This book analyzes on the diplomats’ service transforms in promoting different perspectives in internal organizations in politics and the author have emphasize on the states position which played a role and the current challenges in using new tools in order to archived the common goals. The overall structure has been focused on diplomacy, diplomatic and consular services, international organization and international relations, apart from that, this book consists of 23 subtopics that author has argue and focus on the how the world has been influencing the culture, economy, industry and information globally.
The author explained on the words of ‘diplomacy’ and ‘diplomats’ and how is the role plays as essential elements or at least as gatekeepers in preventing any internal conflicts within states. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in 1961 has highlighted on the diplomacy influence the international law and the most important principle on the system is to non-interference in internal affairs, the transition of diplomacy has not change drastically, for instance in the past the importance of diplomats is used to solve issues between states and it still remains the same. Moreover, this have raised a question to what extend does traditional diplomacy have impacted or is there any relevant comparing to the current diplomacy, moreover traditional and bilateral diplomacy should not be compress in negative on the role of global governance as the virtues of traditional diplomacy have more positive outcome and able to achieve the global interdependence such as patience, tolerance, and capacity for common ground. On the other hand, the current diplomatic service has become much broader in term of shared task with other actors either official or non-official and this allowed them to be more transparency in democratic ways.
The ‘Westphalian’ principle on the sovereign which has absolute power in ruling which allow the states have the territory and able to absorb the sole of source of wealth and power by receiving from other states has been determine by author.
Author has shared that the OECD was a pioneer in which members mostly are diplomats and their main functions are general agenda such as protect the environment, industrial policies, labor market policies, financial market, fiscal and tax in order to reach the goal of harmonization, however OECD does not act via diplomats but more on expertise and global actors as a tool in global governance.
The author highlighted on public opinion which in 17th century was the rulers who had the sovereigns’ power but diplomats had no voice in affairs as it deals with princes, although the foreign policy is connected to parliamentary however the power hold by the parliamentary was limited. Despite all the changes that evolve the public opinion during traditional and compare with current public opinion are still failure not because of the public but as the politician are not working on what they promised.
The growing international role of parliamentarians in the course of traditional and new diplomacy influenced each other. The globalization of economy, industry, information and culture has influence over the trade and investment in result for overall sustainability wealth, the author has described there is no more a state, but it is a group for peace keeping, and the effort can be taken only when there is stability in monetary fund, terrorism, pandemics, global warming, energy policy, and others.
Apart from that, states need to focus on their interest and not on maximizing profit for themselves or contribute to ‘zero-sum’ or negative sum to other partners of states because of the main focus is to gain security and profit of a state then diplomacy will eventually lose the pace.
Moreover, the diplomats have an essential role in global governance as bridge builders and the state highly recommend diplomats to keep utilize their value and interest in order to have positive outcome. The role of traditional diplomacy is a sign and promote the autonomy of each state meanwhile the modern diplomacy is to have a mutual understanding and accomplished their task on the skills that enhance them to be diplomats.
In a nutshell, the diplomats are very importance and influence when they involve in the government organization, the diplomats foster the peace-keeping between two states and crucial in foreign policy decision. The author has described thoroughly on the comparison between traditional diplomats and current diplomatic service. The book is a good reading material for a reader; it talks about the importance of the diplomats on the current age of diplomacy, and without diplomats there is no any negotiation process will occur and the response to war are pretty easy.