Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/yvjrdcvnqy
Diplomatic emotions – an example of late medieval Dubrovnik
Valentina Šoštarić
orcid.org/0000-0002-3027-4104
; University of Zadar, Department of History, Zadar, Croatia
Abstract
The analysis of specific emotions, as the result of a cognitive process with the aim of achieving pragmatic goals, as well as the mechanisms, strategies, and manipulations behind their deliberate use in diplomatic discourse revealed that the socio-cultural, institutional, and relational context in which the negotiations are conducted had a significant impact on emotional expression. To achieve the intended foreign policy goals, it was necessary to combine logical reasoning and emotional tact depending on the circumstances, which required the city councillors and their representatives in foreign courts to demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence. The shaping and expression of diplomatic emotions were influenced by the medieval system of power relations, dominant culture, gender, origin, religion, the space in which negotiations took place, and ritual, particularly gift giving, consequently shaping (un)friendly relations in the political arena that structured and constructed the socio-political reality of the time. We can conclude that the use of emotions in the Ragusan diplomatic narrative reveals the existence of elaborate strategies, as well as attempts at manipulating, recognizing, and controlling one’s own and other people’s emotions, all of which proved to be very important in the process of diplomatic negotiations and the realization of vital foreign policy goals. The link between emotions and high politics was therefore exposed, which is merely the first step towards new research questions, fresh analyses, and conclusions.
Keywords
Dubrovnik; diplomacy emotions; late Middle Ages
Hrčak ID:
312804
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2023.
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