There are, essentially, two prevailing approaches to diplomacy in the world today: the more traditional one that sees diplomacy as a tool for the preservation of short-term national self-interest(s) and a simpler - and more idealistic one, which contends that diplomacy should contribute to international problem solving.

Of course, diplomacy needs to protect and promote the national interest, but it needs to adopt a long-term and holistic perspective for that. Selective or "realpolitik" approaches to individual and collective threats like human rights violations and abuses, environmental degradation, corruption, transnational organised crime, exclusionary dynamics (racism, sexism, all forms of discrimination, including against certain religious or ethnic groups, homo- and transphobia, income inequality, ageism, etc.) are not only morally wrong, they area also profoundly counter-productive, as they will rightly be understood as hypocritical.

The challenges of the 21st century, ranging from conflict, fragility, corruption and organised violence, climate change, resource scarcity, demographical challenges, all the way to little-understood but potentially existential threats require holistic collective action, by nation-states, international organisations, civil society movements and committed individuals. The goals and targets contained in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development are a good start - at least for the next 15 years.

These are personal views, not necessarily shared by my employer.

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