It's All about Diplomacy . . .

Hi folks! I hope you had some time to consider the definitions of “Debate” from my last post. Today I want to investigate the meanings behind the word “diplomacy.”

First, I want to get something right out in the open. I know the theme sheet says that you can pick a topic that relates to a debate OR a diplomatic event. Yes, you don’t have to incorporate both concepts into your topic. But why not challenge yourself? I hope to illustrate in this post that diplomacy is one way of conducting a debate. So why not find a topic that includes both concepts? It will make your projects much stronger (and will make the judges much happier, if you catch my drift. *wink*)

So, moving on. Diplomacy. What is it? I again went to my go-to website, dictionary.com, to get some general definitions:
- the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other relations between nations.
- the art or science of conducting such negotiations.
- skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc., so that there is little or no ill will; tact.

Ok, let’s deconstruct these definitions. Just like with debate, the first two definitions suggests that diplomacy is a formal process that involves international relations. This is also the definition that was first given in the annual theme sheet. Sure, diplomacy is most often associated with dealings between nations, but I am going to yet again argue for a broader definition that will enable you to pick any number of historical topics for your projects.

Let’s look at that third definition. Diplomacy is skill in handling a negotiation (debate!!) in a way that creates no bad feelings between the opposing sides. I suggest that diplomacy is a way that opposing parties can handle themselves in a debate in order to keep the process friendly.

Say you are still interested in the Progressive Era and are now looking for a topic that incorporates both a debate and diplomacy. What about the beginnings of labor unions? Did they start out as strikers demanding a better living wage, or did they first start out by trying to negotiate with the business owners in a diplomatic way?

This leads me to the last part of the theme: Successes, Failures, Consequences. Take note that these words imply that a diplomatic debate does not necessarily have to be successful in order to fit with the theme. In the case of the labor unions, clearly their attempts at diplomacy failed and they resorted to protests and striking to get their point across.

I think I am going to stop there, but next time I want to talk a little more in depth about this last part of the theme, as well as touch on that pesky “in History” business.