diplomacy
the skill of talking and acting carefully so you do not make people angry or upset
The ability to deal with people or difficult situations in a sensitive and tactful way, so that you avoid causing offense or conflict.
the work of countries talking and making agreements with other countries, usually through their governments and embassies, instead of using war
The activity of managing a country’s relations with other countries through negotiation, dialogue, and official representatives, rather than through force.
talks and careful actions between groups or organizations to stop or solve conflict
The process of negotiating and managing relations between groups, organizations, or internal factions to prevent or resolve conflict, often by using tact and compromise.
- Base: diplomacy
- Plural: diplomacy
checkbook diplomacy
1using money to gain influence
a way of influencing other countries mainly by giving money, loans, or gifts instead of by argument
- The small state relies on checkbook diplomacy to build alliances in international organizations.
- Critics say checkbook diplomacy allows rich countries to buy political support.
- The aid package was seen as an example of checkbook diplomacy in the region.
coercive diplomacy
1diplomacy using threats or pressure
diplomacy that tries to make another country change its actions by using threats or limited force, like sanctions or small military moves
- Sanctions were part of a strategy of coercive diplomacy.
- The report analyzed when coercive diplomacy can succeed without leading to war.
- Some experts warned that coercive diplomacy might push the rival state to escalate.
coercive diplomacy
1diplomacy using threats
Coercive diplomacy means trying to make another country act differently by using threats or strong pressure instead of open war.
- The government tried coercive diplomacy before considering military action.
- Sanctions and troop movements were used as tools of coercive diplomacy.
- Analysts disagreed about whether coercive diplomacy had succeeded in changing the regime's behavior.
- Coercive diplomacy uses pressure between countries.
- Sanctions can be part of coercive diplomacy.
cultural diplomacy
1using culture to build relations
using things like art, music, film, and education programs to create friendly relations between countries
- Language programs abroad are a key part of the country’s cultural diplomacy.
- The festival was designed as an exercise in cultural diplomacy.
- Museums often play a role in cultural diplomacy through international exhibitions.
digital diplomacy
1diplomacy using online tools
diplomatic work done using the internet, social media, and other digital tools to talk with other countries and foreign publics
- Digital diplomacy allows embassies to respond quickly to crises on social media.
- The ministry launched a digital diplomacy unit to improve its online presence abroad.
- Training in digital diplomacy is now part of every young diplomat’s education.
economic diplomacy
1diplomacy on trade and economy
diplomatic work that mainly tries to improve trade, investment, and other economic goals
- Economic diplomacy has become central to the country’s foreign policy.
- The summit was described as a major exercise in economic diplomacy.
- Embassies now play a bigger role in economic diplomacy, helping local companies enter new markets.
gunboat diplomacy
1diplomacy backed by military threat
a way of dealing with other countries by using or showing military power to force them to agree
- Critics accused the superpower of practicing gunboat diplomacy in the region.
- In the past, colonial powers often relied on gunboat diplomacy to secure trade advantages.
- They warned that sending warships could be seen as a form of gunboat diplomacy.
megaphone diplomacy
1diplomacy via loud public pressure
a way of dealing with other countries by making strong public statements, often in the media, instead of talking quietly in private
- The foreign minister criticized what he called the opposition’s megaphone diplomacy.
- Megaphone diplomacy may win domestic support but can close the door to compromise.
- Analysts argued that megaphone diplomacy on social media was making the dispute worse.
ping-pong diplomacy
1using sports to improve relations
improving relations between countries through friendly sports games and exchanges, based on a famous case using table tennis
- The two rivals tried a kind of ping-pong diplomacy by organizing friendly matches.
- Journalists compared the ice hockey tour to earlier ping-pong diplomacy.
- Ping-pong diplomacy in the 1970s helped open relations between the two countries.
public diplomacy
1diplomacy toward foreign publics
activities by a country to create a good image and share its ideas with people in other countries, not only with their governments
- Cultural exchanges are an important tool of public diplomacy.
- They invested heavily in public diplomacy to improve their international reputation.
- The ambassador’s social media campaigns are part of a wider public diplomacy strategy.
quiet diplomacy
1discreet, non-public diplomacy
diplomatic work done in private, without public speeches or media attention, to solve problems calmly
- The government chose quiet diplomacy rather than public criticism to pressure its ally on human rights.
- They argued that quiet diplomacy would be more effective than loud condemnations.
- Thanks to months of quiet diplomacy, the two companies reached a deal before anyone knew there was a conflict.
vaccine diplomacy
1using vaccines for influence
giving or selling vaccines to other countries in a way that also tries to win friends or political influence
- During the pandemic, many governments engaged in vaccine diplomacy.
- Vaccine diplomacy reshaped alliances in some regions.
- Critics said vaccine diplomacy sometimes put political goals ahead of public health needs.
shuttle diplomacy
1mediation by traveling between sides
A way of trying to make peace or an agreement, where one person or team flies or drives many times between two groups that do not meet directly.
- The foreign minister engaged in shuttle diplomacy to try to end the conflict.
- After weeks of shuttle diplomacy, the two sides finally agreed to a ceasefire.
- His shuttle diplomacy between the rival parties helped restart the talks.
shuttle diplomacy
2mediator traveling between parties
diplomatic talks where a person or group flies or travels back and forth between sides that do not meet together, to help them make an agreement
- After weeks of shuttle diplomacy, the envoy finally secured a ceasefire between the warring sides.
- Regional leaders began shuttle diplomacy between the two capitals in an effort to restart peace talks.
- Her shuttle diplomacy among company branches helped settle the dispute over the merger.