Some consider economic and commercial diplomacy to be a fairly recent addition to the work of professional diplomats, who previously tended to concentrate almost exclusively on political tasks. Such diplomacy employs economic resources, either as rewards or sanctions, in pursuit of particular foreign policy objectives. This is sometimes called "economic statecraft"[1].
Commercial work, like other functional sectors, consular or cultural, was traditionally viewed with disdain, and represented a secondary career track for high-flying diplomats. However, in a globalised and interconnected world, economic and commercial diplomacy has gained added currency and led to persistent calls for “less geopolitics, more economics and commerce”
Turkey’s quest for EU membership will become more realistic, imminent and less threatening if a pro-active economic diplomacy could be pursued, as complementary to the traditional emphasis on the country’s geostrategic importance and bridging role between Islam and the West.
The International Monetary Fund's Influence on Trade Policies of Low-income Countries:A Valid Undertaking?
Raymond Saner & Ricardo Guilherme; Journal of World Trade 41(5): 931±981, 2007; # 2007 Kluwer Law International. Printed in The Netherlands.
This article explores the involvement of the IMF in influencing the setting of trade policy and tariff regimes of low-income countries, in the specific context of the HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) initiative and the related PRGF (Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility) lending mechanism.
IMF Conditionalities For The Least Developed Countries
Raymond Saner & Ricardo Guilherme; G-24 Policy Brief No. 19, 2014
This policy brief argues that, all too often, the Fund’s use of “conditionalities” for lending has stepped beyond its core legal mandate, particularly causing harm to the least developed countries’ economic development, for example by dictating their trade policies.
Saner, R.; Worlds Apart? Exploring the Interface between Governance and Diplomacy. Business–Government-NGO relations: their impact on global economic governance: A case example from WTO negotiations on trade in educational services. Working Paper. CIGI/Loughborough University, Wilton Park, 23-25 June 2006.
Saner, R. & Hauser, C. 2004. Comment fonctionnent les négociations AGCS? La Vie économique, 6: 20-24.