Allison Walter,
Campus Protocol Officer

What do Aleksandra Kollontay, Benjamin Franklin and Sidney Poitier have in common? These three historical figures from astonishingly different backgrounds have all served in the diplomatic arena. Kollontay, Russian revolutionary and feminist, served as the Russian Ambassador to Sweden and has the honor of being the first woman in the world to serve as an Ambassador; approximately 24 years after his famed electricity experiment, Franklin served as the U.S. Ambassador to France; and Poitier, who starred in films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, has served as the non-resident Bahamian ambassador to Japan since 1997. But what does it mean to be a diplomat?

The History of Diplomacy
Diplomacy is not a new idea. In fact, diplomats have existed since the first city-states were formed. Diplomacy as we know it today can be traced back to the thirteenth century, when the first embassies were formed in Northern Italy. It was here that ambassadors began the tradition of presenting their credentials to the head of state.

As diplomacy spread across the globe, disputes over level of precedence and diplomatic rank became commonplace. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna established an international system of diplomatic rank. The four levels established were ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, the official representative of the head of state in a foreign country; minister plenipotentiary, a diplomatic representative, one rank below ambassador, with authority to represent the head of state; minister resident, the lowest rank of full diplomatic mission chief; and chargé d’affaires, the person in charge of a mission in a foreign country during the temporary absence of a more senior diplomat. After World War II and the creation of the United Nations, diplomatic precedence was amended to its current form, stating that ambassadors are to be ranked according to the date of their accreditation in their current host nation, as opposed to the former system that ranked ambassadors based on the relative importance of the country they represented. Today, in some countries, the ambassador who has served the longest term in his or her host nation also holds the title of dean of the diplomatic corps.

Where Can You Find Diplomats?
Diplomatic officials often work in several different locations within a country. The embassy, usually located in the capital city, is the official residence of the ambassador, while the chancery is where the chief of mission and his or her staff work. Consulates, headed by a consul general, are generally found in locations other than the capital city. The purpose of the consulate is to represent the interests of its citizens in a determined area, to issue passports and visas, and to promote trade. In smaller cities or towns, one may find an honorary consul, a person who has been appointed to represent a country’s interests in that area; however, the honorary consul is not a full-time diplomat and often combines his or her diplomatic duties with another profession.

Diplomatic Immunity
Established in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomatic immunity protects diplomats from being prosecuted while on an official mission. While this may seem like giving diplomats carte blanche to do whatever they wish, this is not the case. The purpose of diplomatic immunity is to protect diplomats from unfair prosecution as a result of political issues while they are in a foreign nation. Even with diplomatic immunity, diplomats are often very conscientious and try to follow the rules and laws in their host country. Also, diplomatic immunity doesn’t give diplomats the ability to commit serious crimes without penalty; a diplomat can be declared “persona non grata” and may face charges when returning to his or her home country.

Tips for Communicating with Diplomats
Diplomats are representatives of their country’s government and should therefore be afforded certain courtesies. For example, when addressing letters to an ambassador, you should always use the honorific “His Excellency” or “Her Excellency.” If you are addressing an ambassador in person, consider saying “Mr. Ambassador” or “Madame Ambassador.” If you would like to invite a diplomat to an event, you should submit a formal written invitation, including all pertinent information for the event, giving the maximum amount of advance notice. And should the diplomat accept your invitation, research his or her home country to acquaint yourself with customs, traditions, current events or other information that may be helpful before the festivities begin.

Do you have a question about protocol principles and practices? Email us at int-eng-prot@illinois.edu and we’ll find an answer for you!