The word diplomacy is often used to refer to the practice of political and international relations. Generally speaking, diplomacy is a set of tactics and tools that countries use to solve problems and achieve objectives. The goal of diplomatic efforts is usually to avoid war. However, when peace is impossible or impractical, diplomats work to ensure that the consequences of a conflict are as benign as possible.
A successful diplomatic effort requires many different skills, but a few key qualities stand out. First, a sense of timing: the ability to recognize when a moment arrives and seize it, as George H.W. Bush and Jim Baker did after the fall of the Berlin Wall; the courage to break with established patterns, as Anwar Sadat and Mitchell did in Northern Ireland; or the conviction that a peaceful solution is more desirable than the consequences of a military one (Kissinger on China). It also means patience and perseverance in long, complex, multi-issue, multiparty negotiations.
Lastly, the success of diplomatic activities depends on the people who engage in them. The best diplomats are typically well-rounded individuals, and their relationships are important in the process of a diplomatic breakthrough. This is particularly true in multilateral negotiations, where the parties often enlist outside mediators to help them reach an agreement. For example, the United Nations and Martti Ahtisaari both played a vital role in helping Namibia gain independence from South Africa in 1990. The sanctity of the diplomat is an essential part of this practice, and this is reflected in the concept of diplomatic immunity that was established at the Congress of Vienna.