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.
Author(s): Paul Sharp
Series: Cambridge Studies in International Relations
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 351
City: Cambridge
Half-title
Series-title
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Theory and international relations
Outline of the argument
Part I Traditions of international thought and the disappointments of diplomacy
1 Diplomacy and diplomats in the radical tradition
Diplomacy and diplomats as the enemy
The radical tradition, revolutionary diplomacy and the problems of accommodation and co-option
The radical tradition, revolutionary diplomacy and the idea of subversion
The radical tradition and diplomats as revolutionaries
2 Diplomacy and diplomats in the rational tradition
The rational tradition and the growth of reason and reasonableness
Civilizing diplomats and rational cooperation
Civilizing diplomats and international societies of reasonableness
Civilizing diplomats, world society and individual freedom
Diplomatic irrationality and unreasonableness
3 Diplomacy and diplomats in the realist tradition
Diplomacy in systemic and statist conceptions of power politics
Diplomats in individual-based accounts of power politics
Personal power and diplomats' symbolic role
Personal power and diplomats' interactions with colleagues
Personal power and diplomats' roles as advisors to their sovereigns
The disappointments of diplomacy
Part II Elements of a diplomatic tradition of international thought
4 The diplomatic tradition: Conditions and relations of separateness
Diplomacy as mediation
Human relations as diplomacy
Diplomacy’s own terms I: conditions of separateness
Diplomacy’s own terms II: relations of separateness
Practical and moral problems regarding relations of separateness
Relations of separateness from within the diplomatic tradition
5 The diplomatic tradition: Diplomacy; diplomats and international relations
The emergence of diplomacy within the diplomatic tradition
The emergence of diplomats in the diplomatic tradition
Why diplomacy gives rise to diplomats I: the subjective articulation of diplomats as strangers
Why diplomacy gives rise to diplomats II: the objective articulation of diplomats between worlds
Diplomats and diplomatic understandings of international systems, societies and communities
Part III Diplomatic understanding and international societies
6 Using the international society idea
International systems, societies and communities
Mapping international societies
The dangers and difficulties revealed by mapping international societies
7 Integration-disintegration
Integration-disintegration and encounter relations
Integration-disintegration and discovery relations
Integration-disintegration and re-encounter relations
Disintegration of international societies
Integration, disintegration and separateness
8 Expansion-contraction
Expansion-contraction and encounter relations
Expansion-contraction and discovery relations
European expansion and diplomacy
Expansion-contraction and re-encounter relations
Re-encounter relations and vertical diplomacy
From la raison de système to la raison des systèmes
9 Concentration–diffusion
Concentration-diffusion and encounter relations
Concentration-diffusion and discovery relations
Diplomats and the discovery of shifts in the distribution of power
Concentration-diffusion and re-encounter relations
Political power, diplomatic talk and other people's problems
Part IV Thinking diplomatically about international issues
10 Rogue state diplomacy
History, International Relations and the idea of rogue states
Diplomats, civility and the identification of rogue states
How do rogue states exist for diplomats and diplomacy?
How is rogue state diplomacy to be conducted?
Governments and diplomats
Talking for talk's sake
Rogue state diplomacy as a holding operation
11 Greedy company diplomacy
International economic issues as diplomatic issues
Economic actors as diplomatic actors
Mixed societies and the diplomacy of less greedy companies
12 Crazy religion diplomacy
Westphalia, modern diplomatic thinking and the problem of religion
Religion, religions and crazy religion
Encounters and discoveries between faith-based powers: the diplomatic thinking of early Islam
Beyond discovery to re-encounters: the difficulties of diplomacy between faith-based powers
From "boxing and taming" to "exile and promotion"
13 Dumb public diplomacy
Modern diplomacy and the traditionalist critique of public diplomacy
Problems with the traditionalist critique
Diplomatic thinking and public diplomacy
The failures of public diplomacy
Diplomatic thinking and commercial public diplomacy
Diplomatic thinking and public diplomacy with the Muslim world
Diplomatic thinking and improving public diplomacy
Becoming diplomatic
Conclusion
Diplomatic theory and the balance of virtue and right
Diplomatic theory and appeasement
Diplomatic theory and human solidarity
Bibliography
Index
