Missionary diplomacy

Missionary diplomacy is a foreign policy approach that involves the use of religious and moral principles to guide diplomatic relations and achieve foreign policy objectives.

One interesting example of missionary diplomacy was the role of missionaries in the opening of Japan to the West in the 1850s. After centuries of isolation, Japan was forced to open its ports to foreign trade and missionaries due to the threat of military action by American and European forces. The missionaries played an important role in establishing the trust of the Japanese people and in helping to create a more open society. In particular, the American missionary, Townsend Harris, was instrumental in negotiating the first commercial treaty between the USA and Japan, which provided for the opening of diplomatic and consular relations between the two countries. Harris was also a key figure in the creation of the first Christian schools in Japan, which helped to spread Western ideas and values and to build bridges between the two cultures.

Missionary diplomacy is often associated with the USA in the early 20th century, when American President Woodrow Wilson used it to promote democracy and Christian values in Latin America.

The use of Missionary Diplomacy is often controversial, as it can be perceived as imposing the values of one country on another. It has also been criticised for being ethnocentric and culturally insensitive.

However, advocates of missionary diplomacy argue that it is an important tool for promoting peace and stability in the world, and that it can help to foster understanding and cooperation among nations.

Overall, missionary diplomacy has played a significant role in shaping the history of international relations.