Restoring diplomacy

June 23, 2025

Halfway through Fred Zhang’s apt exposé of the modus operandi of News Corps’ agitprop rabble-rousing with regard to China, he rightly asks: “Where is the discussion about diplomacy, multilateralism, or economic interdependence as part of national resilience?” Good question.

But that leads to the question: “Where is diplomacy?” Bloated, over-reaching major political parties with a “trust us” outlook won’t be too interested in reminding us that state-crafting responsibilities, also for international relations, are inherent in our citizenship. “Trust us” too often shows itself with appointments to important ambassadorial posts – where are the open statements of policy by these privileged parties about how they will shape diplomatic service and remain accountable to electors for so doing? Or are we to assume that diplomacy is “merely politics”?

Former prominent parliamentarians may sometimes be best fitted for posts but why does it so often seem like a sinecure – a job for a senior party member who has had to be induced to “move sideways”? How then should training for a reformed diplomatic service proceed? Thanks for raising this, Fred.