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International relations and diplomacy lecture notes

International relations and diplomacy lecture notes

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International Relations and Diplomacy

Definitions & Basics

What are they?

• International Relations: relations between nations, national governments, international

organizations, etc., esp. involving political, economic, social and cultural exchanges; the

study of such relations, esp. as an academic discipline. OED, online edn at www.oed.com

• Diplomacy: The management of international relations by negotiating; the method by which

these relations are adjusted and managed by ambassadors and envoys; the business or art of

the diplomatist; skill or address in the conduct of international intercourse and negotiations.

OED. Rhetoric. Negotiation. Convincing the other party.

Why matter?

• Political bodies don’t exist in a vacuum: Trade, War, News, etc.

• Political bodies rely on each other: Alliances, Friendships, Fiscal Aid, etc.

• Political bodies have identities: Cultural, Religious, Opposite, etc.

Necessity for comparisons with other countries

Rivalries of Great & Lesser Powers

(European and non-European)

Strategic Interests

Resources (natural, financial), Trade, Economics Taxes (exports and imports, Tolls) – how do

countries relate with one another? Finances

Ottoman-Venetian Example – Venetian seaborn empire in Early Modern Period. Christians of a

Catholic mould vs. Islamic. Very good trade agreements, in their strategic interests to do so despite

differences

Territorial Claims

Honour, Hereditary Lands (very frequent warfare, is it legitimate that certain lands be acquired by

warfare and those people subject to a new ruler), Patrimony

Lands Won in (Frequent) War

Prestige, Honour, Glory

Expansion of French, Ottoman Lands. Spanish claims in the low countries for example.

Confessional Conflicts (religion)

International Protestants & Catholics. International collaboration among Catholics and Christians.

French Civil Wars of Religion, Thirty years war. Transcend international boundaries. Can be catholic

Spanish.

Ottoman Involvement vs Habsburgs – strategic interests. Teamed with French and Dutch. Alliances

could transcend not just national boundaries or religious boundaries or ideological boundaries, name

of strategic interests

Ideas & Ideologies Reified

Renaissance Diplomacy: The 16

Century

Italian Origins, 14

, 15

Cents

Like Renaissance Arts & Culture

Later Spread to Spain, France, England

Political situation in Italian peninsula. All competing with one another. Come up with new

mechanisms to find agreements and negotiate. Italian model eventually spreads, firstly spain in the

late 15

century, then the French and the English.

Principal Developments

Regular Exchange of Ambassadors – regularized and formalized, increasingly frequent,

smooth information transfer

Diplomacy as a Permanent State Function – Beginnings of a formal government, indicative

of a centralized and formalized state government and beaurocracy

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Dedicated Offices & Archives for Reports – government archives for retaining information,

home government creates a repository to retain information for future policy making

Resident (not ad hoc) Ambassadors – somebody sent to stay and live for several years,

BOLD INNOVATION, V V EXPENSIVE. Done in the interest of relying regular and reliable

information to home country.

Regular, Reliable, Recognized – needs to recognize legitimacy of the homeland

Ambassadors’ Functions

Representation of Prince; Orator – delivers messages

Negotiation of Treaties; Official – alliances and trade, powerful position

Intelligence Gathering; Formal & Informal – abstract and important daily activity

Renaissance Diplomacy: The 17

Century

Complications

Continual Religious Conflict – rivalries of states had realigned.

Formal & Informal Diplomacy – sometimes work outside official government channels,

travelling, not as an agent of government but on their own, exchange information through

conversations, effects how government would need to respond

Intellectual & Cultural Networks

Religious Divides & Allegiances

Legacies of the Reformation – alliance between Dutch and English breaks down

Old & New Residences – break down. Venetians and Ottomans sometimes didn’t have

ambassadors

Budding Ideas of International Law – BOLD INNOVATION

Diplomatic Immunity – what does it mean? Is it a good thing for negotiation?

‘Just War’ & Maritime Trade

Commercial Developments

Dutch, English, Ottoman Example – Anglo-Dutch wars – economic interests. Ottoman and

Venetian relations start to break down – shifting priorities

The 17

Century: Watershed

The Peace of Westphalia, 1648

Concluded Thirty Years’ War – single most destructive war in Europe until the Great War.

Ripped apart the land across massive tracts

Enormous Meetings (2)

Religious & Political Elements

Much of Europe Involved – many countries were represented. Spanish, French, Danish,

English

Key Developments Afterwards

Restricted Representation

Lesser States – all couldn’t have ambassadors

Legal Foundations & Forms

Open & Official Declarations – declaration of war becomes formal, official and legal

Direct Negotiation of Belligerents

Decline of Mediation between belligerents

Large Scale Congress

Formalities & Ceremonies – increasingly. Etiquette. Very elite.

Renaissance Diplomacy: The 18

Century – French diplomacy

French Connections

Politics, Culture, Language – expansion of French power. Land and prestige. Forces

recognition by other countries. Seen overseas in the New World.

Political Power & Expansion – adopted across the whole of Europe

In Europe & Overseas

Louis XIV, Wars

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International Relations and Diplomacy Definitions & Basics What are they? • International Relations: relations between nations, national governments, international organizations, etc., esp. involving political, economic, social and cultural exchanges; the study of such relations, esp. as an academic discipline. OED, online edn at www.oed.com • Diplomacy: The management of international relations by negotiating; the method by which these relations are adjusted and managed by ambassadors and envoys; the business or art of the diplomatist; skill or address in the conduct of international intercourse and negotiations. OED. Rhetoric. Negotiation. Convincing the other party. Why matter? • Political bodies don’t exist in a vacuum: Trade, War, News, etc. • Political bodies rely on each other: Alliances, Friendships, Fiscal Aid, etc. • Political bodies have identities: Cultural, Relig ...
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