THE RETREAT OF DIPLOMACY IN A DECLINING LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL ORDER

Abstract

The research investigates why diplomacy has decreased in modern world politics. This paper differs with other works that attribute this decline to the Liberal International Order (LIO) by showing that the LIO limited traditional diplomacy and encouraged statecraft and public diplomacy. Populist governments have strengthened these alternative diplomatic approaches by choosing to bypass traditional diplomatic frameworks to perform direct and theatrical foreign policy. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated these trends which resulted in the development of "corona diplomacy" that unites statecraft with public diplomacy. This research aims to identify both systemic and political elements responsible for diplomacy's decline while exploring potential revival strategies for diplomacy in post-liberal international relations. This article develops a fresh theoretical framework through the introduction of “post-Western diplomacy” which emphasizes hybridity alongside cultural translation and multi-identity as methods to redefine diplomacy. The research uses a qualitative conceptual approach which combines discourse analysis with case studies of current international political events particularly those occurring under populist governments. The article offers a critical rethinking of diplomacy’s position in international relations and offers both theoretical and practical implications. It contributes to diplomatic studies by revealing the changes in the distribution of power and by suggesting an adaptive model of diplomacy that is in line with the new realities of the multipolar and culturally diverse world. These findings may be useful for foreign ministries and international institutions to develop their strategic direction in the face of the challenges of the 21st century.