The Imperial University



Foreign Relations Course Notes {FR}

INTRODUCTION

Every governmental body must have dealings with other such bodies. Without communications, there would be no progress. Trade, travel, immigration, even science would cease to move forward. Communications between these bodies must be established and maintained. In this course, you will learn proper ways to open diplomatic lines with other nations, and how to keep those lines static and running smothly.


OPENING DIPLOMACY
The diplomatic process is an art. You cannot just call up the leader of a foreign government and ask him to allow your trade ships to enter his ports. For centuries, the methods of opening the diplomatic lines has been perfected through trial and error.

First off, a Letter of Introduction should be sent out. This can be in done in any form of media (hand written, email, video/audio, singing telegram, etc.), and should be made to look as professional as possible. Be sure to include your full name and rank, and your position. Doing so will let the foreign leader see that you are not afraid to let him know who he is dealing with, and that usually will give some matter of trust.

While writing the body of your Letter of Introduction, briefly discuss your nation's geography, science and technology, civil accomplishments, and history. Give him/her a feel for who you are and what you stand for. Make sure to include points in your letter that show similarities between your people and his. This will help build a feeling of comraderie.

Be sure and state your intentions clearly in the letter. Beating around the bush will usually get you nowhere, and can stalemate the negotiations. In order of priority, explain what it is you want from them, and what you can offer in return. By doing this, you will set up the initial negotiation points, and can build on the relationship from there.

TREATIES AND TRADE AGREEMENTS
Opening Diplomacy completed, you can now sit down at the negotiation table and get to work on the real 'meat and potatoes' of Foreign Relations...Treaties and Trade Agreements. This is where real diplomats will be tested, for the ability to make a treaty to the mutual benefit of both parties on the first draft is virtually impossible. It may take days, months, or even years for two nations to agree on something as insignificant as currency exchange!

When discussing treaties and trade agreements, remember to be open-minded. Walking into any diplomatic meeting with a closed mind will get you nowhere. Be sure and listen to what the other negotiator has to say, and take notes as needed. Never cut someone off in mid-sentence, but write down your questions/comments and voice them when it is your turn. Presumptuousness can kill negotiations as quickly as a closed mind.

If dealing with foreign nations that are of a different ethnicity or religious background than you, be sure and study up on their customs and policies. Not only will this save you from making a fool of yourself, it may just give you the edge you need when they see that you have studied their culture, and are showing tolerance and appreciation for it.

As the negotiations progress, make sure that you go in with your aims set higher than your threshold. A threshold is the point at which you can no longer concede a point. For instance, if you are negotiating on the price of a particular natural resource, and your nation is willing to spend 100 credits per unit maximum, your threshold is 100 credits. Therefore, if you go into negotiations initially offering to pay 50 credits per unit, you now have room to work with, and thus 'concede' points to the foreign nation.

As negotiations conclude, and both parties are satisfied with the outcome, make sure to set a date for re-consideration of the treaty. This will keep diplomatic lines open and allow for possible beneficial changes to the agreement in the future.

MAINTAINING DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS
A wise nation will always allow ambassadors to enter within it's borders. Keeping in touch with other nations will allow a nation to flourish and keep the peace. Nations who refuse to keep even the simplest forms of communication with foreign nations will soon find themselves under close scrutiny. Curiousity is a powerful motivator for espionage and war. The more 'open' and friendly a nation appears to be, the less problems it will have. After all, if a nation refuses to talk with it's neighbors, what does it have to hide?

Occasional gifts of friendship are a nice gesture to maintain channels. On a nation's founding anniversary, it would be a good gesture to offer the building of a monument or statue in their Capital. Supplying artisans and materials for such a venture will show that your friendship is genuine.

CLOSING DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS
Sometimes things do not work out, and negotiations must end with no beneficial resolution. If they end on good terms, there is nothing to worry about, and you could eventually try to re-open the lines later on down the road. If negotiations end on a hostile note, make sure that you are prepared to back up whatever decisions were reached.

At times, there is no diplomatic or peaceful way to resolve the differences between nations. When this happens, war is imminent. It will be necessary to close down negotiations for a time when this happens, but it is imperative that you continue to find ways to re-open them. Without this, a war will continue until one nation (or both) is completely decimated. By continuing to attempt negotiations, you will show that you are above the barbaric process of war, and wish to settle things in a more civilized manner. This edge alone may be enough to end a conflict in your favor!

If you happen to be on the winning side of such an armed conflict, you will have tremendous lee-way in the negotiations. Most (if not all) of your demands will be met by the other nation, who will be attempting to leave the negotiating table with at least it's sovereignty intact. Remember to be firm but fair in your demands.

If you are on the bottom end of a conflict, you may be at the mercy of the victor. If you were fair in the treatment of prisoners, and attempted to end the conflict early through diplomatic means, you may be able to salvage some of your nation. Remember to try and work with what you have, and do your best for your nation and people.

CONCLUSION
While Foreign Affairs may seem like a simple task, it is very detailed and in-depth. You will need to study and practice your skills and methods constantly in order to better serve your people. In the end, remember that to succeed in diplomacy does not mean to always come out on top, but to find an acceptable resolution for all parties.