Do you know that diplomacy has emerged since the first human civilisation?
Do you know that diplomats used to work without the presence of foreign ministries and embassies?
In this article, I would briefly show you about how diplomacy looks like before it becomes modern diplomacy as we can see now.
Raymond Cohen categorizes the history of diplomacy into three major periods: Ancient Near Eastern Diplomacy, Classical Diplomacy, and European Diplomacy. The Ancient Near Eastern Diplomacy is referred to as the start of diplomacy predating the 2500 era B.C. in Mesopotamia. In this era, diplomatic correspondence was conducted in cuneiform script, which records some features of diplomatic practice, namely relations among polities (city-states), reciprocity, protocol, use of an international language, exchange of gifts, the principle of inviolability of messengers, palace of bureaucracy, armed struggles, coalitions, border disputes, arbitration awards, and dispute settlement.
Cohen categorizes the next period as classical diplomacy, which was influenced by three Empires: Greece, Rome, and Byzantine. Unlike the previous era, the Greece diplomacy was typified by conflicts and conquest as well as a lack of a sense of brotherhood; the absence of peace during this period was caused by significant wars among Greek polities. The Greece diplomacy was assumed to be “rudimentary” where envoys were mostly from missionaries rather than from professional diplomats; envoys tended to have advocacy rather than negotiation skills and there was no protocol or formal procedure. Nevertheless, some continuity and development happened as well. The classical diplomacy ‘possess forward-looking institutions’ as indicated by the presence of proxenos or resident consul and arbitrary system. The Roman Empire reinvigorated traditional practices of diplomacy, such as protocol, hospitality, and exchange of gifts. However, the Roman Empire discontinued “brotherhood” relations and the presence of proxenus. The Byzantine Empire adopted diplomacy from the previous era; it continued protocol and hospitality from Mesopotamia; it adopted negotiation and soft power from Greece; it also adopted ‘tactics of divide and rule’ to fight the wars. Furthermore, diplomacy was applied more strategically in the sense that ‘diplomacy became an organised instrument of statecraft,’ which was proven by the existence of Master of Offices. This institution also had strategic vision, namely preventing war, maintaining peaceful coexistence, and fostering prosperity.
During the European diplomacy, Respublica Christiana (Christian commonwealth) system created a non-secular base for diplomacy in which religious elites were involved significantly in politics; additionally, exclusive sovereignty was not prerequisite for diplomacy. Features of diplomacy included foreign business, promoting trade, performing homage, alliance, dispute settlement, dynastic marriage, appointing bishop, mediation and negotiation through good offices (to maintain harmony), resident ambassadors, and nascent foreign ministry. Modern diplomacy started from 17th century after the raise of French power and the collapse of respublica christiana; some transformation took place during this period, such as the emergence of institutionalised sovereignty; the use of ratification rather than sworn and oath system; the extension of inviolability principles to also include premises, servants, property, and mail; the emergence of international organisations; and the codification of diplomatic and consular relations.
The European Diplomacy thus marks the practice of the current diplomacy.
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Diplomacy AND Beyond 