van Wyk, Jo-AnsieBokaba, Danny Thapelo2024-07-192024-07-192023http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12685Dissertation (M.A.(Governance and Political Transformation))--University of the Free State, 2023Diplomacy has played a crucial role throughout history, serving as a tool to advance the interests of the countries it represents, foster international relationships, and pursue advantageous foreign policies. It offers a means to enhance a country's position in the global arena without resorting to the use of force. Diplomatic efforts prioritise peaceful dialogue and constructive discussions to reach agreements and resolve disputes between states (Barston 1997: 84). The concept of diplomacy typically involves diplomatic and political cooperation between countries, often through bilateral agreements, aimed at addressing conflicts and promoting peacemaking efforts (Berridge 2010:1). Traditionally, diplomacy has been seen as a means to resolve conflicts through negotiation, serving as an alternative to resorting to war. In extreme cases where diplomacy fails, war is often the result. Therefore, diplomacy can be viewed as an active practice that combines the art and science of collaboration among states to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes through peaceful negotiations. However, it is important to note that diplomacy can also encompass initiatives that may involve both cooperative measures and coercion, including the use of threats or even force if necessary (Du Plessis 2006:124). Diplomacy and its various activities have been present throughout human history, with some evidence and examples dating back to the 5th century and the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) (Van Langenhove 2016: n.p). Following the conclusion of World War II in 1945, a new era emerged, highlighting the significance of diplomacy in its diverse forms and the member states of the newly formed United Nations (UN) recognised the importance of formal collaboration and cooperation through diplomacy and the utilisation of diplomats to foster a more interconnected global community. During this time, the practice and role of diplomacy were significantly influenced by several intricate and interconnected factors, particularly concerning the functions and positions of states in the international arena. This cooperative approach led to the expansion of bilateral diplomacy, which focuses on relations between two sovereign states or countries and furthere expanded to multilateral diplomacy, involving more than two sovereign states or countries. These diplomatic frameworks became fundamental building blocks for international relations (IR) (Berridge 2005:5). 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬!enDissertationUniversity of the Free State