About Diplomats

Diplomats are official representatives sent from one nation's government to another nation. It takes high-level social skills and a good working knowledge of history, politics and international relations to be a successful diplomat. The most effective diplomats can change the course of history and usually make a reputation that continues long after their careers are done.

History

Famous diplomats include presidents, United Nations representatives, secretaries of state and the ambassadors who live full time in a host country. President Thomas Jefferson was an ambassador to France before he became the third American president. Perhaps this accounts for his ability to direct the negotiations that purchased Louisiana for the United States. Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, both former U.S. Secretaries of State, are skilled diplomats who negotiated major international agreements and who continue to be consulted years after their terms of office ended. Kofi Annan and Ban Ki Moon are the seventh and eighth United Nations Secretaries General, respectively. Their reputations as skillful diplomats led to their election to the top position at the United Nations.

Significance

The international community created a series of treaties that set the standards for diplomatic relations. Three agreements make the series, which are known as the Vienna Convention. They were established in 1961, 1963 and 1969.

Identification

When a diplomat is assigned to represent one country in another country where he lives for the term of his appointment, he is known as an ambassador. (This title remains with him even after his term ends.) The official residence of an ambassador in the host country is the embassy, and the ambassador's office is the chancery. When an ambassador lives in a city that is not the capital of the host country, the place is called a diplomatic mission.

Function

Diplomatic missions and embassies have seven important functions. They have to represent their own nation in another nation. This means that the diplomats will attend important state events in the name of their own nation. They have to guard their own nation's political, military, economic and other interests. Since they are on site in the host country, they will be able to respond to issues quickly. Diplomats negotiate agreements on behalf of their own government with the government of the host country. They usually receive instructions by fax, email, telephone or secret channels. Then they can suggest arrangements and compromises. They watch and report about things that are happening in the host country. This can tip off the other government about potential problems or opportunities. Diplomats work to keep friendly relations between their country and the host county. They develop new relations that may result in business and trade opportunities. They also handle requests for documents like visas and passports.

Considerations

Diplomats and their family members living in a host country are exempt from criminal and civil prosecution in that country. This is called "diplomatic immunity." If a diplomat abuses the laws of the host country so much that that nation wishes to banish him, the host country assigns the unsavory diplomat the title of "persona non grata." A persona non grata is kicked out of the host country and cannot return.