“control Yourself, Sir!”: a Call for Research into Emotion Cultures in Diplomacy

This brief essay a call for further research rather than a summary of existing findings speculates on the existence of an area of potential misunderstanding, yet also of potential solidarity, among diplomats: that of emotion culture. All diplomats know that different cultures have different triggers for emotion (e.g., what would be taken as a joke in one culture is heard as an insult in another), as well as different rules governing the expression of emotion (one has but to compare the scene at funerals around the globe).2 Sensitivity to these cultural differences is indeed a key attribute of a good diplomat, whose job so often involves maintaining a cordial atmosphere or defusing an already tense situation. However, here it is argued that diplomats may, in fact, face a further challenge that of deciphering the emotion culture of the international practice of diplomacy itself. This essay first examines and seeks to explode the notion that diplomats are, or should be, immune to emotion in the conduct of their duties. Second, it discusses the concept of emotion cultures cultural rules governing the experience and expression of emotion. Third, it suggests the possibility that modern diplomacy, perhaps a distinctive culture in itself, encourages the socialisation of diplomats into a distinctive, ostensibly global diplomatic emotion culture. Last, it suggests a number of research questions.