Do Diplomats Matter in Foreign Policy? Sir Percy Loraine and the Turkish-British Rapprochement in the 1930s. Issue 1 (29th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gülmez, Seçkin Bariş
• Is Part Of: Foreign policy analysis. Volume 15:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2017-09-29
• Subjects: International relations -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1093/fpa/orx006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-8586

Abstract

Abstract: This article scrutinizes the role of diplomats in foreign policy by focusing on the case of Sir Percy Loraine, British ambassador to Turkey (1934–1939). Accordingly, the article first introduces an agent-centered framework claiming that the ability of diplomats to make their mark on foreign policy is contingent upon how they fare in overcoming two types of dilemmas on diplomatic duty: the mandate dilemma and the allegiance dilemma. The article then discusses how Loraine overcame these dilemmas with a particular focus on his mediating role in the establishment of bilateral economic and political partnership. Overall, the article argues that diplomats can make a difference in the conduct of foreign policy by influencing not only the host government but their own government as well, provided that they find a balance between following orders and using own discretion and between their loyalty to the government they represent and responsibility to the receiving government.