Soft Power of Defence Diplomacy: A New Approach ... - ISIS Malaysia

6policy. It encompasses a wide range of activities that in the past described as militarycooperation or military assistance. It is also possible to distinguish between two typesof defence diplomacy, old and new. 14Old defence diplomacy is based on realpolitik which emphasized balance of powerpolitics and the pursuit of narrowly-defined national interests. States engaged indefence cooperation with, and provided military assistance to counterbalance or deterenemies, maintain sphere of influence, support friendly regimes in suppressingdomestic opponents or promote commercial interests (such as arms sales or generaltrade relations). Meanwhile, new defence diplomacy give emphasis on engagementwith potential enemies, support for democracy, good governance and human rights,and enabling states to deal with their own security problems. 15New defence diplomacy, the military branch of public diplomacy emerged from theunderstanding regarding the increasing convergence of military and non-militaryforms of strategic communications expressed through public diplomacy. Thisconvergence is based on a greater appreciation of the benefits of two-way dialogic,persuasive and collaborative forms of communications to address the roots ofcontemporary conflicts which will lessen the need for the frequently counterproductiveuse of physical force through armed intervention or psychological forcethrough psychological operations. It recognized that hard power ends can be realizedthrough soft power means. 16Dialogue may or may not lead to change in foreign policy, but at the very least it willhelp to lessen conflicts by allowing each side to have a better understanding of theother’s position. Examples of such dialogues are formal summits, professionalconferences, interactive websites, and international sports, cinemas and arts projects.Collaboration includes concrete goals and outcomes on which to build lastingrelationships. At the core of a collaborative approach is the creation of social trust, thefostering of norms of reciprocity and the accumulation of goodwill that is invaluableduring times of crisis. 17Defence diplomacy activities could be performed in a way that strengthen securityand development imperatives, privileges one at the expense of the other, or evenweakens both. It all depends on a combination of strategy, policy, leadership, andimplementation. 18Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) shaping operations “Phase Zero” activitiesunder non-emergency circumstances is where the military perform short termdevelopment projects designed to directly improve the lives of indigenous citizens.14 Cottey, Andrew, Anthony Forster, Reshaping Defence Diplomacy: New Roles for MilitaryCooperation and Assistance, Adelphi Series, Vol. 44, No. 365, 2004.15 Ibid.16 Copeland, Daryl, Evan H. Potter, Public Diplomacy in Conflict Zones: Military InformationOperations Meet Political Counter-Insurgency, Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Vol. 3, No.3, October2008, pp. 283-284, 287.17 Ibid, p. 284.18 Brigety II, Reuben E., Humanity as a Weapon of War: Sustainable Security and the Role of the USMilitary, Sustainable Security Series Paper. Center for American Progress, 2008.