One hundred years ago the question of the future of diplomacy was raised as a result of technological progress-the invention of the radio and telegraph and the intervention of public into the domain of foreign policy. The first factor brought the apprehension that diplomats would become "Honorary Mailmen" and the second raised the issue of open diplomacy. However, the role of diplomacy in the twentieth century has not been restricted by these two factors. The functioning of diplomacy is influenced by a complicated combination of different interrelated factors. To begin with, there is a set of political factors.
During most of the twentieth century, two world wars, the Cold War, the rivalry of two super power, the ideologization of international affairs and military confrontation have made diplomacy a subsidiary instrument of power politics and ideology. As a result, diplomacy has very often executed the "dance of death". The end of the Cold War has radically changed the international political scene. Moreover, today we are facing the shift of the civilization paradigm, which affects not only the major units of world polities - the states - but which also brings new actors into the forefront of international relations. |
