démarche

Démarche is a French noun with two related but distinct senses. In its broad sense, it refers to an approach, method, or sequence of actions undertaken to achieve a goal. In diplomatic usage, it denotes a formal démarche: an official communication from one government to another, typically conveyed through an embassy or foreign ministry that presents a policy position, concern, or request for action. A démarche in this sense is usually formal, may be oral or written, and is part of the conduct of international relations.

Etymology and usage notes: the term comes from the French demarche, formed from marcher, “to walk,” originally lending the sense of “a step” or “a way of going about something.” In English, démarché is borrowed as a loanword and is most commonly encountered in diplomacy, though it also appears in more general discussions of method or approach.

Diplomatic usage: in diplomacy, a démarche is a formal, though often not publicly disclosed, presentation made by one government to another to express policy, protest a measure, or request action. It is a professional, procedural step in international negotiation, distinct from a public statement, treaty, or note verbale.

Non-diplomatic usage: outside diplomacy, démarché can describe an overall approach or strategy to a problem, such as a new corporate démarche toward ethical governance or a reform démarche in public administration. The word emphasizes the procedural nature of the method and the sequence of steps involved rather than a single action.

See also: diplomacy, policy approach, efficiency of operations.