Diplomatic Theory of International Relations

by Paul Sharp

Diplomacy does not take place simply between states but wherever people live in different groups. Paul Sharp argues that the demand for diplomacy, and the need for the insights of diplomatic theory, are on the rise. In contrast to conventional texts which use international relations theories to make sense of what diplomacy and diplomats do, this book explores what diplomacy and diplomats can contribute to the big theoretical and practical debates in international relations today. Sharp identifies a diplomatic tradition of international thought premised on the way people live in groups, the differences between intra- and inter-group relations, and the perspectives which those who handle inter-group relations develop about the sorts of international disputes which occur. He argues that the lessons of diplomacy are that we should be reluctant to judge, ready to appease, and alert to the partial grounds on which most universal claims about human beings are made.

Genres: International Relations, Politics, Political Science

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

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.

Reviews

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 5 out of 5]

En lärd bok. Dess ämne är diplomatik och diplomatikens relation till internationella relationer, både som forskningsfält och praktik.

Den glider över många olika ämnen - allt ifrån hur man separerar diplomatens officiella och inofficiella roller, till diplomatins sociologiska roll, till diplomatin i relation till staters agendor och till skapandet eller förändrandet av kriser. Särskilt intressant är styckena om diplomaten som aktör i realismen, där diplomaten förefaller som en sentida Buckingham- eller Olivaresfigur; samma beteenden och styrkemönster påpekas explicit, vilket ger ett dubbelt arv för diplomaten; både härolds- och nuctio-figuren, och hovfavoriten. Med dessa glasögon ser jag mer av diplomaternas makt än jag gjorde innan.

Jag rekommenderar denna för alla som är intresserade av IR.