HANS J. MORGENTHAU: “The Future of Diplomacy.”
Four Tasks of Diplomacy:
Four Fundamental Rules:
Five Prerequisites of Compromise:
Overall conclusion: Achieving international peace in the way which Morgenthau suggested cannot compete with the inspirational feeling of the formulae that have guided diplomacy. Morgenthau contends that solutions that claim to get rid of the problem of war in one sweep, like free trade, disarmaments, collective security, etc., appeal to people. However, these solutions are based on the idea of an existence of an integrated international society, which Morgenthau does not believe exists. Morgenthau responds to critiques that diplomacy has failed in preventing war in the past by giving two answers. One is that when it failed, it failed because no one wanted it to succeed. The other answer is that the failure is caused by a mistake in the evaluation of national power.
While Morgenthau is an ardent realist, many of his values of diplomacy are inherently liberalist. Diplomacy relies on cooperation and compromise.
- The objectives of diplomacy must be made based on the real and potential power that is available.
- Diplomacy should examine the objectives of other nations and the real and potential power that is available to those nations in order to pursue their objectives.
- Diplomacy must decide whether their own objectives and the objectives of other states are compatible.
- Diplomacy must use tactics that are the best for their particular objectives.
Four Fundamental Rules:
- Diplomacy must get rid of its “crusading spirit.”
- Objectives of foreign policy should be created based on national interest and must be supported with adequate power.
- Diplomacy must examine the international sphere from the point of view of other nations.
- Nations must be willing to compromise on issues that are not their top priority.
Five Prerequisites of Compromise:
- The choice that is central to diplomacy is not between legality and illegality but rather political wisdom and political folly. Thus, diplomacy should be guided by real advantage rather than worthless rights.
- Don't put your state in a position which you can't retreat from easily and without losing pride, and from which you can't advance without great danger.
- A weak ally should never make decisions for you.
- Armed forces/the military should not guide foreign policy, but rather be the instrument of diplomats.
- The government should guide public opinion, rather than be a slave to its whims.
Overall conclusion: Achieving international peace in the way which Morgenthau suggested cannot compete with the inspirational feeling of the formulae that have guided diplomacy. Morgenthau contends that solutions that claim to get rid of the problem of war in one sweep, like free trade, disarmaments, collective security, etc., appeal to people. However, these solutions are based on the idea of an existence of an integrated international society, which Morgenthau does not believe exists. Morgenthau responds to critiques that diplomacy has failed in preventing war in the past by giving two answers. One is that when it failed, it failed because no one wanted it to succeed. The other answer is that the failure is caused by a mistake in the evaluation of national power.
While Morgenthau is an ardent realist, many of his values of diplomacy are inherently liberalist. Diplomacy relies on cooperation and compromise.