diplomacy

Definition of diplomacy

Etymology

< French diplomatie < Latin as if *diplomatia < diploma ("letter of recommendation or authority"); see diploma.

Noun

diplomacy (plural diplomacies)

1. The art and practice of conducting international relations by negotiating alliances, treaties, agreements etc., bilaterally or multilaterally, between states and sometimes international organisms, or even between policies with varying status, such as those of monarchs and their princely vassals
   
   National diplomacy typically deploys its dexterity to secure advantage for one's nation.
   
   
2. Tact and subtle skill in dealing with people so as to avoid or settle hostility.

Related terms

• diploma
• diplomat
• diplomatic
• diplomatist

Further reading

Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states. It usually refers to international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, trade, war, economics and culture. International treaties are usually negotiated by diplomats prior to endorsement by national politicians.

In an informal or social sense, diplomacy is the employment of tact to gain strategic advantage or to find mutually acceptable solutions to a common challenge, one set of tools being the phrasing of statements in a non-confrontational, or polite manner. The science of diplomatics, dealing with the study of old documents, also owes its name to the above, but its present meaning is completely distinct from that of diplomacy.

Diplomats and diplomatic missions

The collective term for a group of diplomats from a single country who reside in another country is a diplomatic mission. Ambassador is the most senior diplomatic rank; a diplomatic mission headed by an ambassador is known as an embassy, with the exception of permanent missions at the United Nations, the Organization of American States, or other multilateral organizations, which are also headed by ambassadors. The collective body of all diplomats of particular country is called that country's diplomatic service. The collective body of all diplomats assigned to a particular country is the diplomatic corps.