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An
ambassador is the highest ranking
diplomat representing a nation. He or she is
usually accredited to a
foreign
sovereign or
government, or to an
international
organization.
Sometimes countries also appoint highly respected individuals as
Ambassador at Large who are
assigned specific responsibilities, and they work to advise and
assist their governments in a given area. The word is also often
used more liberally for persons who are known, without national
appointment, to represent certain professions, activities and
fields of endeavor.
In everyday usage it usually applies to the ranking government
representative stationed in a foreign
capital. The host country typically
allows the ambassador control of specific territory called an
embassy, whose territory, staff, and even
vehicles are generally afforded
diplomatic immunity in the host
country.
The senior diplomatic officers among members of the
Commonwealth of Nations are known as
High Commissioner,
who are the heads of High Commissions. Representatives of the
Holy See are known as Papal or Apostolic
Nuncios (Smith,112).
The Rise of Modern Diplomacy
The Rise of the modern diplomatic system was a product of the
Italian Renaissance. The use of Ambassadors became a political
strategy in Italy during the 1400’s. The political changes in Italy
altered the role of Ambassadors in diplomatic affairs. Due to the
small nature of many states in Italy, these small political
entities were very vulnerable to larger states. The formation of
ambassadors was employed to disperse information and protection to
the more vulnerable states.
This practice then spread to Europe during the Italian Wars.The use
and creation of Ambassadors during the 1600’s in Italy have had
long term effects on Europe and in turn the worlds diplomatic and
political progression. Europe still uses the same terms of
ambassador rights as they had established in the 1600s, concerning
the rights of the ambassadors in host countries as well as the
proper diplomatic procedures. An ambassador was used as a
representative of the state in which he is from to negotiate and
disseminate information in order to keep peace and establish
relationships with other states. This attempt was employed in the
effort to maintain peaceful relations with nations and make
alliances during difficult times.
The emergence of Ambassadors is a pivotal point in the emergence of
modern politics. It is with the use of Ambassadors that we now see
the political interest of the state override any other interest,
specifically that of the Church. The use of Ambassadors today is
widespread. We use diplomatic representatives to deal with a host
of problems that occur within our international system Ambassadors
now normally live overseas or within the country in which it is
assigned to for long periods of time so that they are acquainted
with the culture and local people. This way they are more
politically effective and trusted, enabling them to accomplish
goals that their host country desires.
Resident Coordinators of UN system are accredited to the Head of
State and have the same rank.
Historically, officials representing their countries abroad were
termed
ministers, but this term was also applied to
diplomats of the second rank. The
Congress of Vienna of 1815 formalized the
system of
diplomatic rank under
international law:
Ambassadors are ministers of the highest rank, with
plenipotentiary authority to represent their
head of state. In modern usage, most Ambassadors on foreign
postings as
head of mission carry
the full title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
"Ordinary" Ambassadors and non-plenipotentiary status are rarely
used, although they may be encountered in certain circumstances.
The only difference between an extraordinary ambassador and an
ordinary ambassador is that while the former's mission is
permanent, the latter serves only for a specific purpose.
Ambassador at Large
Ambassador-at-Large is a Diplomat of the Highest rank and/ or a
Minister who is accredited to represent his country. But unlike the
Resident Ambassador (who is usually limited to a country)and/or
embassy, the Ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several
usually neighbouring countries, a Region or sometimes a seat of
international organizations like the United Nations/ European
Union. In some cases an Ambassador at Large may even be
specifically assigned a role to Advise and Assist the State or
Government in particular issues. Historically, Presidents or Prime
Ministers have designated special diplomatic envoys for specific
assignments, primarily overseas but sometimes also within the
country as Ambassadors-at-Large.
Among
European powers, the
ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary (French
ambassadeur
extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire or German
außerordentlicher und bevollmächtigter Botschafter) was
historically deemed the personal representative of the Sovereign,
and the custom of dispatching ambassadors to the head of state
rather than the government has persisted.
For example,
ambassadors to and from the United Kingdom
are accredited to or from the Royal Court of St. James's (referring to
St. James's
Palace
).
Because 17 members of the
Commonwealth of Nations have or had
a common head of state, they do not exchange ambassadors, but
instead have
High Commissioners
which represent the government, rather than the head of state. In
diplomatic usage, High Commissioner is considered an equivalent
rank and role to an Ambassador.
Ranking below full ambassador are the rank of
Envoy,
Minister resident and
Chargé d'affaires. They
represent their government rather than their head of state. For
further details, see
diplomatic
rank.
While the title generally reflects the Ambassador's second head
position as head of a diplomatic mission, in some countries the
term may also represent a rank held by career diplomats, as a
matter of internal promotion, regardless of the posting, and in
many national careers it is quite common for them to be appointed
to other functions, especially within the ministry/ministries in
charge of foreign affairs, in some countries in systematic
alternation with actual postings.
The formal form of address for an ambassador is generally the form
that would be used to address a head of state: "(Your/His/Her)
Excellency" followed by name and/or the
country represented. In many countries, less formal variations are
frequently used, such as "Ambassador" followed by name, or the name
followed by "Ambassador of...". In the United States, "Mr.
Ambassador" may be used.
In some countries, a former Ambassador may continue to be styled
and addressed as Ambassador throughout his or her life (in the
United States, "Mr. Ambassador" or "Madam Ambassador" for females
may be heard). In other countries, Ambassador is a title that
accrues to the individual only with respect to a specific position,
and may not be used after leaving the position. Some countries do
not use the term while an Ambassador is in the home country, as the
individual is not an Ambassador there; for example, a Canadian
Ambassador while in Canada is not generally addressed as
Ambassador, although he or she may be referred to as "Canadian
Ambassador to ...", that is, with reference to a specific job
function; they are never addressed or styled as Ambassador after
leaving a position or retiring.
Lists of ambassadors
Non-diplomatic ambassadorships
In a less formal sense, the word is used for high-profile
non-diplomatic representative of various entities (rarely states),
mainly cultural and charitable organisations, often as willing
figure heads to attract media attention, e.g. film and pop stars
make appeals to the public at large for UNESCO activities (see
UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassadors), sometimes during press-swarmed visits in the
field.
In French
speaking regions such as France, Wallonia
or Quebec,
the title of ambassadeur person.
See also
References
Bibliography
Rana, K.(2004)."The 21st Century Ambassador: Plenipotentiary to
Chief Executive"
DiploFoundation ISBN 99909-55-18-2
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