PUblic diplomacy redefined

We want to explain what we mean when we use the term “public diplomacy.” As with so many things, this phrase has its complications.

Let’s start with diplomacy: Diplomacy happens when parties representing different interests come together in formal negotiations to seek a mutually satisfying outcome. This usually means the parties are traversing boundaries and borders—whether geographical or ideological—to discuss subjects that involve conflicting positions. The intention of such encounters is to forge an agreement about how to constructively address some kind of impasse.

Most of us imagine diplomacy to involve high level officials facilitating difficult exchanges between representatives of different nations. We usually envision these government-to-government encounters to be focused on treaties about borders, weapons, rights to resources or ways of doing international business. When we think of diplomacy in this way, we are envisioning what is known as “Track I Diplomacy.”  But there are similar efforts convened by non-governmental actors who have access to high level decision-makers by virtue of their personal networks. These private individuals can sometimes play an unofficial role in diplomatic efforts by opening lines of communication or helping to build confidence between influential individuals in adversarial situations. This is known as “Track II Diplomacy.”

There is also a third track of diplomacy—public diplomacy—which is a grassroots, people-to-people version, usually taking the form of efforts sponsored by a government to shape the opinions of the citizens of another nation.

That is not at all what we do.

Very simply, we are seeking to advance the capacity of humans to solve problems with their opponents. As such, we are training facilitators to be able to use dialogue as a tool to enable citizens on both sides of a border (whatever that border is) to solve their problems together. In our view, this is “true” public diplomacy—citizen diplomacy. And it is instrumental in supporting cross-border peace and security. That is why all of our efforts are devoted to bringing dialogue facilitation skills into the hands (and hearts) of more people around the world.