ABSTRACT
In this book we have approached diplomacy as that ‘what diplomats do’. And they do all kinds of things. They analyse situations, report to capitals, advise their Minister, make recommendations, make representations, negotiate, go public, and explain policy, and for all that they need clear thinking, articulate reasoning, persuasive argumentation, and effective communication. What makes a diplomat is not any domain-specific expertise but the whole of his aptitudes, competences, and skills which together constitute his ‘practice’. A diplomat is an:
Analyst. Her job starts with a cool political analysis of the world as it stands (Voltaire’s ‘le monde comme il va’); not just describing that world but deciphering it; not retrospectively but prospectively, sketching trends and tendencies in a reasoned forward-looking account of how the future may unfold, thus allowing the authorities back home to anticipate on future developments and to pro-actively act on them rather than react to them. A diplomat is an early-warning radar for troubles ahead but also a pristine detector of future opportunities.
Policy shaper. A diplomat does not just tell what the problem is, she tries to figure out what to do about it, what the solutions are. She actively contributes to the shaping of the policy response, and that requires smart judgment. She lays down options, devises scenarios, clearly distinguishing between the ideal (in the books) and the feasible (in the facts). A diplomat should never want to get an instruction from her capital that she has not somehow shaped herself.
Strategist. Clarity and certainty of vision are key in diplomatic practice. For that a strategy is needed. Not the big vision thing, but a plan connecting goals to available resources, identifying points of leverage and avoiding overstretch. Effective strategising addresses three questions: what is my starting position, where do I wish to land, and how do I balance my available resources with my goals.
Tactician. Once there is a master plan the next question is, how do I implement it, how do I get from here to there. What are the consecutive short-term steps to be taken? Which means do I put in the execution of the plan, and at what time? How to avoid or to overcome obstacles?
Problem solver: Many issues in a diplomat’s life are not about grand politics. Much of his work is about finding swift ad hoc solutions to often unexpected, nasty, nitty-gritty problems, none of them very serious but all together upsetting and time consuming. A diplomat is a troubleshooter and problem fixer, no less than an analyst, policy shaper, and strategist.
239 Negotiator. Negotiation is at the heart of diplomacy. That is where the diplomat can be at its best. Clearly identifying the interests at stake, pre-empting arguments of the adversary, building coalitions, persuading, and always keeping cool.
Communicator. Diplomacy is about influencing the behaviour of others. And that is done through effective communication. Reaching out, telling people what you stand for, explaining and clarifying what your position, what your foreign policy is.
