Diplomats on the Frontlines: Knowing and Ordering in Crisis

What is it about?

How do field diplomats react to an evolving humanitarian crisis in their host country? Will they follow the protocol, rules and principles prescribed by international law on diplomatic relations, and remain objective observers of the unfolding situation on the ground? Data from field research on European Union diplomacy during the Euromaidan revolution from 2013/14 provide a more nuanced picture, demonstrating that field diplomats primarily acted within the bounds of international law principles, but developed an 'ethics of care' towards the host country's citizens, as they witnessed the protests on Maidan and attended to the needs of suffering protestors. Underlying this practical ‘ethics of care’ is a standard of excellence that is common among humanitarian workers so that it transcends and challenges the traditional diplomatic logic. This research provides rare insights into how field diplomats are confronted with conflicts among their multiple loyalties and manage the ethical conundrums arising from these. It also prompts further research into the changing relationship between diplomats and humanitarian workers in a world that is ever more characterised by international crises.

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