Multilateral diplomacy is a product of a special process of diplomacy, which despite having many similarities with bilateral diplomacy, has clear differences with bilateral diplomacy in the way it is formed, decision-making process, work environment, rituals, direct influence of power and the final product.
This type of diplomacy is mainly created to respond to cross-border and international challenges, because no government alone is able to respond to all problems and use all opportunities.
In fact, the formation of the modern concept of the nation-state after the Treaty of Westphalia and its acceptance in the international system, the need for international order and security after numerous conflicts and wars, and finally the need for coordination in economic, social and humanitarian affairs following various scientific and industrial developments Especially during the last two centuries, it has provided the ground for multilateral cooperation and led to the prosperity of multilateral diplomacy.
Of course, multilateral diplomacy has also had a gradual growth in its course, and this gradual growth is also due to the acceptance and transformation of the principle of sovereignty due to internal developments in Europe, the need for peace and tranquility after major wars, the need for coordination in economic and social issues for growth. Industry and technology across Europe and the world, and finally there has been a need for communication between countries in this field.
Specialists, writers, politicians, parliamentarians and shapers of public opinion such as national and global pressure groups, media, press and internet sites are considered actors in the field of multilateral diplomacy, who play an effective role in shaping even without being present on the stage of multilateral institutions. It has a significant impact on the minds of elites, government representatives, domestic and international decision makers, and finally public opinion, and in this way they play a role in multilateral institutions.
In this type of diplomacy, diplomats have little time to make decisions and produce an immediate position in international interactions, and this fact requires a kind of intellectual, analytical and operational ability in multilateral diplomacy. In addition, in this type of diplomacy, the possibility of observing the usual formalities in bilateral diplomacy is less and in some cases it is completely excluded; Because the purpose of the formalities is to facilitate the diplomat’s work, and overemphasizing it hinders the multilateral diplomat’s work.
Also, in multilateral diplomacy, communication is established randomly in encounters or during taking positions in common environments, and for this reason, the possibility of communication between representatives increases in this type of diplomacy, and of course, their situations, opportunities, and challenges also increase to the same extent. . With this description, various environments such as conferences, meetings of international organizations including very formal meetings such as meetings of leaders and ministers as well as expert meetings, informal negotiations and coordination of circles outside the meetings and in general multilateral institutions and international and regional organizations, work environment They are considered multilateral diplomacy.
In fact, the formation of multilateral diplomacy with its own requirements and needs and as a result, opening up new fields of interaction and bringing together new and diverse actors and even new audiences (public opinion) has brought a new arena in the field of diplomacy. He said that with the gradual and sometimes accelerated growth of his actors, he has taken a different form.
