Diplomatic capital

For the seat of government, see capital city.

Diplomatic capital refers to the trust, goodwill, and influence which a diplomat, or a state represented by its diplomats, has within international diplomacy.^[1] According to political scientist Rebecca Adler-Nissen, diplomatic capital is a kind of currency that can be traded in diplomatic negotiations and that is increased when positive ″social competences, reputation and personal authority" are portrayed.^[2]

Accumulation and loss

Diplomatic capital can be accumulated by economic cooperation^[3] and by contributions to the solution of international crises,^[4] It is strengthened when in other countries the sentiment prevails that the interests of a state or the diplomats representing it are aligned with their own interests. Conversely, it can be squandered when a country engages in a confrontation, an armed conflict or a war, if that is perceived as unjust or at odds with the interests of others.^[5][6]

Diplomatic capital is also linked to the extent of enforcement of human rights.^[7]

See also

•  Political science portal

• Alliance
• Cultural diplomacy
• Mandate (politics)
• Political capital
• Public diplomacy
• Social capital

References

1. Dalziel, Paul; Saunders, Caroline; Saunders, Joe (2018), Dalziel, Paul; Saunders, Caroline; Saunders, Joe (eds.), "The Global Community and Diplomatic Capital", Wellbeing Economics: The Capabilities Approach to Prosperity, Wellbeing in Politics and Policy, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 149–168, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93194-4_8, ISBN 978-3-319-93194-4
2. Robert Czulda; Marek Madej (2015). Newcomers No More? Contemporary NATO and the Future of the Enlargement from the Perspective of "Post-Cold War" Members. Instytut Badań nad Stosunkami Międzynarodowymi. p. 156. ISBN 978-83-62784-04-2.
3. Yoichiro Sato; Satu Limaye (25 May 2006). Japan in a Dynamic Asia: Coping with the New Security Challenges. Lexington Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-7391-5669-8.
4. Adriana Brodsky; Raanan Rein (28 September 2012). The New Jewish Argentina: Facets of Jewish Experiences in the Southern Cone. BRILL. p. 278. ISBN 978-90-04-23728-5.
5. John Brady Kiesling (2006). Diplomacy Lessons: Realism for an Unloved Superpower. Potomac Books, Inc. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-59797-017-4.
6. Brian J. Bow; Patrick Lennox (2008). An Independent Foreign Policy for Canada?: Challenges and Choices for the Future. University of Toronto Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-8020-9690-6.
7. Michael O'Flaherty; Zdzislaw Kedzia; Amrei Müller; George Ulrich (28 October 2011). Human Rights Diplomacy: Contemporary Perspectives. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 7. ISBN 978-90-04-19516-5.