The most important aspect of the New Diplomacy

Firstly it must be noted that public diplomacy and Diplomacy of NGO’s are significant factors within New Diplomacy. However, I feel that the most prominent factor is the fashion of multilateral diplomacy.

G. R. Berridge defines the new fashion as ‘diplomacy conducted via conferences,’ he further states that they can vary in size, level of attendance and wide ranging agendas. This allows the element of inclusiveness to flourish, as more states can be represented. Especially in such conferences such as the United Nations: the general assembly allows 192 member states to participate in discussion of a large forum.

A problem: ‘Only about one third of all possible directed country pairs show evidence of diplomatic representation.’ (Neumayer 2008:230) This statement signifies that not all states such as Gahanna can hold permanent missions in all countries across the world. For many developing and underdeveloped states such representation is not feasible to exist. For states that are developed, such as Denmark, there are simply not enough resources for all permanent missions to exist. Power states such as the United Kingdom and the USA do not have this problem and can represent themselves in nearly all countries across world. Multilateral diplomacy allows all states to interact, build relationships and network.

The vital reason that multilateral diplomacy is the most important aspect is the reality of inclusion.
All 192 members of the United Nations are included in debates and voting on matters of peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters. Even states with little resources are included in making decisions of matters on a global scale.
A second reason why I feel multilateralism is the most important aspect of the New Diplomacy is the factor of rising extreme global issues. Theses issues include: AIDS, climate change, children, development, human rights, peace and terrorism. Due to multilateral diplomacy, Programmes have been created in tackling some of the major problems that the world faces. For example, UNAIDS was created as a joint United Nations programme which Unites ‘the efforts of the United Nations system, civil society, national governments, the private sector, global institutions and people living with and most affected by HIV’ (UNAIDS 2010: 1) Without these multilateral instances many of the problems which are tackled could spiral from a state control.

Moreover, in a globalized world in which all economies are more interdependent than ever, there is a requirement for multilateral focus within the international arena. The G20 is a prime example of this: during the world financial crisis in 2009, 20 states arranged a forum to discuss the key issues of the global economy. If this type of meeting was not held, intentions and agendas of states affected by the crisis may not have been heard and ultimately the financial crisis could have been a reoccurrence of the 1930’s great depression.

Transparently, there is a consensus that multilateral diplomacy is required in the contemporary world system. It creates and allows states with fewer resources to have recognition within the international stage. Furthermore, multilateral diplomacy allows countries to address global issues that affect all ranges of people.

References:

About UNAIDSUNAIDSTODAY | UNAIDSTODAY. 2010. About UNAIDSUNAIDSTODAY | UNAIDSTODAY. [ONLINE] Available at: http://unaidstoday.org/?page_id=703. [Accessed 17 December 2010].

Berridge, James, A dictionary of diplomacy: 2nd edition (Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003)

G. R. Berridge, Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, 4th edition Diplomatic Theory and Practice Fourth Edition, G.R Berridge, 2010.

Neumayer, E., 2008, Distance, Power and Ideology: Diplomatic Representation in a World of Nation-States. Article, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Geography and Environment, 228-236.

United Nations Global Issues - Home. 2010. United Nations Global Issues - Home. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/. [Accessed 17 December 2010].

G20 | World news | guardian.co.uk . 2010. G20 | World news | guardian.co.uk . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/g20. [Accessed 17 December 2010].