Diplomacy involves a complex set of interactions that involve many different types of power dynamics. These include weaker parties navigating relationships with powerful ones, or major powers negotiating their spheres of influence. They also include strategic considerations such as alliances, deterrence, and international institutions. They often reflect deeper philosophical differences, such as differing views on human rights or the role of the state.
Diplomats are often drawn from nations with a long tradition of professional civil service and must follow regulations governing their behaviour, as well as the laws of the host country. This adds another level of complexity to diplomacy, as diplomats must balance the need to abide by rules and avoid embarrassment with the desire to conduct effective negotiations.
These conversations and agreements form a diplomatic relationship that has its roots in the quiet exchanges between neighbors sharing a garden, deciding who plants what, or how to manage water flow. Scaled up to the global arena, these shared ‘gardens’ might include everything from the global atmosphere to the vast oceans or the migratory paths of wildlife, all of which require conversation and agreement on how to manage and regulate.
Often, these discussions are accomplished through negotiation, where each party attempts to get more than they expect from the other, in order to reach an acceptable solution. When negotiations break down, a third party may help mediate the dispute. For example, Martti Ahtisaari, a Finnish diplomat working for the UN, brokered the Namibian independence agreement in 1990.
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