To expect ground-breaking changes in world diplomacy post Wikileaks is to expect too much
Int’l relations: A post-Wikileaks world
After Wikileaks announced the release of 250,000 American diplomatic cables, classified as secret documents, the world in general and diplomatic corps in particular were left stunned. The US foreign department appeared to have lost its composure. The primary reason behind this was that these cables mostly dealt with the US and their allies. Many of the US allies also lost their face. People expressed surprise on how diplomacy is conducted.
Diplomacy and diplomatic behaviour do not always go by reason. The exchange of ideas with media, passing and expressing the stands and also the will to influence the policy of the others are the objectives that form the core of diplomatic practice. Some researchers define diplomacy as “practising power with other means”. Others see it as a game of bargaining between two parties or more. Moreover, the success of diplomacy and diplomats is measured by their impact in influencing and convincing others to accept, in part or totality, their policies.
So, Wikileaks did not uncover anything new about diplomacy or the diplomats’ behaviour. Diplomats have been employing such methods for their respective states’ interests for decades. The important thing to know here is that in diplomacy, honesty, truth and right actions are the capital of a diplomat. However, it does not mean that diplomats stick all the time to truth or right actions, but at the same time if the diplomat loses his capital, he would lose the trust of others as well. This would mean that he would be out of the diplomatic active circle, expired (in diplomatic jargon) and non-usable.
Many statements and opinion pieces have mentioned that diplomacy after Wikileaks will change forever or at least will look different. Mr Kevin Rudd, Australia’s minister of foreign affairs, is an example. We can conclude and understand from his stand on the published material related to him that the assumption of ground-breaking change in international diplomacy post-Wikileaks is not true. He has stressed that he would continue in his present role despite the face loss he suffered following the leaks. He even suggested that in the future too such revelations would keep on denting his public image, but this would never deter him from continuing to serve Australia’s interests. His boss, Australian PM Julia Gillard, came to his defence and maintained that “Rudd is a specialist in diplomacy and serves his country very well.”
Diplomatic norms as well as diplomatic behaviour will not change in any foreseeable future. Our world still needs this instrument to find solutions to the difficulties and problems that international relations face. Diplomacy is a key instrument in avoiding military conflict. It comes into play when one wants the conflict to end and sanity restored. International relations without diplomacy would mean that the world, a jungle, will loose sanity and its basic law will be determined by force and force alone.
Despite the above mentioned facts, post-Wikileaks one can clearly see a whiff of change in sections other than diplomacy. The most important is the role of the media, especially correspondents. Earlier, journalists were known for protecting sources. But due to the advent of new media like internet, anybody who lays his hand on some information, can print it without bothering to protect the identity of the messenger.
The second change is related to US diplomacy and their diplomatic behaviour. They would now be doubly cautious and will take extraordinary care to protect their diplomats and secrets. But it is impossible to stop such leakages in the future too. On the other hand, the US cannot change the essence and the basic rules of its diplomacy, because it needs this sort of instruments despite all the power at its disposal. The US wants to carry on with its complicated political influence in the external as much as in the internal political scene. However, many of its strategies and actions of different political actors now lay bare to allies and critics alike. In addition, the published cables show the real American perception and attitude towards its allies. They appeared, even in the best of circumstances, as mere lackeys of the Americans, devoid of any respect whatsoever. It is not for nothing that Americans want all those involved in the leaks prosecuted. They have gone all out against them.
This sort of war will not stop. It will continue between those who believe that it is a nation’s right to know about their leaders, and the others who believe in the necessity to determine the extent of public knowledge. Despite the motives behind those two ideas, no one can stop or end the confrontation between their respective believers.
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After Wikileaks announced the release of 250,000 American diplomatic cables, classified as secret documents, the world in general and diplomatic corps in particular were left stunned. The US foreign department appeared to have lost its composure. The primary reason behind this was that these cables mostly dealt with the US and their allies. Many of the US allies also lost their face. People expressed surprise on how diplomacy is conducted.
Diplomacy and diplomatic behaviour do not always go by reason. The exchange of ideas with media, passing and expressing the stands and also the will to influence the policy of the others are the objectives that form the core of diplomatic practice. Some researchers define diplomacy as “practising power with other means”. Others see it as a game of bargaining between two parties or more. Moreover, the success of diplomacy and diplomats is measured by their impact in influencing and convincing others to accept, in part or totality, their policies.
So, Wikileaks did not uncover anything new about diplomacy or the diplomats’ behaviour. Diplomats have been employing such methods for their respective states’ interests for decades. The important thing to know here is that in diplomacy, honesty, truth and right actions are the capital of a diplomat. However, it does not mean that diplomats stick all the time to truth or right actions, but at the same time if the diplomat loses his capital, he would lose the trust of others as well. This would mean that he would be out of the diplomatic active circle, expired (in diplomatic jargon) and non-usable.
Many statements and opinion pieces have mentioned that diplomacy after Wikileaks will change forever or at least will look different. Mr Kevin Rudd, Australia’s minister of foreign affairs, is an example. We can conclude and understand from his stand on the published material related to him that the assumption of ground-breaking change in international diplomacy post-Wikileaks is not true. He has stressed that he would continue in his present role despite the face loss he suffered following the leaks. He even suggested that in the future too such revelations would keep on denting his public image, but this would never deter him from continuing to serve Australia’s interests. His boss, Australian PM Julia Gillard, came to his defence and maintained that “Rudd is a specialist in diplomacy and serves his country very well.”
Diplomatic norms as well as diplomatic behaviour will not change in any foreseeable future. Our world still needs this instrument to find solutions to the difficulties and problems that international relations face. Diplomacy is a key instrument in avoiding military conflict. It comes into play when one wants the conflict to end and sanity restored. International relations without diplomacy would mean that the world, a jungle, will loose sanity and its basic law will be determined by force and force alone.
Despite the above mentioned facts, post-Wikileaks one can clearly see a whiff of change in sections other than diplomacy. The most important is the role of the media, especially correspondents. Earlier, journalists were known for protecting sources. But due to the advent of new media like internet, anybody who lays his hand on some information, can print it without bothering to protect the identity of the messenger.
The second change is related to US diplomacy and their diplomatic behaviour. They would now be doubly cautious and will take extraordinary care to protect their diplomats and secrets. But it is impossible to stop such leakages in the future too. On the other hand, the US cannot change the essence and the basic rules of its diplomacy, because it needs this sort of instruments despite all the power at its disposal. The US wants to carry on with its complicated political influence in the external as much as in the internal political scene. However, many of its strategies and actions of different political actors now lay bare to allies and critics alike. In addition, the published cables show the real American perception and attitude towards its allies. They appeared, even in the best of circumstances, as mere lackeys of the Americans, devoid of any respect whatsoever. It is not for nothing that Americans want all those involved in the leaks prosecuted. They have gone all out against them.
This sort of war will not stop. It will continue between those who believe that it is a nation’s right to know about their leaders, and the others who believe in the necessity to determine the extent of public knowledge. Despite the motives behind those two ideas, no one can stop or end the confrontation between their respective believers.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
Arindam Chaudhuri is Delhi franchise holder for i1 Super Series
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri Dean Business School IIPM
IIPM Excom Prof Rajita Chaudhuri
IIPM: What is E-PAT?
"Thorns to Competition" amongst the top 10 best sellers of the week.
IIPM Mumbai Campus
posted by Surender @ 12:45 PM
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