Pathways to the Future: The New Diplomacy for Sustainable Development

International diplomacy can be slow, formal and seem far removed from development realities. But, international cooperation is also the pathway in the transition to a more sustainable future. Traditional forms of diplomacy, based on the pursuit of sovereign interests defined in narrow economic and power terms, are inappropriate as societies address the ecological, economic and social dimensions of global interdependence in a balanced way. New concepts, such as sustainable development, require the consideration of the needs of existing and future generations. These challenge profoundly the geographic and temporal boundaries underpinning the concept of sovereignty A new form of diplomacy has emerged over the last 20 years involving new concepts of interdependence and new actors, local communities, NGOs as well as countries, traditionally marginalised in international politics. Accordingly, international fora are highly diverse in their practices in part because new actors and individuals are playing an important role in effecting outcomes. (Original abstract)