When Gestures Speak

 The Diplomacy of Silence: When Gestures Speak

A blog by Vakhtang Imerlishvili

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In the Arab world, diplomacy doesn’t begin with words — it begins with a gaze. How someone looks at you the first time, how they lower their head, how they place a hand on their heart. This is not mere etiquette — it is a language that requires no interpreter, yet those who cannot read it often miss everything.

Here, body movement is not just a gesture. It is a message that precedes the spoken word. When someone pauses, or moves a finger slightly, it may already be a reply. In this space, if you wish to engage diplomatically, you must be able to read the body — even when the lips remain silent.

This silence is not accidental. In Arab tradition, silence often speaks louder than words. Where spoken language may suddenly lose its weight, gesture and posture remain the most trusted form of expression.

Picture two individuals engaged in delicate negotiations. One speaks quickly, trying to persuade through words. The other watches silently — reading posture, the direction of a gaze, the rhythm of pauses. In the end, it is from this silence that the real answer emerges.

Arab diplomacy is the art of communicating beyond words. And if you cannot read what has not been said aloud — you are not yet ready to move within this culture.

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