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[Abstract] The breakthrough in communication between Iran, the United States and other Western countries in 2013 was done through underground and back channel diplomacy. This kind of diplomatic relation illustrates how important diplomatic communications are in the international arena. Without diplomacy there is no communication and without communication there is no diplomacy. Diplomacy and communication work together in both friendly and hostile nations. Iran and the Unites States have not been communicating publicly since 1980, yet back channel communication continued. This article ties Ed Paulson research in Beyond Chat, directly into media richness and the importance of communication. Research in media richness helps individuals, organizations, the international community, and more, choose the best communication media to use for any form of communication.
[Keywords] Communication, diplomacy, diplomat, government, communication media, negotiation
'Our ability to communicate is arguably the most important and unique of human traits' (Paulson, 2012. p. 1). Communication in various institutions, technology, law, law enforcement, education, the international community, and many more institutions and organizations are critical to their functioning, Paulson notes that 'without effective communication, the organizational likelihood of success and future sustainability [would be] seriously hampered' (Paulson, 2013). In this article, communication in the International community between unfriendly states will be focused on. This type of communication within the International arena is known as diplomatic communication. Diplomatic problems between hostile states can be complicated and difficult to solve without communication. When diplomats are communicating, who are they communicating to and are their messages clear enough for a desired outcome? This essay will attempt to evaluate diplomatic communication with Ed Paulson's communications research model from Beyond Chat dealing with media richness. Even though Paulson's examples are more business related, they can also be applied to diplomacy. When a person transmits information, they communicate with an audience. If there is no audience then there would be no need for communication. In the field of diplomacy, there is always need for this transmission. That is what diplomacy is all about, communication between: heads of states, diplomats and diplomatic missions in different countries. When we communicate, 'we [do so] with someone or a group of someone's to achieve an outcome of some type' (Paulson, 2012, p. 5). Diplomatic communication can be complicated when two...