The process of advocating for your nation’s interests around the world, diplomacy uses a variety of tools to advance peace and secure borders. Diplomacy is primarily a communication and negotiation tool that can be coercive but is often nonviolent.
The practice of diplomacy has developed and diversified over thousands of years, as various states, religions, ideologies, and explorations shaped international affairs. Today, diplomats are trained to communicate with people of different cultures, and leaders employ a variety of techniques to achieve their foreign policy goals.
These include international dialogue and negotiations, usually facilitated by accredited ambassadors or envoys, and the use of back-channel communications and private meetings. Large international conferences are another important aspect of diplomacy, where dozens or even hundreds of heads-of-state meet to discuss issues such as global warming and migration.
Diplomacy can be bilateral or multilateral, but is most often conducted between two states or governments. Diplomacy may also involve nonstate actors and groups, though these tend to be more informal and unofficial.
The primary practitioners of diplomacy are diplomats, and the practice is governed by the laws of the receiving state and international agreements. For example, the person of a diplomatic agent is inviolable and cannot be arrested, unless he commits a serious crime or fails to perform his official duties. The residences and property of diplomats are likewise inviolable, and the restraining of any agent of a diplomatic mission or his family is considered a breach of honor.