雅思阅读练习材料Diplomacy is communication

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Diplomacy is communication, which is listening, exchanging ideas with each other on issues dividing nations and seeking solutions to problems to make sure they do not escalate to violence (Alvin, 2021).

Negotiations in diplomacy involve the discussions of options, ideas and trail balloons which can compromise the chances of agreement, if publicized (Alvin, 2021). To achieve effective diplomacy, it also depends on a complete understanding of other ministries, as well as their political and economic structures and the process by which they make decisions. However, this still needs communications (Alvin, 2021).

The main objective of a negotiation is “to overcome serious political differences that have precluded strategic cooperation between states rather than to resolve the issues in apparent dispute between them” (Chas. W. Freeman, JR., 1997). Since this is the objective, states may choose to resort to creative ambiguity or explicit agreement to disagree (Chas. W. Freeman, JR., 1997). In Freeman’s point of view, the prerequisite for such contentious issues is recognition by both sides of common interests of greater importance than the disputes that divide them (Chas. W. Freeman, JR., 1997). Nevertheless, the danger in this would be that delay may make the deferred disputes complicated rather than simplified. Therefore, time could exacerbate rather than soothe the existing political differences between the parties (Chas. W. Freeman, JR., 1997).

With the worldwide publication of diplomatic correspondence, other countries have lost the confidence in the ability of United States diplomats to communicate privately (Alvin, 2021). In future, their foreign interlocutors will choose not to talk to them as freely and frankly as before if they conclude that United States diplomats are unable to keep the secrecy of the discussions on any sensitive issue (Global Geopolitics & Political Economy, 2021). Moreover, this confidence needs a long time to restore. Due to this, new technologies will have to be developed so as to ensure privacy in field of diplomacy. Consequently, other means of communication, not yet compromised, may need to be adopted (Alvin, 2021).

With the occurrence of the Wikileaks of Diplomatic Cables, on the other hand, a new chapter in state-to-state communications has been opened. The leaking by Wikileaks of Diplomatic Cables does not indicate that it is the end of diplomacy, which is, however, a turning point whose dimensions will be becoming clear only with the passing of time. Indeed, there is a right for the public of any democracy to know of matters which expose them to risk or commit large resources funded by the citizen-taxpayers (Alvin, 2021). Meanwhile, much of the documents that Wikileaks published do not contain this level of public interest. Nonetheless, it does play well with those who have an interest in embarrassing the United States (Alvin, 2021). It also helps its adversaries, who used to pay much for the access to such correspondence, and special interests against certain avenues of negotiation brought to light by the leaked documents.

Diplomacy, which used to be controlled by specialized elites, is now open to the winds of change. The current persistent media attention, like the Wikileaks, has done the most to revolutionize the diplomatic craft. Meanwhile, the entry of the media into every level of the negotiating process will be changing the nature of diplomacy (Abba, 1998). In this century, the gradual conversion of diplomacy from a reserved pursuit into a public spectacle has been particularly intense. In tradition, in terms of secrecy, one used to negotiate an agreement with an adversary until a draft agreement was reached. Today, however, the media will not agree to be ignored under any circumstance (Abba, 1998).

(To be continued)

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