Modern Diplomacy in Foreign Relations: Changing Approaches and Means

This article is a study about the developments leading to the emergence of modern diplomacy. As borne out by history in modern times, change in global structures leads to changes in diplomacy. Erosion in state sovereignty, spread of information and communications technology, growth of non– state actors, and increase in public awareness at the global level can be considered as some of the major factors contributing to changes in diplomacy. This article argues that the development of modern diplomacy is closely related to the concomitant development in civil society on a global scale where new non–governmental organizations, lobbying groups, professional associations, and also new governmental organizations, expect to play an ever- greater role in global issues. In the authors’ view, globalization, international economic inequalities, debt crisis, environmental problems, conflict prevention, human rights issues, humanitarian aid, HIV/AIDS pandemic, population pressures, prevention of local and ethnic conflicts, migration, etc. are so complex in nature that individual nation–states - and traditional diplomacy - cannot deal with and resolve them. Modern diplomacy instead presents the necessary framework and mechanisms for resolving global crises.