JR.Childs wrote, “The foreign policy of a state is the substance of foreign relations, whereas diplomacy is a process by which policies carried out. “ Similarly, Sir Harold Nicholson wrote, “Foreign policy is based on a general conception of national requirements…. Diplomacy, on the other hand, it’s not an end but a mean, not a purpose but a method. It is the agency through which foreign policy seeks to attain its purpose by agreement rather than by war.” The crux of the whole debate is that diplomacy is the method and foreign policy is the substance, which is executed by the use of diplomatic technique.

1. The Linkage Between Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
Diplomacy is one of the tools of foreign policy.
Although the term diplomacy and foreign policy are used inter-changeably, the distinction
between them must be kept in mind. Diplomacy encompasses a “method or technique where
by states conduct their relationships with one another”. It is one of the way in which policies
are being implemented day-to-day, throughout the world.
JR.Childs wrote, “The foreign policy of a state is the substance of foreign relations, whereas
diplomacy is a process by which policies carried out. “ Similarly, Sir Harold Nicholson wrote,
“Foreign policy is based on a general conception of national requirements…. Diplomacy, on the
other hand, it’s not an end but a mean, not a purpose but a method. It is the agency through
which foreign policy seeks to attain its purpose by agreement rather than by war.”
The crux of the whole debate is that diplomacy is the method and foreign policy is the
substance, which is executed by the use of diplomatic technique.
A British diplomat once remarked, “Foreign policy is what you do and diplomacy is how you do
it”.
Diplomacy is the instrument through which foreign policy is implemented. Foreign policy is the
rule-making body while diplomacy is the rule application body. Foreign policy is a substance but
diplomacy is procedural.
Foreign policy consists of laid down strategies a country uses in relating with other country.
These strategies are geared towards achieving its national interest.
Hence, the idea behind foreign policy is, a nation seeks relations with other country in order to
improve the condition of living in its own country.
Now, for any nation to achieve this , you need certain skills and the most paramount of all is
Diplomacy.
Diplomacy is a tact used to come into agreement with another country.
A practical example of diplomacy is in the US - Russia relations, the two countries do not agree
ideologically, yet, they come into coalition through diplomatic bodies like UN and the likes.
Foreign policy in a nutshell is the process by which a State pursues its national interest in
relation to other States and on an International level while Diplomacy is the management of
International relations by negotiations. Diplomacy is also an instrument of foreign policy.

2. Foreign policy is the whole and Diplomacy is the expression of foreign policy, it a part of the
whole (Foreign policy). One of the tools which a State uses to pursue its national interest is
Diplomacy.
Difference in Lines:
1. The Head of State (or Government) is responsible for the formulation and conduct of foreign
policy. In this context, diplomacy is the instrument for implementing the foreign policy of the
State.
2. Foreign policy today is an expression of the complex organization that operates within each
State: the purpose and quality of its leaders, the level of its economy and social stability it has,
its social and political pluralism and it firmness in the expression of public opinion.
3. An important part of the international activities of States is support for the stability of
relations between nations. However, these activities are constantly modified. In this continually
developing, sometimes unpredictable environment, each government agrees to a series of
obligations to act and react, and these together now constitute a large extent of its foreign
policy
4. The foreign policy of countries is active, voluntary and reflexive at different periods. But that
policy is composed of a set of decisions and actions that are proposed to adapt the behavior of
the country to the needs or opportunities presented by the international environment.
5. Each State aims to act as freely as it can in terms of a discretionary assessment of the
motives and objectives of the actions of other States. A performance of one is answered by the
actions of others either by reconciliation or conflict of interest. However, they tend to adapt to
each other in a perpetual interaction in the dynamics of international politics.
6. A coherent foreign policy involves a body of doctrine which imposes a discipline on the wills,
orders and operations suited to a purpose consistent with enabling the peaceful coexistence of
nations.
7. As a clear consequence of having foregone “the myth of the state secret,” with which States
in the past escaped the public examination foreign policy, in the days these are analyzed
without limitation with regards to its foundations, aims and strategies.
8. The terms “foreign policy” and “international politics” are not synonymous. The latter refers
to the international policy processes of interaction between States, subject to international law,
to act according to their political interests that are controlled by their government bodies. In
contrast, the term foreign policy refers to the set of goals (or planned programs of activities)
agreed upon by decision-makers of a State with respect to the behavior of other States or
international bodies in order to achieve specific goals defined in terms national interests. It can
also include the set of strategies and techniques to make these goals possible.

3. 9. Foreign policy involves a dynamic process of implementation of interpretations of national
interests to the various developments in the international arena. In the dynamics of the global
situation, the foreign policy of a State also reflects the pattern of foreign relations of that State
with others. It is also reflected by State actors, notably the Head of State and the Foreign
Minister, whose actions and public statements impact on the international political situations.
10. The conduct of foreign policy must remain a full coordination so that all the planning and
subsequent activities remain within the broad structure of the pattern of national interest. It
must also be applied this way with all the essential principle of unity of action outside the State.