Diplomatic talks are the way diplomats advance national interests and resolve disputes among countries. These international negotiations range from large summits, attended by heads of state, to bilateral meetings between a small group of diplomatic representatives. Diplomacy can be persuasive or coercive, and it often involves a lot of compromise.
A successful diplomatic negotiation usually results in a written document, or agreement, between the negotiating parties. It can be an agreement on a specific matter, such as a debt rescheduling or trade embargo, or it can establish new institutions and cooperative processes, such as the International Seabed Authority or the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Negotiations may also be used to defuse tensions, such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between the U.S. and Iran, or to end hostilities.
In most diplomatic negotiations, the initial demands of a negotiating party far exceed what it expects to receive, which necessitates concessions or compromise. These concessions are often made in stages, with intermittent testing of the negotiating parties’ firmness and will to agree to a deal. The negotiating process is typically protracted, and skillful outside diplomats can play important roles. For example, the American-led negotiations to end South African rule of Namibia were significantly aided by Martti Ahtisaari, a Finnish diplomat working on behalf of the United Nations.
To be successful in a diplomatic negotiation, it is important to have a clear understanding of the negotiating party’s interests and what you are attempting to achieve through the talks. It is also essential to have a solid plan of action, as the other side will be looking for any chinks in your armor that they can exploit.