RECLAIMING DIPLOMACY: A CALL FOR PRINCIPLED ENGAGEMENT IN A WORLD AT RISK

"Diplomacy failed. Diplomacy does not work. It is pointless to try to engage.” These kinds of statements have become increasingly common and can be very irritating to those of us who believe in diplomacy’s capacity to reduce tensions, prevent escalation, and open pathways to sustainable peace. No one ever stops to think that military power does not work when it fails to stop a war. Now some members of Diplomats Without Borders have decided to respond.

They have produced a little booklet called Reclaiming Diplomacy: A Call for Principled Engagement in a World at Risk. It makes the case for diplomacy and refutes the arguments that diplomacy is irrelevant in a few short pages. It is designed as a little handbook where we can source arguments that can be used when diplomacy is mocked and provides examples of when diplomacy has worked. It is aimed at the general public who may not have such information at hand when they hear negative statements on TV, radio, or social media or in discussions with their friends. It may also be valuable for diplomats and politicians if they are beginning to doubt the efficacy of diplomacy.

We recommend the booklet as a tool to discuss how to reclaim diplomacy and place it back at the heart of international relations. You can access it here.