MEANING OF DIPLOMACY THE TERM “DIPLOMACY” HAS BEEN DERIVED FROM THE LATIN NOUN DIPLOMA, MEANING A DOUBLE DOCUMENT. AS DURING THE ROMAN PERIOD ALL PASSPORTS, PASSES, IMPERIAL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS WERE STAMPED ON DOUBLE METAL PLATES, FOLDED AND SEWN TOGETHER IN A PARTICULAR MANNER. DIPLOMACY

These metal passes were called “diplomas”. Later on this word began to cover all official documents conferring privileges or containing treaty arrangements. The term ‘diplomacy’ was used for the first time by Edmund Burke in “Letters on a Regicide peace” published in He used the term to mean skill or address in the conduct of international intercourse and negotiations. The term “diplomacy” is frequently used to connote different things. sometimes it is taken as synonym for ‘foreign policy’ viz., sometimes diplomacy is also used for the process or machinery of negotiation branch of foreign service and quality or gift of conducting international negotiations. In India diplomacy as an institution has been in existence since the days of vedas and we have plenty of instances in the Ramayana and Mahabharata to show that diplomatic work was a normal feature of the inter-state relations. Kautilya in his Arthashastra detailed out the duties of the envoys this date are carried out by the diplomats of practically every country.

Stages of Diplomacy: For the sake of convenience the development of diplomacy may be divided into three periods. The first period lasted from 476 to 1450 when the nations maintained diplomatic relations on ad hoc basis. In ancient Greece there were so many city states and relations among them were so occasional that dispatch of permanent missions was possible. Usually elderly persons were entrusted with the diplomatic duties. The negotiations were conducted orally. The Greeks also developed a system of arbitration for the settlement of disputes. Treaties were given full respect. The second period began in 1450 when the practice of maintaining permanent diplomatic missions originated. A permanent envoy was accredited to Cosimo dei Medici by the Duke of Milan in 1450.within next fifteen years this example was followed by practically all the Italian and European states.

By the fifteenth and sixteenth century most of the European monarchies set up a special branch of administration for foreign affairs. This practice has since then continued. During the third period starting from 1919 the era of democratic diplomacy set in. Lenin and wilson pleaded for open diplomacy, which indirectly implied the repudiation of secret diplomacy. Three factors were responsible for this change the desire for colonial expansion, intense commercial competition and the improved and speedy means of communication.

Difference between Diplomacy and Foreign policy: Diplomacy and foreign policy are so closely related that they are often used for each without realising that the two differ. Though foreign policy and diplomacy are closely related, the two differ from each other. Foreign policy represents the substance of foreign relations, diplomacy provides the personnel and the machinery for the implementation of the foreign policy. The diplomats are not directly connected with the formulation of the foreign policy. They are concerned with its implementation.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF DIPLOMATS Diplomats have to perform different functions and discharge different duties with different roles and capacities. In the past, as compare to the present time, the ambassadors duty was different. An honest man was sent abroad to tell lie for the good of his country. Today diplomacy is an open diplomacy. There is no place for any secrecy, double-dealing. Today we have an open diplomacy which is nothing but a dignified profession, honest and honorable service.

Today, diplomats as the representatives of the nation devote and dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation for which they have been appointed. The functions of the modern diplomat in the modern age are many and commplex. The tasks of the diplomat is difficult and delicate. Diplomats must himself be a man of education, leader and co-ordinator. According to prof.Palmer and Perkins and prof J.R. Childs there are four major functions of the diplomat.

1.Representation 2.Negotiation 3.Reporting 4.Protection of the interest of the nation. The first and foremost function of the diplomats is representation. The first duty is to represent his nation abroad. A diplomat is a representative of his state. He represents his state in another state where he has been posted. He is the normal agent of communcication between his own govt, and the country which he is accredited. A diplomat should be highly educated and cultures and he should have an appealing and pleasing personality. He should be well cultured, well educated and well-trained.

Diplomats have to function as a two way process interprets between the Home govt and foreign govt. He has to friendly and personal relation with the leader of the govt, business society, education and political life. He must be hard working, patient,impressive and tactful. He must strive hard to create good will for his govt and the people. He must also represent his govt in international conference.