Diplomacy is traditionally understood as a set of practices that, among other things, facilitate the pursuit of sovereign states’ relationships, interests, and foreign policy goals. The scope of diplomatic activities has broadened, however, to encompass a variety of actors, institutions, and sectors. It is now commonplace for government leaders, business executives, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to receive training in diplomacy.
As the United States continues to engage in diplomacy with the world’s 190 countries and territories, we must support the diplomats, government officials, and all personnel at home and abroad who make these vital connections possible. The work they do is crucial to the national security of our country, and it fosters understanding between citizens of different nations around the world.
For most of history, diplomacy was limited to bilateral relations between two nations. The earliest treaties, for example, between cities in Mesopotamia date to 2850 B.C.E. In modern times, the number of bilateral trade or border agreements has increased, but diplomacy remains a fundamental component of international affairs.
Diplomatic relations are often characterized by formality, with protocols for exchanges and interactions between ambassadors or other high-level representatives and their hosts. These rules of engagement also provide for the severing of diplomatic relations, an option that may be used as an expression of dissatisfaction or rejection. Moreover, diplomats enjoy privileges that protect them from prosecution while in a host country. For example, they are exempt from paying certain taxes and duties on items for their personal use. They must abide by strict rules of conduct in order not to jeopardize their diplomatic immunity, and they risk being deemed “personae non grata” if they commit serious crimes in the host country.