Ages, diplomacy came to mean all negotiations between sovereigns and later was used to describe the formal arrangements between nations through their chancelleries. The earliest diplomatic agreements were treaties.
Diplomacy is sometimes a risky business. It can involve establishing a relationship with enemies—or pariahs—to advance national interests, as in Kissinger’s case with China or Crocker’s with South Africa. It can also involve negotiating with the most powerful nations and their leaders—as in Baker’s negotiation of German reunification or Eizenstat’s role in the climate change negotiations.