Who's a Diplomat?

Painting "The Ambassadors" by Hans Holbein













Greenpeace Activists at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen

Who's a Diplomat?

The nature of diplomacy has significantly changed through a structural shift of the actors involved in diplomacy.

In its ‘old’ or traditional form, diplomacy was mainly about relations and communication between states. Diplomats, therefore, acted on behalf of their state’s or monarch’s interest. They were often part of the ruling, aristocratic class. As Roberts puts it diplomats “frequently had more in common with each other, across land sea frontiers, than with the majority of their own people” (Roberts, 2009, 11).

In the ‘new’ diplomacy, however, a range of new non-state actors is involved in the process of diplomacy. International organisations - intergovernmental as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - have joined states and governments in negotiations. The changing structure affects also the process and the agenda of diplomacy. Whereas in the ‘old’ diplomacy most negotiations were bilateral, undertaken in secret, and the issues discussed mainly reflected the personal aims of the monarchs, in the ‘new’ diplomacy negotiations are often multilateral, more open, and concerned with a broader agenda including new issues, such as economic and social welfare.

The number and the influence of non-state actors, in particular of NGOs, at the global stage have increased immensely in recent years. Their appropriate role in diplomacy is, however, contested.

Even though NGOs often only have an observer role during international conferences, they gained a great ability of influencing the outcome of negotiations. By lobbying and catching the attraction of the media NGOs put states under pressure to act und keep up to time limits and promises. Through their presence at diplomatic negotiations and media coverage of the outcomes, NGOs make on the one hand diplomacy more open and accessible to the public and on the other hand states more accountable to their decisions. Their sphere of influence is often greater than the one of smaller states with poor diplomatic relations.

Nonetheless, NGOs are often only concerned with a single, special issue, such as the environment or human rights. They often represent a rather small and sometimes radical interest group. In the end, they are legally not accountable to anybody. Thus, their legitimacy is highly questionable.

So, who is a diplomat in nowadays?

The profession of state-based diplomats remains very important. It has even expanded due to the increase of international organisation, like the UN, where diplomats are needed to represent their country and communicate its interests on a regular basis.

Nevertheless, diplomacy is now more open to the public and not exclusive anymore. Interests and concerns of the civil society can be represented in international negotiations by non-state actors. NGOs can also observe and monitor negotiations and thereby force states to get to an efficient result. In addition, since NGOs are specialised in a certain field, they can be a huge help for diplomats, who now have to deal with a wider and more complex range of issues, to provide information and advice.

In conclusion, non-state actors could be identified as “paradiplomats” who “assist, support and complement the work of traditional diplomats” (Roberts, 2009, 20).