The most significant change in the nature of diplomacy: ORGINS AND THE END OF 30 YEARS OF WAR

Methods of diplomacy have varied with the political conventions of each age. Negotiations have been a common practice throughout history, the origins date back to at least the Great Kings of the Ancient Near East. This blog will explore some significant history and changes within the nature of diplomacy with most attention to the End of the 30 Years of War as I consider this to be the most significant change in diplomacy.

There have been many significant changes in the nature of diplomacy, such as diplomatic conference of Sparta in 432BC. The conference objective was to decide whether or not to go to war with Athens. I do not consider this to be the most significant change in the nature of diplomacy but this should be noted as it is a historical and significant change when exploring natures of diplomacy. In this era there where many protocols in place which governed diplomatic procedure and although the procedures and technologies of these protocols have changed, the factor of diplomatic procedures are still important in international relations today.

The Byzantine emperors transformed the traditional role of diplomats as they were required to compensate for reduced military force by the use of diplomacy. The traditional agenda of a diplomat was to set out the views threats or proposals of the emperor, this moved to a new role which modern diplomats exercise, such as being a trained observer and negotiator. This again is a significant change in diplomacy as it gives an insight to how the art of negotiation began and how it has evolved.
Later in the history of diplomacy came the 30 years of war (1618-48.) The war started due to the uprising of the protestant aristocracy against the Spanish authority. This was a key change of diplomacy history as this was a period that the ‘Machiavellian’ expedients of spying and conspiracy took place. Also during this time the English took unquestioned precedence of morality and was called by the English ‘the end justifying the means.’ These means incorporated all sorts of issues but religious toleration was at the root of the conflict. This was a time of cynical behaviour from many heads of states. It was especially practiced by a prince of the church, Cardinal Richelieu of France who sided with the Protestants; ultimately this allowed the Holy Roman Empire to extend its borders. The example the Prince of the church provides is a balance of power politics. This is key in diplomacy as balance of power politics has been discussed within the international arena throughout history including the present day. By the 1630’s the war involved many cutting dynastic, religious and state interests’ issues. This war examples many diplomatic changes as it was Europe’s first continental war.

I consider the most significant change in diplomacy to be the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the 30 years of war. This is ‘considered by international relations theorists as the major transition to modernity.’ (The globalization of world politics-Baylis, Smith,Owens-4th edition) The treaty was crucial in delimiting the political rights and authority of European monarchs. Not only this, it legitimised a commonwealth of sovereign states; this is not only a significant change in the nature of diplomacy but also international relations as a discipline. The fact that the treaty allowed states to control its internal affairs and independent external affairs caused a major change in diplomatic procedures and relations thereafter. It also considered many rules and political principles of the new society of states; this significantly changed the way in which diplomats communicated, negotiated and represented their individual state.

Although there has been many other major changes in the nature of diplomacy such as Treaties of Utrecht (1713,) treaty of Paris (1814,) Treaty of Versailles (1919,) Charter of the United Nations (1945,) Declaration on granting Independence to colonial Countries and Peoples (1960,) new technologies, role of non-state actors, multilateral conferences and the new idea of public diplomacy. I chose to look at the history of diplomatic change as this provides the first changes and origins of how diplomacy came about to be what it is today. I considered the origins of diplomacy and the End of the 30 years of War as a significant starting point from where diplomacy has changed and evolved to what it is today.