The Concept of Diplomacy - Term Paper Example

 Introduction The conflicts of various countries lead to a lack of humanitarianism and the inability to resolve issues. The need to create a sense of peace and diplomacy in nations continues to be redefined by changing policies to resolve conflict. Monitoring the needs of countries and ensuring assistance and changes is influenced by governmental groups is one of the focuses to bring peace to a nation. The United Nations Organization has created a sense of influence while working toward new definitions and expectations of all nations. By doing this, there is the ability to create stability and peace while those involved with the nation can change the approach to ensure that the correct measures are taken for citizens involved in the country. United Nations Definition of Diplomacy The views of the United Nations are one of the main ways that diplomacy is altered and creates a sense of change with the policies available. The viewpoint of the United Nations is to create preventive diplomacy. This approaches conflict by trying to avoid the conflict before it goes into extreme measures within the nation. It has been noted that peacekeeping among nations is becoming more pressurized than before with crisis, conflicts and changes occurring at all levels. Political figures, societal outbreaks and economic downfalls are all leading to problems around the globe which the UN is trying to resolve. To conquer this, the statement has been created to prevent conflict before it happens, stabilize conflicts in the beginning stages and to change the level of security at later stages. The suggestion contains three levels of action, including security intervention, mediation and political diplomacy. By using these methods, there is the ability to meet the challenges from various political problems (Pascoe, 2010). It is believed that suggesting preventative measures to all nations will allow leaders to stop violence before it starts. Practical steps to ending the conflict and resolutions can easily be formed by using prevention first. The UN has combined this method with offering mediators and facilitators to resolve the conflict at an early stage. The attitudes that are developed by political leaders is to have a stronger leadership and sense of power that comes from the mediation of UN. Attitudes toward the UN are based on having governmental and international interference. This affiliation makes it easier for the government to work toward a resolution while national involvement with the conflict becomes secondary (Ernst, 1037: 2008). Actions of the UN The United Nations has not only suggested and become involved with resolving conflict at earlier stages. There are also initiatives that have been propagated and organized by the UN which serve individuals in various countries. An approach which has been taken is multilateralism. This strategy is based on diplomats of several countries working together to provide solutions to foreign affairs. Often, larger states work unilaterally to create a different approach to solving problems. Foreign policies, interference from governments working together and the development of councils in various countries to enhance the security of a nation are some of the outcomes of this approach. The security enhancement and other policies that have been implemented as a result can work to take proactive measures against conflict while ensuring that individuals have the capacity of overcoming challenges now emerging at a global and national level. Peacekeeping operations, government diplomacy, economic recovery, assistance with health programs and climate negotiations are some of the several programs that have developed as a result of this concept (Plenum, 2011). The concept of multilateralism works to overcoming challenges and to move into a higher sense of diplomacy. The UN has the ability to intervene and provide changes with the governance offered with the associations between nations. Intergovernmental organizations are able to work with finding solutions while offering higher security. If there isn’t a sense of collective action that is taken as a response, then the UN has the capacity of intervening with the conflict at hand. They then have the ability of becoming mediators to stop the crisis from moving forward. This can change the decision making process for foreign affairs. It also offers a different approach to the resolution of conflict among different nations. More important, the diplomatic leaders working with multilateralism have to become an authority to the UN with the decisions made. This gives more accountability and legitimacy to the mandates suggested by the UN and within each nation. Creating collaboration with the international mediators and working in partnerships with each nation stops conflict while changing the governance used (Forman, Segaar, 205: 2006). Another application from the UN is with the development of diplomacy through education. Most that are interested in prevention and changing the diplomatic changes look to the UN as an international actor that can send solutions and other groups to assist with the conflicts. The UN continues to create and compile information on how to build diplomatic relations, what should be included and some of the measures which can be taken between government officials in various nations to ensure that the correct measures are kept. By doing this, there is the ability to change the understanding of diplomacy and the potential problems that have arisen. At the same time, the education is able to include conflicts that need mediation and how this can be approached in terms of education and the ability to work toward peaceful resolutions (Rugh, 2: 2010). Influences of the UN The concept of the UN is to work as a mediator and to provide assistance when necessary as an international organization. However, there are also limitations to the UN as an international and governmental agency. To change this influence, the UN connects to organizations in a country to bring diplomacy. These organizations are not affiliated with the government; however, they are able to work with programs from the UN to change the level of security and safety in a given nation. Protocols, treaties and the creation of international programs are often used to ensure that changes are made within various regions. When using information first, combined with the creation of programs, different organizations are able to step in and influence what is needed. For instance, there is the ability to have NGOs working at grassroots levels while following the information and guidance of the UN for the correct responses. This influences the social and economic conditions of a region, creates security and prevention outside of the government and helps with changing the situation to work toward diplomacy. More important, those that are outside of government affiliations or the UN have the capacity of participating in relation to the UN, specifically with ideas and options which can be applied to various regions through the mediation of the UN. Creating this sense of collaboration while allowing the work to begin at a grassroots levels can then help with the needs within a given community (Betsill, Corell, 3: 2008). There are other levels of influence that tie into the UN to create an understanding of diplomacy and to assist with resolution of conflict. International organizations and multinational corporations have a direct link to the UN if there are difficulties and the need to establish a sense of diplomacy. Security policies and cooperation with specific types of regulations and laws are the main components that each of these organizations look toward when working with the UN. The forces and trends in the global environment create a sense of equality from those involved with the UN. States are treated equally with legalities, full sovereignty is established, a sense of territorial integrity is given and freedom of each nation developing their own system is incorporated. However, the policies and legalities to ensure diplomacy are able to combine this with the functions of corporations and organizations to ensure that obligations are fulfilled while a sense of freedom is given to the nations (Stolberg, 122: 2009). The influences created through the UN are furthered with roles that can be used with establishing peace in war zone territories and those that can’t find resolutions to conflict. The use of mediation as the main component is one that has to initialize what is occurring within the countries. However, the UN also can work as an international and governmental body to establish peace in a given area and to overlook the establishment of new governance among nations. If there is infringement on the national sovereignty, then there is the ability to use resources of the UN and to have assistance with the authorities to ensure that measures are taken to prevent harm. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is one of the areas that provide assistance to establish diplomacy. This is done by monitoring and mediating among groups of individuals while providing treaties and government documents that ensure a fair agreement is made and that diplomacy is established. The UN is able to use the laws that are a part of the nation to ensure that both sides reach an agreement and the conflicts that are arising are able to stop. The efforts are based on human rights and creating a normal function of the government that is a part of the nation (Ling, 47: 2007). Limitations of Influence Even though the United Nations is able to create a sense of influence with mediation, recommendations, political expectations and organizations, there are also limitations in the conduct of diplomacy established. The nations are still able to function as independent leaders economically, culturally and in relation to the political independence that is created. The UN is unable to interfere at different points and can only provide mediation if the conflict is an emergency or if engagements are expected. The inconsistencies in foreign policies, pressures from society and outlets such as the media make the diplomacy difficult to keep by the UN at some points and create limitations on assisting with two – way exchanges between nations. The United States and Arabic conflict is an example where the UN becomes limited because of the agenda of both nations, inability to find a resolution and the association with functioning at a national level before working with the UN for a proper resolution (Kraidy, 2: 2008). The question with the UN and the establishments that are designed to provide diplomacy then become an understanding of influence. The UN works as a soft power to nations, which is able to provide mediation and negotiations to end conflict legally. However, the powers that are in the nations are able to take precedence over these specific areas. Diplomacy, economics and the forces with foreign aid that come from national policies are all known to limit the powers of the UN. More specifically, there are different levels of influence that are associated with various regions, depending on the level of relationships that are created between nations. In regions that have a larger amount of unrest and conflict, there is the inability to have a stronger and more powerful influence because of the complexities with the nation. Other areas that have invested in specific types of relationships through aid or that have created policies also create limitations with how the UN can interact and what level of diplomacy can be kept between the nations. For the UN to create a sense of diplomacy, both nations have to look to the UN for a resolution and interference to prevent or stop conflict (Blanchard et al, 2: 2008). The concept of foreign policy and the soft power of the UN are furthered by the overall sense of political barriers that naturally form within nations. The use of foreign policies and the need to have legalities within a specific nation is one that causes most who are in nations to be forced to take sides. The main view that is seen always has an opposing view, even when there is a common purpose. The conflict then comes from tensions that can’t be resolved by those in the UN or other regions and builds a sense of ideological interests that continue with the conflicts of various nations. If the sides aren’t acted upon in a specific manner and take too long to maneuver through with diplomatic means, then it leads to more conflict and different needs for security instead of resolution of the conflict. The power of the UN then becomes limited by the natural makeup of the nations and the agreements, philosophies and oppositional ideals that are represented among the different nations (Bailey, Daws, 38: 1995). Conclusion The concept of diplomacy is one that is continuously being altered and re-defined. The United Nations organization has used various measures to change this particular outcome and to influence the way in which diplomacy works. The association with diplomacy is one that is regulated by education, suggestions and the overall ideologies that the UN has created. This is combined with the legal implications that the UN can reinforce and the agendas that are carried out by NGOs and other non – governmental organizations. These are all able to work by changing the influence within the UN. However, there is often the inability to create influence because of foreign policies and the nature of various governments. While the UN is able to spread specific levels of diplomacy through mediation and education, the limitations rely on national governments and the main approaches used to creating a sense of peace resolution and diplomacy within the region. References Bailey, Sydney, Sam Daws. (1998). The United Nations: A Concise Political Guide. London: Macmillan Press. Betsill, Michele, Elisabeth Corell. (2008). NGO Diplomacy: The Influence of Nongovernmental Organizations. London: MIT Press. Blanchard, Christopher, Nicolas Cook, Kerry Dumbaugh, Susan Epstein, Shirley Kan. (2008). “Comparing Global Influence: China’s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World.” CRS Report for Congress. Ernst, Manfred. (2008). “Attitudes and Diplomats at the United Nations: The Effects of Organizational Participation on the Evaluation of the Organization.” International Organization 32 (4). Forman, Shepard, Derk Segaar. (2006). “New Coalitions for Global Governance: The Changing Dynamics of Multilateralism.” Global Governance 12 (2). Kraidy, Marwan. (2008). “Arab Media and US Policy: A Public Diplomacy Reset.” Policy Analysis Brief (January). Ling, Bonny. (2007). “China’s Peacekeeping Diplomacy.” China Rights Forum (1). Pascoe, Lynn. (2010). “Rediscovering Preventive Diplomacy: A View From the United Nations.” Department of Political Affairs: UN. Plenum, Bimun. (2011). “UN and USA: New Era of Multilateralism.” UN Association. Rugh, William. (2010). The United Nations and Public Diplomacy. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Stolberg, Alan. (2009). “The International System in the 21st Century.” Guide to National Security Policy and Strategy. Read More