Diplomatic Theory of International Relations (Cambridge Studies in International Relations, Series Number 111)

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. 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