The Decline of Diplomacy
A Sign of the Times, or a Precursor?
[Image: a frame from the discussion. See sources for the video.]
Published: 2023-03-12
Update 2023-03-14: New sources are added on the Iran-Saudi rapproachment, its implications and challenges.
A Diplomat, a Professor and a Commentator
Glenn Diesen, a professor at a southern Norwegian university, joins Alexander Mercouris to interview Karin Kniessl a former Austrian foreign minister and diplomat. She has recently published a book with her reflections on diplomacy. This, and the current instability in Europe are the setting for the dialogue.
The conversation covers two important rarely discussed topics, the principles of diplomacy and the value of neutral states. Karin's native language is the Austrian version of German. Her English can be difficult to follow. Effort required is richly rewarded. She gives both intrinsically obvious observations and much deeper analysis on international relations. The obvious has become novel because of the deprecation of diplomacy which the interview explores.
From the USA and EU quarters international diplomacy has become dominated by public relations. It has become a shouting match in which diplomats read their "talking points". News conferences are the important events. Karin recalls a different time and different ethic.
She implores us, and any diplomats listening, to understand that hospitality and decorum are the core of diplomacy. One shall be polite. One shall greet one's visitors in a manner which is welcoming to them. The job is to establish trust. Difficult discussions may be held. How are you to establish an interaction? The welcome is the demonstration of respect which your visiting international delegation deserve. The welcome and hosting are the respect which establishes trust.
A lack of decorum, an absence of welcome, are a death of diplomacy. This is what we see from "the west" in their current international relations. They have lost the plot. The Anchorage exchange between the USA and China is the signal breaking point at which the Chinese declare enough is enough with this disrespect.
Kniessl's commentary provokes the natural question, from where does this come? Why is this loss of diplomatic skill so prevalent?
The answer is also obvious. It comes from a position of hubris. At the end of the Cold War the USA became the "last remaining super-power" and took this view into its foreign policy, and imposed it upon its vassals. This hubris, this arrogance, is the root of this complete breakdown in diplomacy from the west. They became the king who could speak down to their serfs. The "serfs", according to Newton's Third Law, responded. The results are a slew of wars instigated by the "King", the USA, upon the weaker of them which also possessed valuable positions or resources.
Karin is asked of Austria's neutrality. From where did this come? How did discussion in Austria impact their choice to join the European Community? On which model did Austria base its neutrality? How are Switzerland, Sweden and Finland similar or dissimilar to Austria's neutrality? What value do neutral states bring to the greater European community?
The core theme which emerges from this discussion is that neutral states provide a place, a location of welcome. Within them discussions can be held. International discourse is possible.
Karin notes that Austria welcomed international organisations, with OPEC being an early candidate. Others soon followed; the UN, their organization for monitoring nuclear energy and thus potential weapons, and many others. Vienna was a place for dialogue, for dispute resolution. Similarly, Helsinki, Stockholm and Swiss cities became known for treaties signed there. During the Cold War it was the neutral states which allowed for the nuclear disarmament treaties. One needs dialogue to resolve disputes, and places in which these can occur.
The destruction of dialogue by western ideologues has left them bereft of places in which these discussions can occur. The military contractors are ruling the politicians, dividing the world into an us-versus-them paradigm from which they profit and we suffer.
Of the many valuable points which Kniessl offered, two stood out:
Militaries do not create wars. Wars are created by politicians who instruct their militaries.
There are no medals for diplomats whose facilitation prevents war.
In these observations I see a potential improvement. Obviously, decorum in international relations matters. It is the core of diplomacy, and it is diplomacy which can prevent wars, the most stupid and disastrous thing which humans do.
The diplomats need medals. The neutral states, which are the key to international dispute resolution, need recognition too.
Recent Events
Iran and Saudi Arabia have both formally announced that they will re-establish diplomatic relations. This is a huge development in stabilizing relations in West Asia. In which nation was this very important agreement reached? China.
Who is leading efforts to resolve tensions between Syria and Turkiye? Where are these tension resolving discussions occurring? Moscow.
Which city hosted the most potentially successful negotiation to end the conflict in Ukraine? Istanbul.
Kniessl's analysis of the complete failure of western diplomacy is supported by fact. The west's desire to impose itself on the rest of the world and abandon diplomacy has left itself out in the cold.
Discussions between nations are not happening in Washington D.C. or Paris, or even Vienna. They are happening in Istanbul, Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing and São Paulo.
Sources
Iran, Saudi Arabia Will Normalize Ties Under Agreement Brokered by China, Kyle Anzalone, Antiwar.com, 2023-03-10
Seismic Iran-Saudi Rapprochement Isolates US, Joe Lauria, Consortium News, 2023-03-11
China's Prestigious Middle East Deal May Soon See Challenges, b., MoonOfAlabama, 2023-03-13
Saudi-Iran Deal a Possible US ‘Suez Moment’, AS`AD AbuKHALIL, Consortium News, 2023-03-13
Death of European Diplomacy - Former Austrian FM Karin Kneissl, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen, The Duran, 2023-03-11
HUGE China brokered deal, Iran & Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties, Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris, The Duran, 2023-03-10
Culture
Where The Streets Have No Name (Remastered), U2 from "The Joshua Tree" 1987, uploaded 2018-07-26
All the praise that I love to give to the rhythm section is pure background here. This song is the lead guitar. The Edge’s sound creates this song and defines the album.
Notification
Subscription is optional. Subscribers can expect notifications for most articles. Better is to use RSS, or bookmark the Archive page and visit at leisure. If you use Twitter, following @YesXorNo1 is also an effective notifications strategy.
Copyright and Licensing
This work is copyright to the blog's author with CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing. Have fun, reuse, remix etc. but give credit and place no further restrictions. Let’s build culture.
After your intelligent concerns, thank you, I’ve change the title of my last publication just release this morning to: Intelligent Solutions Evolved By Free People. I’d like to ask you to comment in my chat, perhaps via a free-paid membership. I know you’re too busy, but I require critical, human criticisms, and there are few I trust to comment at this moment. I’m about to make the same offer to several doctors and scientists I subscribe asking the same. No stress, just think about it for now. As soon as I figure out how, I’ll notify you of your paid subscription to comment, if you ever decide to. I have got to stop these banker-controlled wars, especially between the U.S., Russia and China, and I believe people like you are the solution, not the bought bloody-corrupt press.