Diplomacy and Self

The present article analyses the phenomenon of self in diplomacy. The diplomatic self is considered as a holistic conglomerate of individual and state selfhoods. Diplomats, as human individuals, have a strong attachment to the state as a distinctive personhood. The state identity becomes part of the personal identity of diplomats. As a result, any external treatment of the home state affects diplomats' individual selfhood. At the same time, such self-related phenomena as the self-concept, self-perception, self-esteem, self-illusion, self-enhancement, self-deception, and self-presentation of diplomats have a reverse effect on the selfhood of the sending state and the image of the home state in the process of diplomatic representation. The author argues that the selves of diplomats play a significant role in the policy of prestige, diplomatic negotiations, presentation of the state, personal wellbeing and stresses and neuroses among diplomats. “Know thyself” Inscription on the temple of Apolla at Delphi “L'Etat, c'est moi!” Louis XIV