Creating personal networks in diplomacy
Józef Domagalski
Warsaw, Poland, Stockholm, Sweden, jozefdomagalski@yahoo.com
Abstract
The network of appropriate personal contacts in the receiving country has always been and
continues to be regarded as an essential condition for the success of the diplomatic mission
and the individual diplomat.
The author raises the following questions:
What role do the protocol rules and the extended structure of different kind of diplomatic
meetings and receptions play?
What kind of network is possible that is indispensable and desirable for diplomats in times of
globalization?
How has traditional diplomacy reacted to the emergence of new actors on the international
scene?
Does the diplomat still need to create his own network and develop his personal contacts?
The author analyzes the changes in the diplomatic work, methods and environment during
the period of last decades. The process of building interpersonal relationships by diplomats
is described. The article underlines a close connection between the individual diplomat’s
network and his area of responsibility and tasks at the Embassy. The skills and traits
desirable in diplomacy are also mentioned.
Although the article points out the growing importance of multilateral diplomacy, it mainly
focuses on and analyzes personal network in bilateral diplomacy.
The crucial ideas discussed in the article are the specific characteristics of working
environment and personal network in diplomacy today.
The article indicates qualitative changes in the functioning of todays diplomacy. These are the
result of globalization, including the emergence of new actors on the international scene.
Keywords: diplomacy, network, embassy, personal contacts
Background
The process of globalization has a massive impact on the shape of todays diplomacy. The
information and telecommunication revolution means that diplomacy finally lost the monopoly
in the sphere of information. Diplomacy today is not able to compete effectively with media
when it comes to the speed of information transfer.
Some of the features of traditional diplomacy become irrelevant because of the universal and
easy access to the different sources of information and to the majority of interesting
documents. The role of diplomacy as an intermediary between governments is also subject to
radical reduction. Direct and frequent contacts between heads of state and governments
become the usual practise in international relations.
A relative reduction of the role of governments and embassies in the international game has
taken place. Rapidly growing network of international organizations and structures has taken
over some of the previous functions and tasks from the bilateral embassies. The question is
not only how the traditional diplomacy should find its place in the globalized world. The
traditional diplomacy also has to learn how to coexist with other players and how to make
use of a new form of cooperation.
Systematically growing role of the European External Action Service has dramatically
changed the practise, methods and role of the bilateral embassies of EU member states in
other EU countries as well as in the third countries.
Results
The diplomat' s personal network has its own characteristics, which distinguishes it from the
base of contacts of many other professional groups. The most important characteristics
include:
 limited term of office abroad;
 representation of one' s country;
 confidentiality and trust;
 continuation and changing of personal network;
 diversity of professional contacts in the receiving country;
Conclusion
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language of diplomacy and language of receiving country;
diplomatic protocol rules and diplomat's personal contacts;
identification of the natural allies and supporters;
adaptation to the conditions of the host country.
The traditional diplomacy has made the substantial changes in the methods of diplomatic
work. It has had to adapt to the increasing role on the international arena of the other
actors, for instance a variety of non-governmental organizations, multinational
corporations, regions and cities. This is particularly the case with regards to global issues
such as the environment, climate, human rights and pandemics. The traditional areas of
diplomacy, disarmament, prevention and solving conflicts also become the subject of
cooperation with non-governmental partners.
Some analysts make a distinction between traditional and new diplomacy and underline
that the new diplomacy has been challenged to redefine its role and function in the modern
world.
The new challenges also determine a new perspective on the issue of creating the
diplomat's personal network or its adaptation to other needs and tasks.
The diplomat's personal network has to be built following a certain principle in selecting
people, such as protocol requirements, important governmental institutions, think tank,
NGOs, influential persons and experts in diplomat's sphere of interest, the contacts that
could be of interest in the future.
Everybody generally agrees on the growing importance of the economic and public
diplomacy.
There are many determinants which influence the diplomatic mechanisms, methods of
work and interpersonal relationships. The diplomat will build its network of contacts parallel
on different levels, which do not necessary overlap.
E-mail lists, contacts on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and other social media are a platform
for sophisticated diplomatic activities, such as lobbying, promotion of the position of
diplomats country on various international issues, obtaining information, ratings, etc.
An extensive network of contacts and meetings in the traditional form is not always
necessary and legitimate because of the economy of time. The diplomat in many
democratic countries does not need a cultivated personal relationship to make an
appointment and get comprehensive information and comments. On the contrary
excessive attention on personal relationships can instead of relaxing our interlocutor
cause “stiffening him up”.
The process of further merging of the domestic and foreign policy is inevitable. All
ministries, not only foreign ministry, are taking part in international relations and keep direct
contact with their counterparts and participate in relevant international meetings. Public
institutions, business, scientific, cultural, sport, and other NGO's are developing their own
network of foreign contacts outside the official diplomatic channels.
An evolution and sometimes radical changes in understanding of diplomacy's role in the
protection and promotion of the national interest is a fact. The question of the necessity of
coordination of national foreign policy is not a subject of this article and will not be
developed further. Diplomacy always represents the position of the specific government.
A few decades ago the embassies had a much easier time to represent a country and
protect national interests. The embassy had a privileged and exclusive position in the
receiving country. Nowadays diplomacy has to take into consideration the participation and
influence of other domestic actors on the international arena. Therefore their foreign
partners should also be a subject of the diplomatic mission's network.
Some of the previous functions of the embassies have definitely disappeared, while others
have undergone dynamic changes. The embassies are going to transform into a flexible
instrument supporting the representatives of government in actions and initiatives
conducted directly. The geographical network of embassies should be suitable for the
national interest. One can observe the process of much faster adaptation of the
embassies location to the current policy priorities.
The question rises whether the traditional diplomacy survives, and what shape it will take
for the next 10-20 years.
The main priority of the embassies activity is to protect the national interests of the state and
its citizens and remains unchanged. Before the age of globalization, the diplomacy used to be
understood as a competition between states and the group of countries. The subject of the
competition was a sphere of influence and protection of sovereignty conducted by peaceful
means. The undeclared war currently waged by Russia against Ukraine with unconventional
methods proves clearly that the old kind of diplomacy has not gone forever, but is creatively
modified.
This experience confirms that the development of diplomacy moving between conflict and
cooperation, between thinking in terms of their loss is our gain, to common understanding of
interdependence, value of compromise and of win - win solution does not proceed in a linear
manner.
The thesis that the scale of international tensions and armed conflicts after the cataclysm of
World War II runs sinusoidal with a gradually decreasing amplitude, seems today provocative,
but is justified.
The process of globalization and technological revolution is forcing increased
interdependence, flow of information and active participation of nations and societies in
shaping of international politics. The official, governmental diplomacy faces competition from
other actors on the international scene. At the same time, the state diplomacy is able to
multiply its activities through cooperation with the social partners and the using of their
potential.
In summary, it is important to underline that the creation of embassies and individual
diplomat's network should be seen on many levels.
This article is focused on the issue of building interpersonal relationships subordinated to the
specific tasks of individual diplomat working in bilateral embassy.
The assumption has been made that one diplomat's personal network is a part of the
embassy’s interpersonal relationships and contacts.
The concept of diplomacy in the traditional, narrow sense of the word, remains reserved for
the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and its agencies: embassies and consulates. The growing
groups of experts, professionals and representatives of other institutions are involved in the
strict diplomatic processes. This is especially the case in the multilateral diplomacy. However,
the specialized agenda in bilateral talks and negotiations demand that career diplomats
require support of experts in an extended dimension .
A separate discussion is required because of the issue of EU diplomacy and the participation
of representatives of other ministries, institutions and civil society in EU structures and
forums.
One can recognise the fact that in the building of diplomatic network and creating a database
of interpersonal contacts with the country concerned expanding number of citizens are
involved.
References
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