Since ancient times, international relations have played an exceptional role in the life of both state and public entities and individuals. The history of diplomacy began at the moment when the first human society was formed on the planet. Since even neighboring tribes had to negotiate among themselves. Diplomacy as the dominant idea and the main quintessence of international relations took shape almost simultaneously with the emergence of the most ancient states.
Diplomacy of Ancient Egypt gave humanity the priceless and most famous monument of international relations, which for many centuries remained a model of foreign policy. Such is the agreement between Ramesses II and the Hittite king Hattushil III, dated 1278 BC. This agreement became the standard of international law for many ancient Eastern kingdoms, as well as for the states of the ancient world.
An indelible mark on the development of international relationsleft the history of Russian diplomacy. Due to the historical greatness of the State, as well as its special position in the structure of international relations and geopolitics, Russian diplomacy has had a major impact on the entire course of world history. In this regard, its fateful significance cannot be overestimated.
The author of the first Russian diplomatic strategy can rightly be called Alexander Nevsky, who did not offer armed resistance during the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol hordes. Since he was well aware that it was doomed to failure due to too much inequality of forces and the fragmentation of Kievan Rus into specific principalities.
Alexander Nevsky, with the wisdom of a far-sighted politician, chose the diplomatic path. He managed to enlist the support of the Horde Khan, which gave him the opportunity not only to maintain his princely power, but also to begin the unification of the Russian lands. This was the first of numerous subsequent Russian triumphs that the history of diplomacy has known.
True, the next brilliant victories had to wait long enough. And only the coming to power of Peter the Great marked a new era in the development of the Russian state. It was then that the history of diplomacy in Russia began another era. This ruler turned the country into a strong, economically developed Empire, with which all of Europe began to reckon. Then Russian diplomatic missions were opened in the leading countries of the world.
On the next, qualitatively new level of Russian historydiplomacy came out during the reign of Alexander the First. Russia, as the victorious country of Napoleon, acquired the status of the most influential European power, and our emperor took the position of a central and key figure in the negotiations on the arrangement of post-war Europe.
During the reign of Alexander II, the post of Foreign Minister belonged to His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov. The largest and most important achievements of Russian diplomacy are associated with his name. Through various transformations, he managed to subordinate the country's foreign policy to the interests of its internal development. This achievement is extremely difficult to overestimate. Thanks to this great diplomat, the Russian Empire regained its positions, which were lost as a result of the Crimean War. He was able to regain the former prestige and influence of the Power.
Largely thanks to the titanic work and skill of diplomats, Bolshevik Russia managed to survive and be recognized. The same applies to the events of the Second World War. In particular, in the most difficult and stressful time for the country, when the very fate of the Soviet state hung in the balance (1941-42), it was through the efforts of domestic diplomacy that we managed to avoid a treacherous stab in the back of Japan, a former ally of Nazi Germany and strongly pushed by it to war against the USSR.
Russia's current foreign policy is open, de-ideologized, pragmatic, flexible, multi-vector and balanced. The essence of this approach lies in the desire to build equal partnershipsrelations with both the West and the East. Russia does not seek to impose its will on other states, following the example of the United States, but, on the contrary, is trying to achieve peaceful and respectful diplomatic relations with all countries.
