Using dialogue and negotiation, diplomacy tries to influence the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples without resorting to coercion or violence. It is the established method of implementing foreign policy interests and settling disputes between nations.
The main practitioners of diplomacy are diplomats, but the practice also involves the international activities of a wide range of actors, including states and other sovereign entities, international organisations, nongovernmental organisations, companies and individuals. It is usually conducted in confidence, though the results and some aspects of diplomatic activity are often made public.
A key requirement of effective diplomacy is good contacts. This is particularly important for diplomats, whose job is to persuade counterparts in other countries to take their side. They also need a long-run perspective, to realise that their efforts may not produce an immediate solution to a problem but can help prevent that problem from getting worse in the future.
Diplomacy is a challenging and rewarding profession. It requires a high degree of preparation and the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes. For example, Jimmy Carter showed this during his negotiations with Menachem Begin at Camp David after the Yom Kippur War when he presented each of Begin’s eight grandchildren with signed notes, a gesture which helped bring about the breakthrough that ended the conflict. In addition to this, diplomacy requires great stamina. Long-running, multilateral negotiations can be like marathons with sprint finishes. And of course, a successful diplomat must be able to sleep.