IRD 403: Diplomacy: Theory & Practice

ACADEMIC STAFF:

DR. BASIRU MUSA

A Brief History of Diplomacy

• The art of diplomacy dates back to the classical era, particularly

in the conduct of relations in the Greek City-States (Adeniran,

1983). In this context, diplomacy was basically ad hoc.

• In Medieval, Renaissance and Post Reformation Europe, the

conduct of diplomacy was not regularized too, but it was

improved.

Cont…

• The first attempt to streamline the practice of diplomacy was made by

the Congress of Vienna of1815.

• Afterwards, diplomacy became a necessary, permanent and important

aspect of bilateral and multilateral relations between and among states.

• It is instructive to note that before the Congress of Vienna, Renaissance

Italy in particular made landmark strides in the evolution of modern

diplomacy (Ojo & Sesay, 1988).

Cont…

• It was during this period that functions of diplomatic

representatives increased and the first ever permanent mission

was established in Genoa by Francesco Sforza, the Duke of

Milan.

• Venice, particularly practiced a relatively advanced form of

diplomacy by keeping diplomatic records such as Letters of

Credence in a systematic style.

Cont…

• Diplomacy in Renaissance Europe still lacked a definite

Order of Precedence, which often created confusion and

conflicts between representatives at international forum/fora.

• This is because representation and seat arrangements were

not orderly, crisis often engulf international summits and

conferences over seniority.

Cont…

• The above irregularities were eliminated by the epoch-

making Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and

Immunities, held under the auspices of the United Nations via

Resolution 1450 of 7th December, 1959. This conference was

attended by Governments of eighty one (81) sovereign

states in the spring of 1961.

Cont…

• The conference elected Sir Alfred Verdross of Austria as the President,

and at the end of it, the Final Act of the Vienna Convention on

Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities was adopted.

• The Vienna Convention resolved the crisis over precedence by stating

that “diplomatic employees will take precedence over each other in

each class, according to the date of the official notification of their

arrival” (Nascimento, 1972).

Cont…

• Seniority is, therefore, determined by the length of service in the

receiving or host state.

• The longest serving ambassador is called the ‘doyen of

diplomatic corp.’

• Arrangement of seats and signing of treaties was henceforth to

be conducted in alphabetical order using the French language as

the basis for spelling.