ABSTRACT
It is evident today that Nigerian
economy is characterized by a number of challenges. From the inception of
military regime, the economy was burdened by mismanagement which brought in
additional problem such as high fiscal deficits which, threw macroeconomic
services into despair, epileptic power supply which rendered growth activities
in the country handicapped, there was low output in production, high
unemployment, and a crushing external debt overhang prevailed, all this existed
prior to the inception of a civilian democratic leadership of president
Olusegun Obasanjo. There has been tremendous changes and growth in the economy
and national development of Nigeria from 1999 upwards.
This study employ the secondary data,
such as books encyclopedia, journals, internet materials and government
publications, in gathering the information that enabled better understanding of
the subject matter.
In these findings, the study
identifies the historical background of Economic Diplomacy of the past regime
and there policy and as a result of the epileptic and mismanagement of
political as well as economical activities, these made the new civilian
administration of president Obasanjo employ his `idiosyncrasies' cum methods.
And the extent to which he has been able to exert influence on foreign policy
matters through the general reforms from 1999 to 2007.
The study recommends that for the
identified strategies to be fully impactful for economic growth of the country
as well as the national development there must be transparency of government
and earring officials must be persecuted.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study 1
Statement of Problem 7
Objectives of the Study 7
Research Questions 7
Rationale of the Study 8
Scope and Limitation of Study 8
Research Methodology 8
Literature Review 9
Notes and References 14
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
The
Subject Matter of Economic Diplomacy in Nigeria 15
Meaning
and Use of Diplomacy 17
Economic
Diplomacy from the Ancient to the Modern Time 17
Main
Tenets of Nigeria's Economic Diplomacy 21
Notes
and References 28
CHAPTER
THREE: THE CONTEXT OF FOREIGN POLICY
AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Foreign
Policy as A Tool for Nigerian Economic Diplomacy 29
A
History of Nigeria's Foreign Policy 32
Significance
of Foreign Policy in Nigeria 34
CHAPTER
FOUR: ECONOMIC DIPLOMACYAND FOREIGN
POLICY IN NIGERIA: AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
The
Impact of Economic Diplomacy on Nigeria's Foreign Policy: 1999-2007 38
National
Development Strategies through Economic Reforms 43
Anti-Corruption
Crusade 48
Debt
Cancellation 49
Notes
and References 54
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSION
Summary 55
Recommendation 57
Conclusions 57
Bibliography 58
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
The
term ‘diplomacy’ is as old as human history and since its universal usage had
come to mean a lot to many people, especially in carrying out the exchange of state relations with cordiality
and mutual acceptance. According to Stinnett (2005) diplomacy is the practice
of verbal discussion with the intent to influence, transmit a position or
negotiate on a given issue or situation for a mutually acceptable outcome.
Hamitton
(1996) defined diplomacy as a peaceful conduct relations amongst political entities,
their principals and or accredited agents.
Globalisation
has augmented the importance of economic inter-dependence among countries. The
emergence of an expanding rules-based global trading system under the World
Trade Organisation and bilateral/regional trade agreements has opened the door
for new opportunities in the sphere of world trade. This has spurred countries
into engaging in negotiating a large number of international agreements through
bilateral, regional and multilateral fora. These negotiations have generated
the need for better understanding of the science and skills of economic
diplomacy.
Economic
diplomacy has evolved from trade diplomacy (Madan Kumar Dahal). Traditional
trade diplomacy was the domain of government officials/diplomats and there was
not much involvement of the private sector and the civil society except in some
developed countries. With ever expanding economic globalisation and associated
complexities, economic diplomacy has become an intrinsic part and determinant
of the process of formulating and implementing a country's foreign policy.
A
significant result of the evolution of traditional trade diplomacy into
economic diplomacy is that the private sector and the civil society are now
even more involved in decision making that influences the negotiating position
of a country. While private sector involvement stems from the need to remain
competitive in relevant markets, the involvement of the civil society results
from the imperative to get views of common stakeholders factored into
negotiating positions to imbue the position with their concerns, and thus both
engagements result in wider national ownership.
Economic
diplomacy is concerned with anticipating and influencing the outcomes of future
economic policy regimes of other countries. This requires a need for better
understanding of the working of market forces in different countries in the
given dynamic global economic environment. The process of continuous engagement
through economic diplomacy helps a country in advancing its economic interests
and, equally importantly, those of its partners.
A
crucial pre-condition for the successful conduct of economic diplomacy is the
existence of a critical pool of skilled personnel in the government, private
sector and civil society to understand and negotiate trade, investment and
other economic issues from the national development perspective after taking
into account a country's strengths, limitations, opportunities and threats.
The
narrow perspective of economic diplomacy defines it as the conduct by
government officials/diplomats in the context of negotiations and- other
relations between nations - the art and science of conducting such relations,
skills in managing negotiations, public relations, etc so that there is little
or no ill-will. In other words, negotiations must end as a positive sum game.
The broader perspective of economic diplomacy rests on the management of
international relations through negotiations by government officials/diplomats;
the skills required for such management; adroitness in personal relations; tact
and engagement with private sector and civil society, etc.
In
other words, economic diplomacy deals with articulation of foreign policy in
the real world of economic relations between nations to flesh out and implement
the principles and objectives set out in the policy. It involves the
application of skills and tact in the conduct of official relations,
particularly trade and investment, and in engaging the private sector and civil
society constructively by governments of sovereign states. National economic
success in today's world depends crucially on the skill of negotiators in
forging effective and beneficial economic relationships/partnerships. Learning
new skills and acquiring new knowledge is no longer just desirable; it has
become an imperative. Over the years, Indian negotiators have acquired new
skills and knowledge on economic diplomacy and the country is now in a position
to cross-fertilise such experiences with those from other countries.
Economic
diplomacy is a form of diplomacy. Economic diplomacy is the use of the full
spectrum economic tools of the state to achieve its national interest. Economic
diplomacy includes all the economic activities, including but not limited to
export, import, investment, lending, aid, free trade agreements etc.
It is
concerned with economic policy issues, e.g. work of delegations at standard
setting organizations such as World Trade Organization (WTO). Economic
diplomats also monitor and report on economic policies in foreign countries and
give the home government advice on how to best influence them. Economic
diplomacy employs economic resources, either as rewards or sanctions, in pursuit
of a particular foreign policy objective. This is sometimes called
"Economic Statecraft”.
The
concept of economic diplomacy is of recent origin. There is no exact definition
of economic diplomacy, but it can be described as formation and advanced
policies relating to production, movement or exchange of goods, services,
labour and investment in other countries.
It
is traditionally defined as the decision-making, policy-making and advocating
of the sending state-business interests. Economic Diplomacy requires
application of technical expertise that analyze the effects of a country's
(Receiving State) economic situation on its political climate and on the
sending State's economic interests. The Sending State and Receiving State,
foreign business leaders as well as government decision-makers work together on
some of the most cutting-edge issues in foreign policy, such as technology, the
environment, and HIV/AIDS, as well as in the more traditional areas of trade
and finance. Versatility, flexibility, sound judgment and strong business
skills are all needed in the execution of Economic Diplomacy.
According
to Madan Kumar Dahal et al (2008), it is concerned with economic policy issues.
Berridge and James (2003) state that "economic diplomacy is concerned with
economic policy questions, including the work of delegations to conferences
sponsored by bodies such as the WTO" and include "diplomacy which
employs economic resources, either as rewards or sanctions, in pursuit of a
particular foreign policy objective" also as a part of the definition.
Rana
(2007) defines economic diplomacy as "the process through which countries
tackle the outside world, to maximize their national gain in all the fields of
activity including trade, investment and other forms of economically beneficial
exchanges, where they enjoy comparative advantage.; it has bilateral, regional
and multilateral dimensions, each of which is important".
A
distinctive feature of economic diplomacy is that private sectors are involved
in the decision-making process to influence negotiating position to remain in
the global or regional competitive market. Harun Ur Rashid (Ibid 2005:1-2). Some
consider economic diplomacy to be a fairly recent addition to the work of
professional diplomats, who previously tended to concentrate almost exclusively
on political tasks. Commercial work, like other functional sectors, consular or
cultural, was traditionally viewed with disdain, and represented a secondary
career track for high-flying diplomats.
However,
in a globalised and interconnected world, economics is more important than ever
as a determining element in international affairs. It is also a sizable
component of relations between states. Thus, economics has moved to center stage
in diplomacy and now extends beyond `commercial diplomacy'. Aside from foreign
trade, it includes external investments, financial flows, aid, bilateral and
multilateral economic negotiations and technology exchanges, which all `brand'
countries and contribute to nation-building.
Economic
diplomacy is an active and interconnected factor in integrated diplomacy, where
the lines of division between functional areas are blurred, and each sector
influences the other. In some ways, we have evolved back to the earliest
recorded days of relations between kingdoms and principalities, when commerce
was an important motivation for reaching out to other foreign entities. It led
ancient civilizations to exchange spices, silks and other precious commodities
with distant lands, thereby creating the norms and procedures within which the
exchanges could be carried' out. These were the first. `international' accords
and treaties that were not only concerned with conquest and territory, but with
mutually beneficial commercial dealings within a legal framework. This portal
explores the multiple dimensions of modern economic diplomacy as a component of
international relations as analyzed by Ambassador Kishan Rana, (2002.)
The
emergence of a democratic Nigeria in May 1999 ended 16 years of consecutive
military rule (Bureau of African Affairs June 2007).
Military
rule in Nigeria had a devastating effect on the country economy, Economic diplomacy
and national development as haphazard policies were distorted, and
implementation processes undermined. In addition, corruption, fraud, general
mismanagement and lack of respect for human right became the order of the day.
As such, the Nigerian economy as well as the nation's development was in a
serious comatose when the civilian regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo assumed
office in May 1999. However, hopes and expectations were high, and the Nigerian
people were yearning for the dividends of democracy in socio-economic aspects.
But how did the new civilian administration fare in its management of the
national development with the use of economic diplomacy and what are the
results? These are the issues to be addressed by this study. Going backwards a
little the late General Sani Abacha regime, came to power in November 1993
under the pretence of resolving the political logjam, occasioned by the
annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, but instead sought to
perpetuate himself in power.
In
the process, institutions were subverted, polity undermined and political
crisis intensified. The economy was the worse for it. The junta "through;
its repressive and dastardly acts undermined the economy as well as the
national development" (Adebonyon and Mudasiru 2001). At the time that
President Obasanjo came into office in 1999, the economy was stagnating and was
characterized by poor management of public expenditure, low investor
confidence, widespread corruption, infrastructural decay, a high debt burden
severely eroded social capital and high incidence of poverty, with 70% of the
population in 1996 living in absolute poverty. Inflation was at its peak and
double standard became the rule of operation, the economy, after about four
decades of political independence and economic management, suffered from fundamental
structural defects, and remained in a persistent state of disequilibrium
(federal republic of Nigeria April 2000). Its relationship with the outside
world was poor and production as well as technological base was weak, outdated,
narrow, inflexible and externally dependent. (April 2000).Also, infrastructure
was poor, inadequate, lacked maintenance and economic incentives were generally
low, giving rise to inadequate utilization of the factors of production. This
mirrored the Nigerian economic, national development and the entire situation
of the country until June 8,1998 when the head of the military junta, General
Sani Abacha died. Immediately after The Provisional "Ruling Council met
and decided that General Abdul Salam Abubakar, should fill the vacuum.
It
is important to stress here that the morning of May 1999 witnessed a turning point
in the political history of Nigeria as civilian political leaders were sworn in
and the birth of the Fourth Republic became a reality after a prolonged
military rule. The newly born fourth republic became highly instructive
considering the scope and array of economic and political problems bequeathed
to the country by the prolonged years of military rule and which the newly
elected civilians have to cope with. Thus it is interesting to note that the
performance of the Nigerian economy as regard its foreign policy in 1999 was
mixed. Inflationary pressures eased especially during the second half of the
year. At this period, inflationary pressures had decreased to 6.1 per cent.
This was a great decrease as it had risen up to 70 percent in 1995 and 1996
(Masha, 2000: 36). This coincided with a period of expansionary fiscal deficit
and money supply growth.
Also,
the Naira exchange rate was stable as the dollar exchanged for N92.00 to a
dollar as at the last quarter of 1999. However, the later part of year 2000
witnessed a drastic increase in the exchange rate. At this period up to the
second half of year 2000, a dollar was exchanged for N135.00. this shows a
decrease of about 50 percent in the value of the Naira. (CBN 1990) Although, on
assumption of office in May, 1999, the Obasanjo administration immediately took
decisive diplomatic steps to put in place an enabling environment for the
thriving of democracy, regaining international respectability, and credibility
and putting the economy on the path to sustainable growth and development.
(Mudasiru and Adebonyon, 2001).
As
at 1996, Nigeria's external debt stood at US$31 ,407,000.00 which presented
Nigeria as the highest indebted country in Africa followed by Cote d7voire
which has US$19,713,000.00 (cited in Southern, 2000). However, las at the end
of December 1998, Nigeria's debt service obligation amounted to some 36 per
cent of the National budget which translated into a payment of some $1.68
million out of the $3.61 billion that was actually due for 1998 (The Guardian
13, September, 1999).
However,
it is important to stress that Nigeria borrowed some $28.025 billion over the
Period 1979 to 1995 and paid back $35.845 billion in principal and interest,
yet the outstanding debt as at the end of 199'7 still stood at a staggering
$27.008 billion (The News, 1999). A total of US$, 724.9 million was used to
service the country's debt in 1999 representing an increase of US$ 452.4 million
over that of 1998 (CBN 1999). Also, there was a decline in the debt conversion
scheme in 1999 as application for the program dropped from 29 in 1998 to 20 in
1999. The value of the applications also dropped to US$ 276.5 million from US$
20,060:8 million. Consequently, the total debts redeemed declined from US$ 88.4
million in 1998 to US$. 59.7 million in 1999 (Ibid 1999.). Therefore, the
cumulative value of debt redeemed between 1995 and 1999 amounted to $524.32
million. Therefore, on assuming office as earlier pointed out, the Obasanjo's
administration took certain decisive steps to put in place an enabling
environment for the thriving of democracy which in turn leads to national
development, regaining international respectability and credibility and putting
the economy on the path of sustainable growth and development (Mudasiru and
Adabonyon 2001).
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
Economic
diplomacy connotes an -instrument for the purpose of achieving a desired end;
much of its focus is on how state and political elite employ its instrument of
economy in advancing national development. With the inception of the regime of
Ibrahim Babangida in August 1995, the conduct of Nigerian foreign policy was
said to have been bastardized. The need for Obasanjos economic diplomacy from
1999-2007, as a result of the economic relations that existed between Nigeria
and the outside world, in which Nigeria was regarded as one of the
"risky" countries to enter into business with and was also listed
among other countries with a threatened economy (Guardian 2006) Talking about
the intricacies of economic diplomacy which needs to be understood,
it is imperative to note that Obansanjo led a crusade of
anti-corruption, even when Nigeria was rated as one of the most corrupt nations
in the world, with its position rising between 4th and 6th
in the last six years (Ibid).
Also,
to find out if foreign policy through economic diplomacy may lead to national
development.
1. 3 OBJECTIVE
OF THE STUDY
The
objectives of this study are to examine Economic Diplomacy and National
Development and its impact on Nigeria 1999 – 2007.
The
study will also discuss the policies and the strategies adopted in achieving
them as well as examine the relationship between economic diplomacy and
national development etc.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
following research questions will guide the study:
i.
What were the objectives of the impacts of
economic diplomacy and national development on Nigerian economy?
ii.
Did Nigerian government engage in economic
diplomacy?
iii.
What method of economic diplomacy did Obasanjo’s
administration adopt?
iv.
Was economic diplomacy actually a contributory
factor to national development
1.6. RATIONALE
FOR THE STUDY
The
rationale for the study varies in the sense that firstly this work attempts to examine
the origin of diplomacy cum economic diplomacy, secondly this work attempts to
examine the impact of economic diplomacy on national development, the work also
provides knowledge on how government and political elite should better employ
foreign policy for the betterment of the nation at large as the return of
democracy to Nigeria in 1999 improved the countries image all over the world, this
will allowed the country to be more active in the international arena.
Obasanjo
has been to several part of the globe in a bid to restore foreign investment
flow back to the country, after the break down of relation with the wider
world. This study also attempts a contribution to the literature of Nigeria's
economic diplomacy in the world. It is particularly important because it
examines how Obasanjo has made Nigeria a country to be recon with in the
international scene after a long while.
And to also ascertain if foreign policy
through economic diplomacy really leads to national development, to also see
what extent has foreign policy with the instrument of economic diplomacy aid
the countries national development.
1.7. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
The
scope and limitation of this study shall comprise the civilian administration of
President Olusegun Obasanjo whose tenure started on May 27th 1999-2007, the
scope shall also be within the frame work of his economic policies, within the
country and the international community, the researcher is therefore limited to
the case, study and by virtue of the volume of literature which the researcher
is expected to explore, the researcher is also faced with limitations in terms
of time constrain and distance with which to acquire these materials
1.8 RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
By
virtue of the vastness of the details that the researcher requires in this work
the methodology of drawing of a sample frame may be difficult; the researcher
thereby seeks to structure the work in that, studying the past to understand
the present which will involve the reference to historical antecedents to
explain the present day manifestations.
To
this effect, secondary data collection techniques, which involves sourcing for
information and available data analysis from libraries, internet, newspaper and
journals as well as articles.
1.9. LITERATURE
REVIEW
On
this interesting subject of economic diplomacy and national development, there
are various issues that will surface, such as the state of Nigeria before the
Obasanjos administration in (1999) as well as during his time in office, as a
result of the need to resolve these issues it is pertinent to note that there
are numerous and vast volumes of publication and journals to the credit of
notable scholars, their immense contributions provide us with secondary data
thereby providing necessary fact but not all.
The
encyclopedia Britannia, 331.) Defines diplomacy as the establish method of international
discourse or the art of managing international relations chiefly by negotiation.
Historically diplomacy means the conduct of official relations between
sovereign states, usually bilaterally.
In
the 20th century, diplomacy expanded to cover summit meeting and other
international conferences, public and parliamentary diplomacy, the
international activities of supranational and sub national entities, unofficial
diplomacy by non governmental elements, and the work of international civil
servant.
The
first contact between individual tribes as they started communicating with each
other for various reasons can historically speaking is considered as the origin
of diplomatic practice. The appearance of tribal societies, together with their
co-existence and mutual competitiveness brought about the need for at least
occasional mutual dialogue. Diplomatic activities thus appeared in a rudimentary
form quite early on in human history, and the time of its origin is definitely
tied to the reasons and the form of its manifestation (Nicolson, 1988:5) thus
here we can establish that the institution of diplomacy is as old as human
history (Benco,1997a:257), but if we accept this thesis that "the state
has to be considered as the key factor in diplomacy ", then it is
necessary to conclude that, although we observe the origin of diplomacy in the
ceremonial and symbolic elements of communication between individual tribes,
"Diplomacy proper only appears with territorial social groups and the
state as their essential forms of organizations". (Ibid 1997) in this
context according to Milan Jazbec we can identify the era of the Greek city
state as the most important one in the development of diplomacy.
A
very important mile stone in the development of diplomacy appears with the emergency
and rise of Italian city states, which in the 14th and especially the 15th
century contributed with their varied activities to the establishment of
diplomacy and all these elements of it that still determines its basic nature.
Intensive political and economic mutual contacts as well as contact with other
states, gave rise to a need for permanent emissaries from these states in those
with which they cooperated most intensely (Banco 1998:49) Permanent diplomacy
representations the basis of which were established in this period, is one of
the two foundations of diplomacy. The other, the mutual communication between
the state sending the representative and its mission in the receiving state
appear, parallel with the introduction of permanent representatives and bodies
of representatives.
Thus,
we can conclude that in the middle ages especially in the 15th century,
the basic elements of diplomatic practice were formed. The institution of
permanent diplomatic representative was widely established and accepted as was
mutual communication (albeit at a low technical level) between the state
sending the representative and the representative himself. This communication
is built mainly upon the instruction to the diplomatic representative and upon
his report on the condition of the state receiving him. Even at this point,
communication was mainly taking place between rulers rather than state this was
the time when according to (Nicolson, 1988:10) "diplomacy as a profession
can be said to have been generally recognized". This phase of the
formation of clear outline in diplomatic practice ended with the peace of
Westphalia in 1648 which among other things facilitated the start of the
classical era of European diplomacy (Satow 1994:5).
The
most important period in the formation of what we know as classical diplomacy
is during the 18th and 19th centuries when Western Europe
began and developed its overseas economic expansion, with alternating
combinations of balance of power and constantly rearranging political relations
within the leading group of European states. This facilitated the further
development and formulation of diplomatic practice and encouraged the
development of international law and its codification. The development of
classical diplomacy reached its apogee at the congress of Vienna in 1815, when
diplomacy was first recognized as a profession or an activity with its own
internationally recognized rules of behaviour (Sen , Nicolson) According to
Barston (2006:1) diplomacy is concerned with advising, shaping and implementing
foreign policy. Diplomacy has been said to be concerned with the management of
relations between state and other actors. As such he states that it is the
means by which states through their formal and other representatives, as well
as other actors, articulate, coordinates and secure exchanges of views, lobbying,
visits, threats and other related activities.
Narrowly
conceived in the manner defined above, diplomacy is different from foreign
policy. While foreign policy is the substantive aspect of external relation,
diplomacy is the procedural aspect. In this restricted sense, diplomacy is the
process of putting into effect the foreign policies of nation-states. (Op cit,
1959) For Nicolson it consists of strategies and tactics for implementing
foreign policy.
It
is therefore, distinct from the substantive formulation of a nation's goals and
objectives in its relation with other actors in the international system.
Flowing from the above diplomats carries out policies using whatever tactics
seem appropriate within the prescribed guidelines. Its primary tool is
negotiation, mainly by accredited envoy, though political leaders also
negotiate. Foreign policy is generally publicly enunciated; but most diplomacy
is secret though its result is usually made public. The goal of diplomacy is to
further the states interest which are dictated by geography, history, and
economic. Safeguarding its independence, security and integrity-territorial,
political and economic comes first. Diplomacy seeks, to strengthen the state,
gaining advantage and allies while neutralizing its opponents. Thus it tries to
create good will towards the state it represents. (Encyclopedia Britannia;.33.)
It
should be noted, however, that, though in principles, a distinction may be made
between foreign policy as substantive and legislative and diplomacy as
procedural and executive; in practice, both diplomacy and foreign policy are
contemporary. In some cases, they are even indistinguishable; as the process of
implementing foreign policy entails a measure of policy decision-making and
alteration of declared objectives. It is in this broad sense that the term
diplomacy should be conceived if we are to make any meaning of the concept of
"economic diplomacy”.
Diplomacy
is often thought of as being concerned with peaceful activities, although it
may occurs within war or armed conflict or be used in the orchestration of
particular act of violence, such as seeking over flight clearance for an air
strike. More generally there is also a widening content of diplomacy. At one
level the changes in the substantive forms of diplomacy are reflected in terms,
such as "oil diplomacy", "resource diplomacy",
"knowledge diplomacy", "global goutce" and "transition
diplomacy". Certainly what constitutes diplomacy today according to him
goes beyond the sometimes matter narrow politico-strategic conception given to
the term. Nor is it appropriate to view diplomacy in a restrictive or formal
sense as being the preserve of foreign ministries and diplomatic service
personnel. Rather diplomacy is undertaken by a wide range of actors including
`political', diplomats, advisors, envoys and official forms of wide range of
`domestic' ministries or agencies with their: foreign counterparts, reflecting
its technical content; between. official from different international
organizations such as the international monetary fund (IMF) and the united
nations (UN) secretarial or involving foreign corporations and a host
government transitionally; and with or through non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and `private' individuals.
According
to Barston (2006), the function of diplomacy can be broken into six broad areas
Ceremonial, Management, Information/Communication, International negotiations,
duty of protection and normative/legal diplomacy, particular function within
these categories are set out below. The significance of each will vary from
state to state, as for some, diplomacy may be largely devoted to ceremonial
representation; others may allocate resources to high level roving envoys or in
support of an established role in international rule making. The functions of
diplomacy are particularly closely related to evolving events and issues such as
international crises, outbreak of violence, human and natural disaster which
shift diplomatic sport light unto previously remote geographical area or
issues.
TASKS OF DIPLOMACY
Ceremonial:-This
include protocol, representation and visits
Management:-This
has to do with day to day problems, bilateral co-ordination, multilateral
co-operation, strengthening bilateral relationships, Explanation and defense of
policy, Promotion of interest (Political, economic, scientific, military, and
terrorism).
Information and Communication:-This
has to do with assignment, reporting and monitoring.
International Negotiations:-This
has to do with duty of protection.
Contribution to International Order:-This
has to do with normative/rule making/mediation/pacific settlement.
Traditional
diplomacy is said to have been associated with the first of the Formal
representation, protocol and participation in functions as stated above. the
diplomatic circuit of a national capital or institutional continue as important
element in state sovereignty and as part of the notion of international society.
At a substantial level, much of the business of diplomacy is concerned with the
management of short term routine issues in bilateral and unilateral relations
(Coordination, consultation, lobbying, adjustment, the agenda of official or
private visits). Which include the promotion and management. of interest which
for most states are dominated by financial, economic resource issues and
terrorism along with threat management.
The
term "threat management" is used to differentiate these forms of
diplomacy from defense security policy or traditional military security
activities. According to R. P. Barston (2006), in discussing the development of
diplomacy, an overview of the periods will help to give some perspective in
which to consider the major changes that have taken place, and this is as a
result of providing bench mark and highlights aspects that which have been
noted as part of the development of diplomacy. According to him the argument is
not about `old' or `new' but rather as Hocking B.(1999;21-24) and others;
suggest, seeing diplomacy in an evolutionary sense. But rather David Davenport
(2003) sees diplomacy as the subject of constant change, rather than major
shifts constituting a new firm.
Adam
Watson (1982), reviewing diplomacy and the nature of diplomatic dialogue noted
the wide range of ministries involved in diplomacy; the corresponding decline
in the influence of the foreign minister; the increase in the direct
involvement of head of government in the details of foreign policy and
diplomacy; and the growth in importance of the news media.
Hamilton
and Langhorne (1995, 224), writing in the mid 1990s, in the Post-Soviet and
Yugoslav context, highlighted that `established diplomatic procedures have, as
in earlier periods of political upheaval and transition, been exploited from
distinctly undiplomatic ends'.
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