The significance of non-state actors in trade negotiations

It is argued that 3^rd world debt is rooted in trade. According to the World Development movement, “if industrialised countries had not stacked the terms of trade so heavily in their favour, Southern countries would not have fallen so deeply into debt.” Many commentators believe it is a great injustice that instead of correcting the imbalance in world trade, northern governments have added more problems to the dilemma. For instance, in the past, northern countries have encouraged poor countries to export raw material to the west, ensuing in their further integration into debt. This was initially seen by many economists to be the best way for all the developing countries to produce wealth for the reason that commodities make up a large section of their income. However in practise this in fact had the opposite effect of the theory. Its major disadvantages included, poor countries having to rely on one or two basic exporting products since they were rarely allowed a range of difference thus resulting in dangerous economic affects if their major commodities were traded at low prices. This particular theory was dependant on consistent supply and demand and failed to take into account the inevitable drop in commodity prices hence making it a short term solution. Furthermore, raw materials do not produce as much wealth as manufactured goods.

NGOs now play a very important role in influencing trade negotiations and the World Development Movement (WDM) is an NGO that has campaigned on trade issues since 1995. In 2004 they stopped the UK and EU passing an agreement in the WTO which would have meant developing countries being forced to allow private countries taking over vital services such as water and banking. Ethical trading is also another significant focus of many NGO's and trying to make sure that companies adhere to internationally agreed labour standards. Another one of their past campaigns saw WDM campaign for the rights of Costa Rican workers on a banana plantation. The workers were “victimised” for joining free trade unions and after WDM supporters sent thousands of letters and organised events such as dumping a tonne of banana skins in front of the Del Monte office in the UK, Del Monte were put under enough pressure to sign a historic agreement allowing an independent trade union to freely organise on the plantation. These campaigns are examples of just how important the role of NGOs have become in international policy making and policy implementation.

Sources:

http://arno.unimaas.nl/show.cgi?fid=7321

http://www.wdm.org.uk/world-trade-organisation

http://www.wdm.org.uk/fairtrade-bananas

Trade and environmental diplomacy

In modern diplomacy diplomats have to pursue also commercial interests of their country.

Therefore diplomacy contain collaboration with international institutions, such as WTO, GATT, and there is increasing role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Barston argues: “Trade has traditional been a concern of diplomacy. Trade interests and trade policies are generally part of the central preoccupations of most states.  Ideally, trade policy and foreign policy should support each other.

Trade interests may be acquired for a number of reasons, such as long-standing commercial links, entrepreneurial exploitation of overseas markets or successful domestic lobbying, as in the case of European, Japanese or US farming interests.

In international trade the classical functions of diplomacy are in four areas:

-         multilateral rule making or rule changing

-         the creation of a favourable political setting or legal framework at a regional level

-         resolution of disputes

-         the creation of innovatory agreements.

The setting for international trade diplomacy is distinguished by the post-war growth in the number of multilateral institutions with a direct or indirect responsibility for trade (e.g. GATT/WTO, UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), IFC and International Labour Organisation (ILO)” (Barston, 2006, 134-135).

Trade diplomacy now involves domestic and international bargaining. Next agenda of Trade diplomacy are negotiations about reducing taxes, non-tariff barriers etc.

The example of involvement diplomacy in trade negotiation was in the Doha (in Qatar) ministerial round in November 2001, although there was reduced NGOs access.

Barston points out: “Trade negotiations at Doha involved 21 agenda areas, including carry-over issues from Uruguay Round and core traditional issues as industrial tariffs, market access, agriculture, trade in services, TRIPS etc.” (Barston, 2006, 140).

It can be concluded that trade issues play an important role in a modern diplomacy. For example, the Prime Minister David Cameron appointed successful businessmen as diplomats.

The development of science and industry is important for development of economy and society. However, there are also negative impacts on our planet.

Mankind make mile steps. For example, when a former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born, people travelled on horses or walked. Since his death globalization, science and industry changed our lives even more. People produce enormous amount of CO₂ emissions, there are problems with waste, waste water etc.

Enormous production of Carbon dioxide makes holes in ozone layout of the planet. Consequently, it melts icebergs on both poles, rise sea levels and it makes also health problems. For example, people in Australia have increase of skin cancer.

Barston argues: “ Major incidents such as Chernobyl and Exon Valdez have the effect of dramatising a problem, galvanising non-governmental groups and influencing calls for the revision of international codes and rules.

Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states.

The UN Conference on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks is a classic example of a modern chair-led multilateral negotiation. The complex nature of the conference was underlined by the extensive range of interests: distant water fishing, coastal reformist, flag-registering countries, developing coastal states, newly industrialised import or transit states, FAO, intergovernmental fisheries organisations (e.g. International Commission on North Atlantic Tuna) and a variety of NGOs” (Barston, 2006, 151- 179).

To sum up, Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states. The role of NGOs in international negotiations is increasing because they have expertise, access through resources and networks, such as CAN.

References:

Barston,R.P. (2006). Modern Diplomacy, 3^rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow

My understanding of diplomacy today

My understanding diplomacy today differs from my view on diplomacy in September.

I realized that diplomacy involved wider range of activities than I thought. For example, a modern diplomacy involves also trade issues, propaganda, NGOs, celebrities etc.

During evolution of diplomacy the role of diplomacy substantially changed.

Diplomacy is possible to understand from various points of view. For example, as managing international relations, way of communication, representation etc.

Diplomacy involves also information gathering and consular services. Diplomacy provides information for government, particularly in the United Kingdom it is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Diplomacy is crucial for making and the implementation of foreign policy.

White argues: “There are two major stages in foreign policy – the making and implementation (or carrying out) of policy.  A simple view suggests that the making of foreign policy is the exclusive business of government.  So important is foreign policy to the achievement of the ‘national interests’ of the state that the most senior members of government will oversee and control the policy process” (White, 2005, 396).

So what is the role of a diplomat and which virtues he/she should possess?

A diplomat at the present time must be able to pursue interests of his country abroad. Moreover, the person needs language, negotiation, IT skills etc.

However, Harold Nicolson points out at virtues of a diplomat in views of a French diplomat de Callières:

“The good diplomatist must have an observant mind, a gift of application which rejects being diverted by pleasures or frivolous amusements, a sound judgement which takes the measure of things as they are.

The good negotiator must have the gift of penetration such as will enable him to discern the thoughts of men and to deduce from the least movement of their features which passions are stirring within.

The diplomatist must be quick, resourceful, a good listener, courteous and agreeable. He should pay attention to women, but never lose his heart. Courage also is an essential quality.  The negotiator must possess the patience of a watch-maker and be devoid of personal prejudices.  He must have a calm nature, be able to suffer fools gladly, and should not be given to drink, gambling, women, irritability, or any other wayward humorous and fantasies” (Nicolson, 1954, 64-65).

As is seen above the list of abilities of a modern diplomat is very long. A diplomat has to possess those abilities and be able to use in a modern diplomacy.

Henry Kissinger - one of the most successful and important US diplomats

Tasks of diplomacy are also possible to divide to six areas.

Barston these tasks as follows:

1. Ceremonial:

-         Protocol

-         Representation

-         Visits

2. Management

-         Day-to day problems

-         Promotion of interests

-         Explanation and defence of policy

-         Strengthening bilateral relations

-         Bilateral co-ordination

-         Multilateral co-operation

3. Information and communication

-         Assessment and reporting

-         Monitoring

4. International negotiation
5. Duty of protection
6. Contribution to international order (Barston, 2006, 2)

It can be concluded that during the module I obtained new knowledge, information and skills about diplomacy. I understand diplomacy better and from broader point of view.

References:

Barston,R.P. (2006). Modern Diplomacy, 3^rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow

Nicolson,H. (1954). The Evolution of Diplomatic Methods, Constable and Company Ltd, London

White,B. in Baylis & Smith (2005). The Globalization of World Politics, 3^rd edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Trade and environmental diplomacy

In modern diplomacy diplomats have to pursue also commercial interests of their country.

Therefore diplomacy contain collaboration with international institutions, such as WTO, GATT, and there is increasing role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Barston argues: “Trade has traditional been a concern of diplomacy. Trade interests and trade policies are generally part of the central preoccupations of most states.  Ideally, trade policy and foreign policy should support each other.

Trade interests may be acquired for a number of reasons, such as long-standing commercial links, entrepreneurial exploitation of overseas markets or successful domestic lobbying, as in the case of European, Japanese or US farming interests.

In international trade the classical functions of diplomacy are in four areas:

-         multilateral rule making or rule changing

-         the creation of a favourable political setting or legal framework at a regional level

-         resolution of disputes

-         the creation of innovatory agreements.

The setting for international trade diplomacy is distinguished by the post-war growth in the number of multilateral institutions with a direct or indirect responsibility for trade (e.g. GATT/WTO, UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), IFC and International Labour Organisation (ILO)” (Barston, 2006, 134-135).

Trade diplomacy now involves domestic and international bargaining. Next agenda of Trade diplomacy are negotiations about reducing taxes, non-tariff barriers etc.

The example of involvement diplomacy in trade negotiation was in the Doha (in Qatar) ministerial round in November 2001, although there was reduced NGOs access.

Barston points out: “Trade negotiations at Doha involved 21 agenda areas, including carry-over issues from Uruguay Round and core traditional issues as industrial tariffs, market access, agriculture, trade in services, TRIPS etc.” (Barston, 2006, 140).

It can be concluded that trade issues play an important role in a modern diplomacy. For example, the Prime Minister David Cameron appointed successful businessmen as diplomats.

The development of science and industry is important for development of economy and society. However, there are also negative impacts on our planet.

Mankind make mile steps. For example, when a former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born, people travelled on horses or walked. Since his death globalization, science and industry changed our lives even more. People produce enormous amount of CO₂ emissions, there are problems with waste, waste water etc.

Enormous production of Carbon dioxide makes holes in ozone layout of the planet. Consequently, it melts icebergs on both poles, rise sea levels and it makes also health problems. For example, people in Australia have increase of skin cancer.

Barston argues: “ Major incidents such as Chernobyl and Exon Valdez have the effect of dramatising a problem, galvanising non-governmental groups and influencing calls for the revision of international codes and rules.

Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states.

The UN Conference on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks is a classic example of a modern chair-led multilateral negotiation. The complex nature of the conference was underlined by the extensive range of interests: distant water fishing, coastal reformist, flag-registering countries, developing coastal states, newly industrialised import or transit states, FAO, intergovernmental fisheries organisations (e.g. International Commission on North Atlantic Tuna) and a variety of NGOs” (Barston, 2006, 151- 179).

To sum up, Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states. The role of NGOs in international negotiations is increasing because they have expertise, access through resources and networks, such as CAN.

References:

Barston,R.P. (2006). Modern Diplomacy, 3^rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow