Value-Based Diplomacy vs Values-Based Diplomacy
Mike Benz knows how to coin a phrase.
“Values-based diplomacy vs value-based diplomacy,” an interesting turn of phrase*.
To begin, I will note, it is not easy to track the activity of diplomats. Often, following meetings of diplomats, press briefings are held and respective representatives of countries report topics discussed in general terms. They claim some progress has been achieved by virtue of the communication. Details are quietly published.
There is, at the same time, a zeitgeist created by vocal representatives of governments that seed popular thinking about what, presumably, is at issue. For some years, British, European and American spokespeople have argued for what they characterize as ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights.’ What these terms mean is treated as a given by those spokespeople but more nuanced by representatives of non-western countries.
This can be characterized as a values-based diplomacy.
I have been amazed tracking the frequency of meetings held by senior diplomats from Russia and China in all corners of the world in recent years. By no means can Russia be viewed as isolated.
The outcome of those efforts can be seen to be transactional. Deals are struck, infrastructure to be built, technology tranfers implemented and educational and cultural exchanges to follow.
This can be characterized as a value-based diplomacy.
The above distinctions are overstated to highlight a qualitative difference.
I have teased out British, European and American spokespeople insofar as there are stark differences in the interests of each. The term ‘western’ glosses over those differences as noted in USA Bastion of Decentralization.
* Mike Benz, Executive Director Foundation for Freedom Online, former State Department Cyber.
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