Working diplomatically

Abstract

Diplomacy still plays a major role in preventing and resolving conflict, often in areas such as trade rules and breaches of human rights conventions.An ambassador is an honest man who is sent to lie abroad for the good of his country,' commented British diplomat Sir Henry Wooten in the 17th century, and some might say nothing much has changed. Traditional diplomacy .consists of interactions between governments. Professional diplomats talk on behalf of their governments to their counterparts' with each striving to advance their own national interests; not necessarily concerned either to advance the common good or to promote peace.Diplomats speak from a 'brief' with instructions from their political masters, which defines the official position and tells them what their government can or cannot accept. As their biographies show,usually the more senior the diplomat, the more latitude she/he has to stretch the limits and even to suggest new compromises.