Diplomatic practices at the United Nations

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8911587
AutoresGeoffrey Wiseman (autor de correspondencia)
Año2015
Volumen50
Número3
Páginas316-333
Fecha de publicación2015-04-13
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCooperation and Conflict (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0010-8367 • E-ISSN: 1460-3691
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0010836715574916
OpenAlexW2155983011
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas39
Referencias citadas55

This article considers the importance of informal, practice-based change as opposed to formal change at the UN. I first evaluate UN reform, showing that diplomacy and institutional change within the UN system are better understood as having evolved less from major, formal reform of the UN Charter (‘the Charter’) than from minor changes in routine practices. I then examine what practice theory and diplomatic studies can learn from each other in terms of how each views the role of leading individuals, illustrating specific practice-based change in relation to the Secretary-General’s role. Next, I show how the appointment process for a new Secretary-General has evolved through informal practice, after which I advance an argument that UN diplomatic practices should be considered not only within the narrow context of a formal diplomatic corps of member state diplomats but also as part of an informal, wider diplomatic community of diplomats and non-state actors. Practice theory helps students of diplomacy think more abstractly and systematically about mundane diplomatic practices. Students of diplomacy can help guide practice theory toward empirical diplomatic activities that are often internalized and taken for granted. I conclude that a dialog between the two fields will promote a better understanding of diplomacy as undervalued practices

Argument (complex analysis · Charter · Context (archaeology · Dialog box · Diplomacy · Law and economics · Normative · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · State (computer science · European Union Policy and Governance · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Public Administration