Writing about global relations in the 21st century might seem an impossible task. If analyzing the motivations and opinions of historic diplomacy is difficult, the complexity of 21st-century international relations might leave you wishing that something as seemingly straightforward as gunboat diplomacy was still commonplace.
While we cover some major challenges here, remember that these often overlap. It’s impossible to think about the climate, for example, without considering economic issues. And topics like migration interplay with things like social diplomacy. If you are writing generally about diplomacy, you might need an overview of all these topics and more, but even if you are focusing on a specific area, you will need to think about how other factors influence them.
Politics
At its purest level, all diplomacy is about politics. The relationships between nations are frequently about the relationship between their leaders, and the political situation in those nations directly affects that. In autocratic nations, it might be purely down to what the leader thinks. In democratic nations, diplomacy may have to consider public opinion in that nation.
One example might be considering the rise of populism in many countries. This has directly influenced policy on topics like climate, migration, and even subjects like human rights as populist leaders have pushed their agenda and other governments have even adopted populist policies to remain in office.
Economic
There is no escaping the global economy, no modern nation can be fully self-sufficient, and will need at least some international trade. Economic considerations will inevitably impact diplomatic positions. Some nations may have particular strengths they can leverage in negotiations, pushing for favorable trade deals, for example.
For some nations with powerful economies, this effect can be profound, they may be home to businesses that may dominate a global sector, or even a smaller country’s whole economy. Governments will factor in their economic position in the diplomatic stances they take.
Climate
Climate change is impacting diplomacy as well as the planet. As a challenge that crosses borders, and affects each nation differently, enormous diplomatic pressure is needed to secure international cooperation.
Solving a problem that needs global action can be difficult. Those that are suffering most often have the least diplomatic strength to push for results. And those countries that produce the most emissions to drive economic growth are reluctant to slow down when told by those who have already had the benefit of that development (and have already contributed to greenhouse gas emissions).
Health
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that we can no longer think about health as a purely personal, or even national, issue. As the world saw, international travel meant that when someone coughed in China, the whole world was infected.
However, tackling future pandemics, which may be even worse than Covid-19, is a significant challenge. As many countries experienced, agreeing a course of action to control the virus was impossible internally, so taking action globally, when the scientific knowledge of a new bio-threat may be limited, is something that troubles diplomats who think a new pandemic is a matter of when, rather than if.
Migration
Migration can be a very sensitive subject. Almost all countries will have some limits on who can cross their borders, but migration continues to increase, from those who both seek safety from war or persecution, and those who just believe they are moving to a better life.
Many countries feel they are facing unsustainable levels of migration, especially those which border war zones, and want other nations to help. However, other nations often believe they already do more than enough, creating tensions internationally and sometimes horrific conditions for those fleeing danger.
Technology
Advances in technology have transformed the world. But increasingly it is being considered a potential threat to the world’s safety. Whether it’s fears of the dangers of artificial intelligence, which some say could even be an existential threat to humanity, or the risks that come from international cyber-crime, cyber-terrorism, and even cyber-warfare.
Technology is borderless, and a cyberattack could come from anywhere in the world. However, the very channels it would use are the same on which people and business rely. How to deal with threats that could come from anywhere requires high levels of international cooperation.
Social and cultural
It might seem strange to think of diplomacy at a personal level, rather than something conducted by trained diplomats in foreign embassies. However, increases in mobility, communications — especially the internet — and shared cultures have meant that everyone plays a small role in diplomacy.
One example of this might the cultural diplomacy of a film industry like Hollywood, where filmmakers do not just export entertainment, but frequently their values as well. However, social diplomacy can include more direct action, with citizens organizing campaigns against other countries, petitioning their leaders from abroad or protesting outside their embassies.
Conflicts
Although we may think that the world is largely peaceful, and we have been spared a World War for nearly eighty years, there are still many areas of conflict around the world. The most notable currently being the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to aggression like this has increasingly become a diplomatic, rather than a military, matter. While this might reflect a more civilized world and a greater respect for human life, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the potentially apocalyptic consequences of military escalation, probably plays a bigger hand. As in the case of Ukraine, responding to such situations becomes a diplomatic challenge, using tools like economic sanctions to hopefully punish rogue nations, while helping to corral international coalitions to support those nations defending themselves without directly involving themselves in conflict.
Bringing the skills of a diplomat
The stereotypical diplomat is known for their knowledge of the nation they are posted in, understanding the nuances of that nation, and being able to communicate effectively.
And channeling the diplomat in you is a great way to write about international relations. Whether focusing on a particular nation or relationship, a specific challenge, or even international relations as a whole, the first step is to appreciate the complexity of the situations, and then consider how they layer. When you have done that, it’s just a case of capturing it all in your essay.