Diplomatic relations encompass a broad set of activities that facilitate interactions among sovereign states. These include the establishment of embassies and consulates, negotiation, the exchange of information, and participation in international conferences and forums. Diplomacy is a crucial mechanism through which nations negotiate agreements, manage conflicts, and collaborate to address global challenges. It embodies the strategic art of relationship-building and communication and is shaped by many different theoretical frameworks, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theory.
The development of diplomatic relations is a complex process that has evolved over time and continues to evolve in response to new challenges. The 17th and 18th centuries brought about significant changes to diplomatic practices, such as the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which laid the foundation for modern state systems and established principles of sovereignty and non-interference. The following decades saw further formalization of diplomatic protocols and the expansion of embassy staffs to accommodate increased interaction between countries.
Historically, the practice of diplomacy has been inextricably linked to the evolution of sovereign states and the emergence of modern international law. In fact, it is widely believed that the ability to conduct diplomatic relations is one of the basic attributes of the modern sovereign nation-state.
However, research has unquestionably shown that diplomatic relations considerably predate the modern state system. Various studies suggest that multiple practices of public and private communication among political entities have undergone different historical transformations to ultimately become conventionally defined as the exclusive attribute of the sovereign nation-state.