Concept of Diplomacy: A Historical Approach

Exploring the concept of diplomacy, its roots, development, and transformations necessitates addressing a series of questions: What is the concept of diplomacy, and when did it emerge? Has the meaning of this concept remained stable, or has it evolved with changing contexts? What are the different historical stages that global diplomacy has undergone? What is the relationship between history and diplomacy?

In light of these inquiries, this study is divided into two main sections:

1. Diplomacy: Its Concept, Origins, and Evolution.
2. The Concept of Diplomacy: Theoretically and Historically.

Section One: Diplomacy: Its Concept, Origins, and Evolution

The term diplomacy has attracted the attention of researchers in international relations and public international law, who have sought to clarify its origin and its meanings through the ages. This interest stems from the significance diplomacy has in the history of humanity and international relations.

Diplomacy is an ancient term with classical roots. It was initially used by the ancient Greeks, subsequently adopted by the Romans, and then integrated into modern European languages like French and English, as well as into Arabic and other languages.

Researchers have closely debated the origin of the term. For instance, Omar Tawfiq Kamal suggests that the term diplomacy comes from the ancient Greek verb “diplō,” meaning to fold or turn. It led to the name of official written documents that were folded, known as “diplomas,” which rulers sent as part of their formal relationships, granting privileges and special treatment to their bearers during diplomatic missions.

The document known as the “diploma” corresponds to foreign policy, denotes negotiation, and signifies an abstract characteristic of international relations leadership.

Abdul Hadi al-Tazi asserts that the term diplomacy is derived from “diploma,” meaning a sealed and folded travel document. The term only began appearing in modern Latin during the 17th century as “diplomaticus,” and the description “diplomatic” was first used in French in 1708 to refer to those concerned with diplomas and treaties, evolving to describe matters related to international relations by 1726. The term “diplomacy” itself was coined in 1791 to denote the study of treaties between states.

Thus, we can say that diplomacy has existed since ancient times as a means of communication and understanding between neighboring human groups. As early societies emerged and interests intertwined, a need for diplomatic behaviors arose, driven by the necessity to negotiate, exchange benefits, and achieve peace. Over the centuries, diplomatic relations have varied in form but have remained similar in intent, methods, and outcomes. One could argue that many aspects of modern diplomacy trace back to traditions established in earlier civilizations.

In regards to Arab diplomacy, archaeological excavations in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula have confirmed that the region experienced significant diplomatic development, with evidence of an advanced diplomatic system found dating back to the third millennium BCE. This indicates a strong tradition of addressing international and regional disputes through diplomatic means, to the extent that there were believed to be diplomatic missions at the level of divine beings.

With the advent of Islam, the Islamic state increasingly relied on diplomacy to spread the Islamic faith and establish trade and political relationships with other states. Thus, the Islamic state distinguished itself with diplomatic superiority, offering protection to envoys and granting them diplomatic privileges such as immunity.

In Europe, however, diplomacy did not become a profession until the 15th century, when the Venetian Republic began appointing ambassadors. However, the institutional frameworks and regulations for diplomacy were not established until the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818.

It is generally noted that diplomacy is defined as peaceful official relations between states, which encompass elements, components, and essential tasks such as diplomatic representation through the sending of ambassadors and envoys, along with the privileges they enjoy. Diplomatic actions include correspondence, negotiations, and the formation of agreements and treaties. Diplomatic means also include pressure, threats, alliances, political dialogue, and the use of confidential communication methods. Naturally, researchers must define the factors that lead to the establishment of diplomatic relations, influence their trajectories, and shape the outcomes they achieve.

Section Two: The Concept of Diplomacy Historically and Theoretically

In this section, we will explore the relationship between diplomacy as a means, art, and phenomenon belonging to the field of political science, and history as a branch of the humanities.

Studying this relationship is an attempt to re-establish the significance of events in historical writings, which have long been marginalized due to the dominance of structural studies led by the Annales School. Given the paramount roles that diplomatic work plays today in illustrating the relationships between states, the question arises: Can diplomacy as a discipline within political science be applied to history?

Can historians engage with subjects such as diplomacy? To what extent has diplomacy and diplomatic missions contributed to historical writing?

Before delving into this topic, it is relevant to note that diplomatic relations among states since ancient times have exhibited instability. Initially, they were limited and temporary, leading early diplomacy to primarily consist of war diplomacy and alliances among monarchs. Thus, diplomacy served the interests of empires as a tool for intimidation against the specter of war and the devastation it would bring upon rebellious territories.

For these warring empires, diplomacy was conducted to achieve their own interests in line with their aggressive and expansionist nature. This royal nature of diplomacy persisted through the Middle Ages, during which the world was divided into two blocs: the Islamic states and the Christian states.

In the context of Christian states, the world was seen as inhabited by civilized nations and others deemed uncivilized. European nations considered themselves the sole bearers of civilization, entitled to forge alliances, cooperate, and determine peace and war, whereas other peoples were exploited as sources of slaves and raw materials, residing in what were regarded as unclaimed territories. As a result, Christian European states dictated the world’s fate. However, with the emergence of independent sovereign European states according to the standards set by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, these new entities grounded their diplomacies on the principle of balance of power, allowing stronger states to subdue weaker ones.

In conclusion, global diplomacy has not remained confined to European politics, as the end of World War II marked a shift in diplomatic influence toward two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union, giving rise to alliance diplomacy. Furthermore, with the establishment of the United Nations, contemporary diplomacy has shifted towards establishing global peace by enshrining the rights and responsibilities of states towards one another, promoting relations between states based on peaceful coexistence, albeit often contrary to the observed realities in the international sphere.

In summary, observing the historical trajectory of diplomacy reveals its fluidity, transitioning from war diplomacy to peace diplomacy. The aim of this brief theoretical discussion on the transformations of global diplomacy is to grasp the relationship between diplomacy and history and, consequently, its role in shaping events, whether locally or internationally. Understanding this relationship leads to another level of study—the realm of diplomatic journeys, which serve as reports from diplomatic missions about the countries visited by the concerned delegation. Thus, diplomatic journeys contribute to documenting the history of the targeted country, leading us to discuss diplomatic history as a reflection of a nation’s authenticity and civilization.

References

• “A History of Diplomacy” by Jeremy Black

• “Diplomacy” by Henry Kissinger

• “The Evolution of Diplomatic Method” by Harold Nicolson

• “The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy” edited by Andrew F. Cooper, Jorge Heine, and Ramesh Thakur

• “The Transformation of Diplomacy: How to Save the World?” by Jovan Kurbalija

• “Between War and Peace: The Nature of International Diplomacy” by Victor Davis Hanson