By Dr., Senior Prof.
Tsolmon Davaa

For any country the foreign policy constitutes a long-term policy direction while diplomacy constitutes the means to implement it. These concepts are related to the tradition, continuity and novelty. On the other hand, it changes in accordance with the set regulation of the given country, its scope, historic development, geographical location, population structure, culture and traditions. The influence of the globalization is rapidly felt in the economy, science, technologies, culture and education, and international relations of the countries.
Modern international relations have been expanding through different historic phases of the humankind. From its initial stage confines of the aristocracy, kings, later between the two countries the diplomacy has acquired a prominence as the legal regulatory and consensus framework among regions, group of states and international relations.
The theoretical definition of diplomacy was provided in the book “On the Manner of Negotiating with Princes” published by the French scholar de Callieres in 1716 states, declaring that it is a science and art.

The famous French diplomacy scholar Jules Cambon (served as an ambassador to the USA, Spain and Germany) wrote, “I have never seen a multifaceted profession as the diplomat. Even though it is not confined within strictly defined rules, it is mainly based on traditions and only by working hard it is possible to acquire success…There is no other profession that requires a lot of perseverance and intellect”.
The renowned English scholar Ernest Satow defines diplomacy as “the application of intelligence or tact to the conduct of relations between the governments of independent states; or more briefly still, the conduct of business between states by peaceful means”.
Russian diplomatic scholar B.I.Popov writes on the definition of diplomacy that “according to the ordinary people’s understanding diplomacy is “the name for the art of deceit, striped-pants diplomacy, and the luxurious living” and there are many similar ways of describing it from the outside in the literature”.
One of the first professional diplomats of Mongolia Dugersuren.M has determined the main characteristics of the diplomacy in the following way, including:
a) It constitutes one of the main instruments of relations between countries;
b) It becomes a method for the substituting the use or abolishing the use of force in relations. In other words, it is a peaceful method;
c) Diplomacy should be conducted based on international law. He further concluded, “From this it can be stated that diplomacy constitutes the means for peaceful conduct of relations rather than through the use of force according to the international law”;
Belgian lawyer A.Rivier defines diplomacy as the one that “in the special technical terms means a science and the art of negotiations between the representatives of states, while in the broad term it means the comprehensive set of political activities between the organizations in charge of foreign affairs. On the other hand, it also means the diplomatic profession and career.”
Consequently, inevitably a question arises as to how the current Mongolian diplomacy conforms to all these definitions and maintains its tradition and continuity.
Many political scholars and analysts point out that the diplomacy is related to the national interests. In 1626 the foreign minister of King Louis XIII Cardinal Richelieu established the first Foreign Affairs Ministry and defined raison d’etat or national interest and promised that “the reputation of the King will be raised to the highest level among the foreign countries”.
Also it has been considered that the national interest is vital and eternal detached from emotions, beliefs and ideologies.
In the UK the diplomatic service is a professional service, which has a history of being nurtured into an independent field within the government sector. It is considered to be based on the “Treatise on national interest” by the British philosopher John Locke.
The arguments by the former British Prime Ministers Lord Palmerston and Winston Churchill that there are no eternal friends or foes only eternal British interest are also connected with the aforementioned treatise.
The formulation by the Great Chinggis Khan the exchange of envoys as the “golden lariat of the ruling power” has a deep historic meaning.
The study of diplomatic service and foreign policy of any country is undertaken in relation to the domestic economic, political and social life with specific consideration to their interrelation and necessity; and the diplomacy has an autonomous characteristic.
Diplomacy is classified into multilateral and bilateral. Also in relation to its scope, characteristics, direction, and principles it is classified into political, commercial economic, military, cultural, humanitarian or public (people’s) diplomacy, nuclear and conference diplomacy. In addition, there are also general classifications such as the energy diplomacy within the framework of economic policy, and environmental diplomacy in respect to the environmental changes. These include world challenges or regional and bilateral issues of concern.
Hard power based on force is advanced mainly by Morgenthau USA, and scholars of Russia and other countries. On the other hand, the soft power policy, which proposes the resolution of issues through soft means, is promoted by the foreign policy and diplomacy of several countries of Asia and Europe with the aim of broadening their scope of influence.
Now let me briefly review the types of diplomacy in relation to their specific characteristics and directions.
It is understandable that the political bilateral relations between the countries will include high level meetings, significant political documents, summit declarations that convened with the purpose of resolving UN and international challenges. These are reflected in the bilateral and regional documents. In terms of Mongolia, such examples include the partnership and principles of cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. These include 2001 Ulaanbaatar Declaration, 2006 Moscow Declaration, or 2008 declaration made during the visit of the President of Russia D.Medvedev to Mongolia. Other documents are 1996 “Japan-US security declaration” established during the visit of the President of USA Bill Clinton to Japan, 2001 “Good Neighbor, Friendship and Cooperation Agreement” established between USA, Russia and China.
In respect to the economic diplomacy the “Monroe doctrine” of the former US President defined the economic and market policy domination in Latin America, while 1912 Taft’s “dollar diplomacy” and 1944 Bretton Woods system paved the way for the establishment of the World Bank and IMF. This system existed until 1971.
Russian diplomatic scholar V.I.Popov pointed out the importance of the high level meeting among the state leaders towards democratization of foreign policy and diplomacy, which I think has substantial basis.
The examples of high level diplomacy include “G-7” meeting that took place in French Rambouillet in 1975, “G-8” meeting that started to include Russia since 2007, 1947 “Marshall Plan”, “G-20” meeting of industrialized countries, and Davos meeting so on. One of the inseparable constituents of the economic diplomacy is energy diplomacy. Crude oil and natural gas rich Russia as well as the US and European countries pay special attention to it. In my book on “Foreign policy, diplomacy and the basis of diplomatic service” discusses the standpoint of scholars (UB 2009).
Also in the era of globalization the differences in standpoints of developed and developing countries are reflected in my scholarly articles. The latest is the publication of the series of articles in January 2012 issue of “UB Post” newspaper.
“Millennium Challenge Account” stands as an example of combining political and economic diplomacy.