“Polylateralism” and New Modes of Global Dialogue

Abstract

" … if only the theory of statecraft and diplomacy had kept pace with the times " . 1 A n emerging conventional wisdom is that diplomacy can no longer be considered only in terms of relations between states, but must now take account of wider relationships and modes of dialogue, involving increasingly significant entities such as regional and international organisa-tions, multinational corporations, special economic zones, local and city government, advocacy networks, and influential individuals. The rise of transnational actors and forces in the conduct of international affairs, and the putative erosion of state sovereignty, has been a central theme in a number of post-Cold War writings. 2 However, many of these writings have tended to overlook the implications of these trends for the practice of diplomacy. 3 Moreover, the International Relations discipline has generally neglected the vital link between diplomacy and theory. 4 This neglect is partly due to the discipline's emphasis on the structural characteristics of the inter-national system, rather than on diplomatic agency, roles, and relationships. It is also partly due to the professional diplomat's predilection for secrecy and for placing one's views on the public record ex post facto, invariably in the memoir form. Undoubtedly, these biases impair our thinking about the changing nature of diplomacy and its likely future impact on global politics. In response to these shortcomings, this paper advances some preliminary observations about evolving patterns of diplomatic interactions between governments and non-state actors, and how we might conceptualise these patterns. To date, most scholarly and journalistic attention appears to have focused on the issue of the rising influence of non-state actors on the international stage.