bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 4 (2013) — Winter 2013–14 // Hiver 2013-2014, p. 6
Jillian Stirk: Why Diplomacy Matters
Editor’s Note: Widely admired throughout her career, Jillia n Stirk recently retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs after
Europe, to the Middle East, Afghanistan, Africa, NATO and the United diverse assignments in Ottawa and abroad that took her from Strategic Policy, Global Issues and Europe, and as the Department’s Nations. Most recently she served as Assistant Deputy Minister — Chief Foreign Policy Officer responsible for engaging and mentoring the next generation of Foreign Service Officers. She served as
Canada’s Ambassador to Norway, she had postings to the Canadian delegations to NATO, the OSCE and the UN, and a first posting pot I utsh mano namaditatian to tho GDR during the dark vears of the 1980s after the imposition of martial law in Poland. Prior
to her retirement last June she received the De has been amplified and adapted for bout de p
At a time when the value of diplomacy is being called into question, with new horrors emerging each day in Syria and after nearly two years of diplomatic stalemate, it is important to recall how diplomacy has evolved and why it remains as relevant as ever in these complex and turbulent times. It is also essential that we encourage the next generation to think beyond the immediate challenges and to hone the skills that will ensure Canadians continue to make a difference on the world stage.
If we recall some of the great moments in Canadian diplomacy — from the Suez crisis to the struggle against apartheid, the signing of a ground breaking Land Mines Treaty, or perhaps most relevant today, the acceptance of the concept of the Responsibility to Protect or R2P, the task has often seemed insurmountable. Yet somehow diplomacy prevailed. Today, the view in some quarters is that only military force makes the difference. While military force or in some cases the threat of such force is a powerful tool of persuasion and often an essential counterpoint to diplomacy, lasting solutions are almost always the result of skillful diplomatic negotiations and a profound understanding of deep seated political, economic and cultural imperatives. The real diplomatic success stories involve difficult compromises and sometimes strange bedfellows. As diplomats we must deal with the world the way it is, without ever losing sight of the way we wish it could be.
And what of the future of diplomacy? A few months ago Roger Cohen, writing in the New York Times, lamented what he called the death of traditional diplomacy, at a time when it is so sorely needed. talked about the essential characteristics of diplomacy — patience, persistence, discretion, empathy, boldness, and a willingness to talk to the enemy. Canada has a long and fine tradition of that kind of diplomacy. So let me offer some parting advice to the next generation on what I consider to be the essential professional diplomatic skills, through which we bring the greatest value and influence.
The first is knowledge — our breadth and depth of knowledge about global and local contexts. We should never underestimate the importance of understanding the history, the politics, the culture, the traditions, the myths and the realities that shape others’ thinking.
Second, I would highlight our personal connections, in Canada and around the world. Diplomacy is all about relationships, and you are only as good as your networks. All we aspire to achieve for Canada can only be built and maintained through the kind of shared understanding and trust that develops through relationships. To be effective, we need to know whom to call and, just as importantly, who is prepared to answer at the other end.
Third is timing, and I like to say that timing is everything. Diplomacy requires extraordinary patience, so-called “strategic patience”, an instinct and a willingness to let issues play out, and a sixth sense of when the moment is right to step in with the elements of a solution.
Fourth, is a deeply-held collaborative spirit. Diplomacy is a team profession. Individuals bring vision and leadership, but nothing really happens until people come together — and of course we are learning that it is no longer enough just to work with our usual partners — both inside and outside of government.
Last, is our resilience and creativity. Today’s problems require new approaches, and our diplomats need new skills — whether they are working in the villages of Afghanistan or South Sudan, building new social media networks, or talking to groups that operate in the shadows. Today’s diplomacy is edgy, gritty and sometimes dangerous.
– So here is my parting advice to a new generation of wonderful, talented and professional diplomats here in Ottawa, and around the world:
Nurture these skills, share them with
each other, and encourage them in
everyone with whom you work. Capitalize on your experience; be
creative; be bold; seize opportunities. Find meaning in your work, and your
place in the larger effort.
And above all, remember that as diplomats we share the great privilege to work for and on behalf of Canada, and the longterm, enduring values and interests of Canadians. That, in my view, is our greatest honour and responsibility. It is also public service at its best.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 4 (2013) — Winter 2013–14 // Hiver 2013-2014, p. 6. Read the rest of this issue →
