Theory and diplomacy

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dc.contributor.advisorDoran, Charles F.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHarris, Scott A.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAmbler, John S.en_US
dc.creatorMartel, Erik I.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:28:15Zen_US
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:28:15Zen_US
dc.date.issued1981en_US
dc.description.abstractThe assumption behind this essay is that there must be one permanent and duly organized group of people to at least a) report to their governments about the way they perceive the international context; b) evaluate the international impact of Domestic Affairs; c) channel day-to-day communications between nations; and d) offer its expertise and help to the ultimate decision makers in government. Traditionally this group is formed by diplomats. A failure in this group will have a serious impact in International Relations as a whole. A contrast is made between the tools diplomats are trained to use in their task of perceiving and evaluating and the tools offered nowadays by contemporary social sciences. A description is given of the development of the studies of international relations under the inspiration of social sciences. The subject of this description is the whole rather than particular approaches, or school of thoughts. In order to deal with this subject an "orbital perspective" is taken. The higher one gets the more possible it becomes to realize that waves do not simply bulge and disappear, that currents do not just clash and deviate, that the sea does not just break against the coast. Only the "orbital" picture will project a map large enough to show that below debates, contradictory approaches,and mature critiques, there is a line of evolution to which those debates, contradictions and criticisms are just external sand marks. Based on the analysis of the present state of affairs in "Affairs of State" a prescription is made as to the sort of organization and functions within it that would a) avoid "schizophrenic" behavior in the external projections of states as a result of the existence of multiple channels of communication; b) ensure a global vision of domestic affairs from an international perspective; and c) allow the effective use and incorporation to foreign affairs decision processes of those new tools. Diplomacy has not evolved enough to fulfill the jobs mentioned in the above assumption or in any case, is not today the only organization doing so. Said prescription, if properly enforced, should correct the situation. But diplomacy as a profession must recover a sense of purpose; that could come about as a result of the structural changes. It must also undergo a certain change in mentality in order to to apply the new tools at its disposal. This can only come through education. A starting point is proposed.en_US
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digitalen_US
dc.format.extent211 ppen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Pol. Sci. 1981 Martelen_US
dc.identifier.citationMartel, Erik I.. "Theory and diplomacy." (1981) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104670">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104670</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.digitalRICE2306en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104670en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.titleTheory and diplomacyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPolitical Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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