Pre-literate societies regarded envoys as sacred. This Sacro sanctity may stem
in part from early man's attitude toward strangers and the traditional code of
hospitality. Across the ancient world the immunity accorded to diplomats
varied widely. In ancient Greece only heralds enjoyed such status. In Ancient
Rome, their Sacred status was based on fetial law.
In other cultures, a deep-
rooted Pragmatism dictated that envoys be well treated. In the middle ages
principals looked to custom, law, religion and the threat of reciprocal action
to safeguard their emissaries. The early modern period witnessed the
establishment of resident embassies and occasioned a new debate over the
immunities of diplomats. In theory (according to some, such as Gentili and
Hotman) ambassadors were not immune, but in practice they were.
Although the idea of extraterritoriality predated Grotius, he coined the term
when he noted that ambassadors should be treated as quasi extra territorium (as
if outside the territory). Some theorists such as Vattel, based their defense of
immunity on the law of nature but they were increasingly being challenged and
undermined by the positivists school, who based international law on the
implicit or explicit consent of states.
In the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries, as resident embassies, and with them international law expanded
across the globe, the number of envoys and their entourages increased
exponentially and occasioned new debates over the immunity of envoys. Practice
varied widely among states. Generally , however the functionalist view of the
Italian and Belgian schools, which strove to limit privileges, prevailed.
The Vienna convention of 1961 succeeded in part because it defined what had
become customary practice and because a generally functionalist view prevailed
among the receiving states. It prevailed as well because it avoided
controversial issues such as asylum and only dealt with permanent envoys and
their staffs. The Vienna convention of 1975 failed because no consensus existed
between the receiving states ( generally wealthy and western ) and the sending
states on the status of the personal of IGOs.
Conceptualization of Diplomatic Immunity:
Diplomatic immunity is a kind of legal immunity and a policy held between
governments that ensure that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered
not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws, but
they can still be expelled. Diplomatic immunity finds its origin from as
international law in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations (1961),though
the concept and custom have a much longer history. Diplomatic immunity as an
institution developed to allow for the maintenance of government relations,
including during periods of difficulties and even armed conflict.
Diplomatic Asylum is not established in any International law. It derives its
existence from Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
states:
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum
from persecution.
The European Convention on Human rights and the International
Covenant on civil and political rights also enshrine this law. The International
Court of Justice has emphasized that in the absence of treaty or customary rules
to the Contrary ,a decision by a mission to great asylum involves a derogation
from the sovereignty of the receiving state. The Organization of American states
agreed a convention in 1954.In a broad sense, according to the UN, it is
protection which is granted by a country outside its own borders, and
particularly through its diplomatic missions.
Case of Julian Assange: Julian Assange, founder of whistle blowing website
wikileaks, is facing extradition from the U.K to Sweden over rape and sexual
assault allegations. Recently, he had spent a night in the Ecuadorian embassy in
London after claiming diplomatic asylum .The Government authorities said that by
spending the night at the embassy he has breached his bail conditions and faces
arrest, but Ecuadorian authorities said they were studying and analyzing his
request.
As per Customs, local police and security forces are not permitted to enter an
embassy unless they have the express permission of the ambassador- even though
the embassy remains the territory of the host nation. This rule was set not in
1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations when it codified a custom in
place for centuries by establishing the ' rule of inviolability'. Thus, by being
at the embassy, Assange was on diplomatic territory and beyond the reach of
police. Assange fears if he is sent to Sweden it any then lead to him being sent
to the U.S to face charges over wiki leaks, for which he could face the death
penalty.
In contrast to traditional diplomacy, which involves interactions between
governments, nowadays State's diplomatic efforts are targeted at people as well.
This form of diplomacy which targets the masses is commonly referred to as
Public diplomacy.
Public diplomacy is defined as:
An international actors
attempt to manage the international environment through engagement with a
foreign public.
The goals of Public diplomacy are:
To inform ,engage and
influence global audiences to reach out beyond foreign governments. Public
diplomacy manifests itself in a broad range of programs that employ people to
people contacts, print, broadcast and electronic media and other means. One
important and central aspect of new Public diplomacy is cultural diplomacy i.e;
the use of a country's culture to reach out to foreign audiences and to project
a positive image in the international arena.
Public Diplomacy:
To summarize, Public policy can be simply defined as a form of convincing
communication with foreign publics in the context of fulfilling the goals of the
foreign politics. Basically , we are talking about convincing communication,
with which governments are trying through information and persuasion to
influence the opinions and positions of the public abroad or rather in foreign
countries, in order to create a proper pressure on the policy makers and with
this influencing the decisions and activities of their governments in accordance
with their goals and interests.
Public diplomacy is the opposite of secret diplomacy
Public diplomacy is essentially propaganda
Public diplomacy contains relations with domestic as well as with international
Publics.
Public diplomacy is Public lobbying
Public diplomacy is enactment of events for the media
Public diplomacy is promotion and branding states abroad
Public diplomacy is in function of foreign cultural policy
A modern diplomat can be anyone that identifies himself herself with the
values of a certain country within the international community and the
humanitarian models of solving the open dilemmas of globalization. During the
cold war, for example ; the United States used Public Diplomacy to persuade
European audiences that the foundations of democratic government and Capitalist
enterprise were Superior to Soviet alternatives. The diplomacy of 'Global
Cities, tweeting against Violent Extremism ,British refocus on Soft power,
Syrians find refugee in Canada, Digital diplomacy and the Iran deal, China's
African Audience ,Pope Francis' U.S. visit, Australia hosts the Asian cup,
Global Cooperation on Climate Change ,the Tunisian model of Post- revolution
Peace.
Economic Diplomacy:
Economic diplomacy is a form of diplomacy . Economic diplomacy is the use of the
full spectrum economic tools of a state to achieve its national interests. The
scope of economic diplomacy can encompass the all of the main international
economic activities of a state including but not limited to policy decisions
designed to influence exports, imports ,investments, lending, aid ,free trade
agreements etc.
Economic diplomacy is concerned with economic policy issues e.g: Work of
delegations at standard setting organizations such as World Trade Organization
(WTO) Economic diplomats also monitor and report on economic policies in
foreign countries and give the home government advice on how to best influence
them. Economic diplomacy employs economic resources, either as rewards or
sanctions , in pursuit of a particular foreign policy objective.
This is
sometimes called economic statecraft. Economic diplomacy is traditionally
defined as the decision-making, policy making and advocating for the sending
state's business interests. Economic diplomacy requires application of technical
expertise that analyze the effects of a country's (receiving state) economic
situation on its political climate and on the sending state's economic
interests.
Three Elements:
- Commercial diplomacy and NGO's The use of Political influence and
relationships to promote and/or influence international trade and
Investment, to improve on functioning of markets and/or to address market
failures and to reduce costs and risks of cross border transactions
(including Property rights).
- Structural Policies and Bilateral trade and investment agreements - The
use of economic assets and relationships to increase the cost of conflict
and to strengthen the mutual benefits of cooperation and politically stable
relationships i.e ; to increase economic security.
- International Organizations - Ways to consolidate the right political
climate and international political economic environment to facilitate and
institute these objectives.
Economic Diplomacy deals with the nexus between Power and Wealth in
International affairs. In Ukraine eg: a young democracy is struggling to piece
together and economy undermined by Conflict and Corruption. The IMF once again
playing the role of first responder is providing Policy and financial support to
create the space for badly needed reforms, and thereby catalyze assistance from
others. In the middle East, much of the hope engendered by the Arab Spring has
vanished in particular through Conflict in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Yet, with our
Partners , the fund is actively supporting economic reform in Jordan ,Morocco,
Tunisia and Yemen, including by making available over $9 billion in financing
.In Egypt and elsewhere , our work to help build Policymaking Capacity aims to
rekindle hope, especially for the young people of that region.
Significance of Diplomatic Culture:
Diplomatic culture ,such as it is, largely derived from European and Christian
traditions. If diplomatic culture provides a space of translation between
estranged polities, it carries within it the potential for improving relations
and occasionally degrading them. Shift from aristocratic to professional
diplomacy is an ongoing process, with many cultural holdovers.
Professionalization entailed the production of a body of knowledge that could be
perpetuated and modified by diplomats themselves.
Diplomatic culture has much
continuity with the past, such as tact and civility. However, new professionals
demands require new skills. There is a trend towards greater formalization of
diplomatic training and a shift from diplomats being generalists to increasingly
requiring specialist knowledge. Any diplomatic encounter necessarily involves
different national ' dialects' of diplomatic culture. Homo- diplomacy highlights
both the transformational possibilities of these encounters and the need to
account for diplomacies beyond the state.
Research following from the practice turn in diplomatic studies enables us to
consider each encounter as it is performed rather than through abstract
categories like diplomatic culture. There is increasing recognition of multiple
diplomatic cultures articulated by state and non state actors. Diplomatic
culture refers to an ensemble of practices, compartments and historical
precedents which may or may not be found in any specific new encounter. Attempts
to nail down what is , or what is not, diplomatic culture are therefore bound to
fail.
Cultural Diplomacy:
Cultural diplomacy is a type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes
the exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of
culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding.
The purpose of cultural diplomacy is for the people of a foreign nation to
develop an understanding of the nation's ideals and institutions in an effort to
build broad support for economic and political goals. In essence, cultural
diplomacy reveals the soul of a nation, which in turn creates influence. Though
often overlooked, Cultural diplomacy can and does play an important role in
achieving national security efforts.
Diplomatic culture can and does utilize every aspect of a nation's culture. This
includes:
- The arts including films, dance, music, painting, Sculpture etc,
- Exhibitions which offer the potential to showcase numerous objects of culture,
- Educational programs such as universities and language programs abroad,
- Exchanges-scientific, artistic ,educational etc,
- Literature , the establishment of libraries abroad and translation of popular
and national works,
- Broadcasting of news and cultural programs,
- Gifts to a nation, which demonstrates thoughtfulness and respect,
- Religions diplomacy including inter-religious dialogue,
- Promotion and explanation of ideas and social policies,
All of these tools seek to bring understanding of a nation's culture to foreign
audiences. They work best when they are proven to be relevant to the target
audience, which requires an understanding of the audience. The tools can be
utilized by working through NGOs, diasporas and political parties abroad, which
may help with the challenge of relevance and understanding. These tools are
generally not created by a government, but produced by the culture and then the
government facilities their expression abroad to a foreign audience , with the
purpose of gaining influence.
Cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for the bringing together of
peoples, contributing to open markets for the cultural industry and to the
establishment of cultural and linguistic bonds. It is also a tool to stimulate
political and stimulate dialogue, for it fosters mutual understanding and
creates trust, interests and respect between nations.
Diplomatic culture refers to an ensemble of practices, compartments and
historical precedents which may or may not be found in any specific new
encounter. Diplomatic culture constitutes the international society of states.
Diplomatic culture, specifically written in the singular, is thus the label
given to an overarching structure that constrains the behavior of states and
their diplomats.
Diplomatic culture is thus given as a European inheritance,
emerging in modern firm with the state system itself and diffusing through the
world through processes of colonization and de-colonization. Universalizing of
this diplomatic culture is instrumental to the place of diplomacy within
international society. The existence of a diplomatic culture only becomes
self-evident, and subject to inquiry , when values and ideas of one society are
estranged from another. The idea of a common intellectual culture underpinning
diplomatic culture is key to facilitating communication between estranged
members of the international society of states.
Diplomacy is the application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of
relations between the governments of independent states. Diplomatic culture has
much continuity with the past, such as tact and civility. However, new
professional demands require new skills. There is a trend towards greater
formalization of diplomatic training and a shift from diplomats being
generalists to increasingly requiring specialists knowledge. Today Cultural
diplomacy is a critical tool in the foreign Policy toolbox.
The United States
very effectively has been using Cultural Diplomacy to spread American ideals of
Democracy, Civic Society , human rights and freedom of Speech, religion through
massive government
sponsored culture sharing agencies, like the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
It designs and implements educational,
professional and cultural exchange Programs to advancing United States foreign
Policy goals.
A great power is a sovereign state that exerts influence on a global scale.
Great powers possess military and economic strength , as well as diplomatic and
soft power sufficient to cause minor powers to consider the positions of great
powers before taking actions of their own. They have dominated the peace
conferences following major wars, and assumed ' special rights and obligations
in any formal machinery created to preserve international peace and security.
Great powers may consider themselves and are expected by others to demonstrate
resolve or reassure allies or protect credibility or show leadership and to have
special responsibilities for the maintenance peace and stability.
Conclusion:
A viable peace system has been identified by Gordon Craig and Alexander George
as requiring agreement among a majority of states on its major aims and
objectives ,a framework of norms ,rules ,procedures and institutions and the
availability of a great power structure to channel agreements and to back up
agreements. The power wielded by great powers is variously identified in terms
of both
inputs and outputs.
The test of a great power is the test of strength for war. A recent discussion
of U.S - China relations associates U.S
great power in peacetime with its
alliances ,its trade relationships and the deployments of U.S forces abroad.
Kenneth Waltz, the founder of the neorealist theory of international relations
.elaborated these in terms of five sources of power: Population and territory,
resource endowment , economic capability, political stability and competence
and military strength.
A great power is a Sovereign state that exerts influence on a global Scale. Eg :
'The interim peace' with Germany that ended the Second World war in Europe
placed Germany under the Constraint of four- power Control , China , France,
Russia , the United Kingdom and the United States are often referred to as great
Powers by academics due to ' their Political and economic dominance of the
global arena. These five nations are the only states to have permanent seats
with veto power on the United Nations Security Council.
Award Winning Article Is Written By: Ms.A.Jonah Elisa Shiny
Authentication No: FB103192292560-04-0221
|
Please Drop Your Comments