Diplomacy in the 21st Century: A Brief Introduction

by Paul Sharp

This book provides an introduction to the theory and practice of diplomacy and its vital role in an era of increasing international uncertainty.

The work employs a distinctive diplomatic perspective on international relations and argues that the experience of conducting diplomacy gives rise to a set of first, the peaceful resolution of disputes; second, the avoidance of unwanted conflict; and, third, the minimization of the intensity of violent conflict where it has become unavoidable. It argues that changes in the international system require a shift in priorities from the diplomacy of problem-solving by building institutionalized cooperation, to the diplomacy of managing relationships between people. Divided into three sections, the first examines what is meant when we talk about diplomacy, why we need diplomats, and the operations of the modern diplomatic system of states. The second discusses the three bads, about which people generally bad leaders, bad media, and bad followers. The idea of bad is considered in terms of the moral character, professional competence, and the consequences of what people do for us. The final section discusses diplomacy and bad diplomats, reviewing what people can do to help themselves and the professionals be good diplomats.

This book is intended as a primary text for courses in international diplomacy and as a supplementary text for courses on contemporary issues in international relations.

140 pages, ebook

Published May 2, 2019

About the author

Paul Sharp is Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He recently co-authored Futures for Diplomacy, a report for the Finnish Government undertaken by the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael, and is co-editor for the journal, Hague Journal of Diplomacy.