Padrão de Resposta

The text “Theorising Diplomacy”, by Christer Jönsson, discusses the scarcity of theoretical perspectives on diplomacy despite the extensive literature available on the subject. The lack of theoretical depth and the difficulty in establishing a proper theoretical framework are attributed to the inherent complexities in conceptualizing diplomacy and the historical authorship of works on the topic. Diplomacy holds multiple interpretations and meanings: it can be perceived as the content of foreign affairs, the execution of foreign policy, negotiation management, the diplomatic service, the manner of conducting relations, and, finally, as the skills of diplomats. Disagreements also arise regarding its non-violent nature, that is, some view diplomacy as the antithesis of war, while others view it in a more nuanced light, relating it to coercion. Additionally, the paucity of a theoretical development in this discipline is further explained by the various types of authorship. Diplomatic practitioners often draw on personal experiences, while historians focus on historical contexts. However, the text outlines some approaches that have emerged in spite of these challenges: prescriptive tracts offer practical advice on diplomatic conduct; Realism, a perspective from International Relations, links diplomacy to state power; and the English School introduces an alternative viewpoint that places diplomacy within the context of an international society governed by norms and institutions. Lastly, the author highlights contemporary attempts to theorize diplomacy. For instance, post-positivism approaches, diplomatic understandings of international relations, suggestive metaphors, social anthropology, and gender studies. Yet, a comprehensive “meta-theory” is still absent within this discipline.