Economic Diplomacy in Developing Countries: Diplomats’ Experiences and Perceptions
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Abstract
Economic diplomacy plays a crucial role in shaping the international relations of developing countries, yet the personal, emotional, and subjective experiences of diplomats in this field remain underexplored. While previous research has primarily focused on the strategic outcomes of economic diplomacy, little attention has been given to the lived experiences of diplomats from developing countries, particularly in terms of the challenges they face in negotiations. The gap in the literature is the lack of understanding of how diplomats perceive their roles and navigate complex global negotiations. In this study, we adopt a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of diplomats engaged in economic diplomacy, aiming to fill this gap. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 diplomats from developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America who had direct professional experience in economic diplomacy and international negotiation processes. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on their diplomatic roles, involvement in economic diplomacy activities, and experience representing national interests in bilateral or multilateral negotiations. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes related to their perceptions, challenges, and emotional experiences. To enhance trustworthiness, the study employed member checking, peer debriefing, and systematic coding procedures to ensure credibility, dependability, and consistency in the interpretation of the data. The results reveal that diplomats from developing countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges in global negotiations, including the struggle to overcome power imbalances and the burden of representing national interests. These findings offer valuable insights into the personal dimensions of economic diplomacy, enriching the broader understanding of international relations. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing the emotional and subjective experiences of diplomats in economic diplomacy studies, suggesting that future research should further explore these aspects. This research has important implications for how diplomatic training programs are developed, emphasizing the need to better prepare diplomats for the personal challenges they face in global negotiations.
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