Instrumentalistic approach to diplomatic protocol development

This paper presents an analysis of the development of diplomatic protocol with an instrumentalistic approach, considering protocol as an instrument which performs clearly defined functions. Diplomatic protocol as an instrument has undergone changes determined by the transformations in the development of its functions. Then these functions have also changed together with the essential changes that occurred in their milieu in certain periods of time. In monarchical e urope, diplomatic protocol performed three functions: power keeping, elite definition and uncertainty reduction. In the modern times, diplomatic protocol has maintained the latter two and lost its power- keeping function, but it acquired two other functions serving as a guarantor of effective communication, behavior flexibility and maneuvering freedom. At present, diplomatic protocol no longer serves the purpose of defining the elite but has rather become a tool to express mutual respect and acknowledgment. Two of the former functions do not show obvious changes, whereas some transformation can be perceived regarding effective communication. Tthe scope of the essential common denominator diminishes, giving way to postmodernist variety of signalling/message forms and interpretations, thus creating a gap for the re-appearance of uncertainty. Diplomatic protocol as an instrument adjusts to the transforming conditions of the environment by changing the functions it performs. Subsequently, the changes that occurred in the milieu where diplomatic protocol performs its functions demand that the instrument itself be adjusted in order to perform new or transformed functions as appropriate. The development of diplomatic protocol as hereby presented determines its simplification and increased flexibility as an instrument