Diplomacy is a complex practice that involves communicating and negotiating with people, both as representatives of their states and as regular individuals. It is essential in implementing foreign policy interests, resolving conflicts, and fostering cooperation in a variety of areas such as trade, culture, and science. Diplomacy has been around for thousands of years and continues to evolve in response to the rise of new powers, power shifts within old powers, and emerging issues.
Modern diplomacy encompasses a wide range of activities including consultations, back-channel discussions, and summits or conferences led by heads of state or government officials. It also includes the daily work of diplomats based in embassies and other diplomatic missions, including meetings with people and relationship-building events. This also includes the negotiation and preparation of treaties and other agreements. Diplomacy can also take the form of formal arbitrations or mediations, which are often based on international law.
The practice of diplomacy is governed by a set of rules, including diplomatic rights and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. These principles prevent diplomats from being persecuted or prosecuted while on a mission and ensure that their diplomatic status is respected by host countries. The practice is also supported by a broader corpus of international law and customary law that institutionalizes the presence of permanent missions, diplomatic privileges, and the protection of diplomats and their premises and archives. In addition, the practice is bolstered by the extensive body of academic literature that examines the complexities of diplomatic negotiations and a myriad of international relations issues.