Diplomatic relations involve a complex web of interactions between states, organizations and individuals. The study of these interactions is a deeply interdisciplinary endeavor: Political science provides crucial context, revealing patterns of cooperation and conflict, while history illuminates the evolution of diplomatic norms. Law reveals the rules and institutions that govern international behavior, while economics sheds light on the material interests of countries in negotiations. Sociology and anthropology offer insights into cultural differences and their impact on communication styles, while psychology and behavioral science provide tools for understanding individual and group decision-making processes in negotiation.
In addition to bilateral relations, diplomats negotiate with multiple other countries at one time through multilateral dialogues. These are often organized into formal fora such as the United Nations and include an official hierarchy of committees and sub-committees as well as semi-official groups of states based on geographic or economic proximity. While these forms of diplomacy are far less common than bilateral meetings, they nevertheless require sophisticated methods to manage the extensive diplomatic interactions involved.
The quiet exchange between neighbors sharing a garden border—deciding who plants what, how to manage water flow, or just acknowledging each other with a nod—holds the very seed of diplomacy. But on a much larger scale, the world’s shared “gardens” – the global atmosphere, vast oceans, migratory paths for wildlife and digital information flows — necessitate conversations, agreements, and frameworks for managing interactions, giving rise to formal structures called diplomatic relations.