It's our military and economic power, it's our diplomatic influence.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Monica Crowley, Mightier Pen 2012

George Clooney and other actors and athletes have just returned from a diplomatic mission to countries with influence over Sudan.

NPR: Stars Come Out for Darfur Refugees

For its part Syria is striving to obtain international recognition for Hamas in the hope that it would grant Damascus a position of influence in any future diplomatic process thanks to its close relationship with the Palestinian group.

BBC: Smugglers' alley key to Gaza conflict

The argument is hard to disprove, or to disentangle from other factors, most notably a broad loss of influence for Europe and Mr Sarkozy's mercurial diplomatic style.

ECONOMIST: France's foreign-policy woes

During the Cold War individual African countries were important global diplomatic players, courted by both east and west eager to expand their spheres of influence.

BBC: Q&A: African Union

Although Britain is normally seen as an awkward customer in EU affairs, resisting deeper political integration, it has traditionally been rather open to European countries pooling their diplomatic and military clout on a case-by-case basis, to gain global influence.

ECONOMIST: The EU presidency

Over the past 32 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the China-U.S. relationship has grown into one with strategic significance and global influence.

WHITEHOUSE: China State Visit Arrival Ceremony