Foreign policy (from facebook)

1. “Megaphone diplomacy” refers to making public statements regarding a matter of dispute, which means negotiations between countries or parties are held through social media posts (i.e., Twitter), press releases, and announcements, aiming to force the other party into adopting a desired position.

Example: India-pak Twitter war.

2. “Quiet diplomacy” refers to one state’s efforts to influence the behavior of another state through discreet(বিচক্ষণ) negotiations or actions.

Quiet diplomacy operates behind the scenes and may rely on back channeling rather than on public talks. It may also involve deal making and strategic partnerships, involving more carrots than sticks. Quiet diplomacy can also bringing indirect influence to bear on a nation’s leaders through meetings with members of civil society.

Small nations often rely on quiet diplomacy, because they don’t have the military or economic clout to intimidate other nations. But large, powerful countries like the United States also use quiet diplomacy. 

Back in 2007, for example, the Bush administration was looking to expand its influence in South America and counter the influence of Venezuela’s left-wing president, Hugo Chavez. President Bush went on a tour of South American nations, meeting with leaders to tell them about the kinds of aid the United States could offer them.

“I would call our diplomacy quiet and effective diplomacy — diplomacy all aimed at helping people, aimed at elevating the human condition, aimed at expressing the great compassion of the American people,” the president said at a press conference in Uruguay. The message behind the tour was never spelled out, but it was clear: partnership with the United States could benefit Latin America more than partnership with Chavez.

।।

Collected