diplomacy

big stick diplomacy

In politics, a policy of attempting peaceful negotiations while also being prepared for confrontation by displaying one's power, especially military force. Associated with US President Theodore Roosevelt, who put these principles into practice and popularized the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick." The big stick diplomacy that Roosevelt used in foreign affairs relied heavily on the military forces he had at his disposal.

See also: big, diplomacy, stick

gunboat diplomacy

Diplomacy that uses the threat of military action as a way to ensure the desired outcome. If that country's president continues to defy the terms of the treaty, we'll have to resort to gunboat diplomacy.

See also: diplomacy, gunboat

ping-pong diplomacy

A term applied to the start of improved relations between the US and the People's Republic of China in the early 1970s, so named because of the US Table Tennis team's acceptance of an invitation to visit China. (Relations between the US and China had been strained since Communist leader Mao Zedong's rise to power in 1949.) Silly though it may sound now, ping-pong diplomacy really had a big role in precipitating President Nixon's landmark visit to China in 1972.

See also: diplomacy

shuttle diplomacy

An act, instance, or practice of carrying out discussions or negotiations between two parties who refuse to communicate with one another directly. The ambassador has been on a mission of shuttle diplomacy, trying to broker a peace deal between the two warring nations.

See also: diplomacy, shuttle

telephone diplomacy

Of a president or person with similar power, to use phone calls as a means of having diplomatic conversations with key political figures from other countries. Telephone diplomacy has made it much more feasible for important political figures in other countries to work together. I think that some telephone diplomacy with the Taoiseach could allow you two to reach an amicable position on this issue.

See also: diplomacy, telephone

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.