Sustainable Diplomacy and Oikoumene

 Dr. ASLI VAROL

Diplomacy basically refers to the process of formal communication and negotiation between states. However, in formal relations between states, various groups in society such as religious communities cannot make their voices heard. Sustainable diplomacy exists to enable different groups to interact with the global community by participating in the diplomacy process.                     

Sustainable diplomacy was conceptualized by David Wellman. Sustainable diplomacy aims to enable religious communities to play an active role in foreign policy and diplomacy by bringing an ecological realism-centered perspective to religious communities. Wellman suggests using a new language in diplomacy alongside the state language. In addition, sustainable diplomacy expresses an “ecumenical” worldview by transcending the nation-state borders (Wellman, 2004). 

With the developments in information and communication technology, it is possible to create a world state where borders are eliminated, differences are accepted with tolerance, conflicts come to an end and ecological sensitivity is taken into account. So, Oikoumene can be a world that can actually be lived in. In recent years, especially the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that all people may have to deal with the same problems at the same time and struggle together to survive. The COVID-19 pandemic, which first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan, soon caused all people on our planet to unite around the same goal.  

The emergence of sustainable diplomacy dates back to the 20th century and its conceptualization to the 21st century. However, it is seen that there are practices in the sense of sustainable diplomacy in Byzantine diplomacy. The Byzantine Empire benefited from the power of religious propaganda and religious conversion to ensure the sustainability of its diplomatic relations. In this situation, it is seen that the religion factor was an effective means of persuasion in the imperial communication (Varol, 2021: 94). 

Wellman states in his book titled “Sustainable Diplomacy: Ecology, Religion and Ethics in Muslim-Christian Relations” that he deals with sustainable diplomacy in the context of examining the modern political relationship between Spain and Morocco (Wellman, 2004). This relationship has built bridges between political, religious, economic, racial, ecological and cultural differences. Therefore, Wellman states that the practice of sustainable diplomacy requires dialogue with multiple stakeholders. Because the work of negotiation, relationship building and conflict resolution through sustainable diplomacy should lead to many voices being heard (Wellman, 2010: 25). 

Sustainable diplomacy work should deal with both the oikos policy of its own country and the oikoumene, that is, the whole world. The actors who should be tasked with community building across transnational borders are members of and are shaped by both communities (Wellman, 2010: 41). 

The globalization of trade will require the circulation of the global currency in the near future.  Today’s cryptocurrency (virtual currency) can function as the currency of Oikoumene. In the future, national currencies will be replaced by a global currency. In fact, although the global currency seems new for today, the solidus of the Byzantine Empire became the first global currency by circulating in various states and regions around the world. 

Gregory states that the Byzantine gold coin solidus, or nomisma, which circulated beyond the borders of the Empire, was described as the "medieval" dollar. Solidus has not lost anything of its value for about 700 years. It is even known that the Arabian Caliphate used Byzantine money, called the bezant, instead of minting gold coins. Gregory also states that the solidus was also widely used in Europe and was respected by the kings of Northern Europe as a sign of their wealth and power (Gregory, 2020: 246). 

It is seen that national measures are insufficient in managing current global issues. Therefore, it is now necessary to provide global cooperation and take measures on a global scale. In this context, individuals should go beyond the boundaries of the oikos and participate in activities as members of the oikoumene.

 

  

References

 

Gregory, Timothy E.: Bizans Tarihi, Translation: Esra Ermert, Yapı Kredi, Istanbul, 2020.

 

Varol, Aslı: Bizans Diplomasisi: İmparatorluk İletişimi ve Stratejiler, Cinius, Istanbul, 2021.

 

Wellman, David Joseph: Sustainable Diplomacy: Ecology, Religion and Ethics in Muslim-Christian Relations, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2004.

 

Wellman, David Joseph: “The Promise of Sustainable Diplomacy: Refining the Praxis of Ecological Realism”, Sustainable Diplomacies, Ed. Costas M. Constantinou, James Der Derian, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2010, 25-45.