Naga Diplomacy

For the past several decades, the use of Naga diplomacy in both internal and external modern politics has been disappointing; and its role undermined. And this has only encouraged the use of force and violence as a means for resolution; which is a contradiction. As of now, Naga diplomacy has become rigid and ineffective, almost to the point of irrelevancy. The failure to develop and modernize Naga diplomacy has only inaccurately strengthened the rationale that violence works. This is part of the reason why violence has so often been wrongly perceived and interpreted as an effective way of asserting and maintaining one’s positions. This in turn has been counter productive and has only further weakened the role of Naga diplomacy in the area of peacemaking.
The lack of intent to develop an effective and relevant Naga diplomacy has proven costly for the Nagas, and differences which could have otherwise been resolved through diplomatic and non-violent means have become acutely polarized with the potential to turn violent and harmful. The absence of diplomacy would also indicate the lack of safety nets that enables in preventing situations to turn violent. An honest look at the Naga situation quite clearly indicates that the unfolding internal crisis within the Nagas and with others could have been better addressed, if only there was Naga diplomacy in place to effectively intervene in times of crisis.
Notwithstanding the absence of a diplomatic paradigm in the Naga context, the urgency to recover and develop an art of Naga diplomacy cannot be ignored any longer. The use of diplomacy is not just to resolve situations; it has become a means of communicating with the broader community. In the fast developing world of modern polity, the usage of diplomacy is at the forefront of global affairs; and it is imperative for nations to develop their own art and principles of diplomacy to protect and further their interest. It is hard to imagine how Nagas can effectively interact and foster political relations with the nations of the world unless and until Nagas develop its own art of diplomacy in protecting and furthering its rights and interests.             
The Naga society at large, and particularly the civil society must ponder and reflect on the development of diplomacy as a means of reaching out both within and without. By thinking outside-the-box, the use of diplomacy as a representation of the Naga worldview and aspirations must be acknowledged. While it is true that this may have its own limitation, it must be asserted that an enlarged understanding and use of diplomacy can enable and empower the Nagas towards a dynamic praxis of action and reflection.