Old Diplomacy Revisited: A Study in the Modern History of Diplomatic Transformations A Study in the Modern History of Diplomatic Transformations

What is really new about the New Diplomacy? The conditions, methods, language, techniques and technologies may appear new and some are; yet the goals of diplomacy are roughly the same as they have always been, and always will be so long as there are disparate states and societies in the world: to serve the sovereign interest and to preserve peace by wise and diligent reporting, representation and mediation across borders. How diplomats have adapted to change, and why the measure of adaptation matters, are the subjects of this small book. It is not meant as a compendium but instead as a coagulant to assist its readers in understanding the complicated and subtle history of modern diplomacy. It first challenges the biases of novelty then follows with an examination of the diplomatic mind not from the perspective of a neuro-or any other scientist but with an inquiry into the artistry of the diplomat, on the one hand, and the exercise of diplomacy, on the other. Preserving peace begins with imagining it. Diplomats-at least the better ones-have the rare ability to blend a spatial imagination (what peace looks like in particular places) with an opportunistic talent for getting from here to there. To know their entrepreneurial capacity is the first step to understanding their role. A comparative study of diplomatic transformations in the modern era with an emphasis on the creative qualities of diplomats. In historical terms, the Old Diplomacy is not really that old-many of its concepts and methods date to the mid-nineteenth century-while the practices of New Diplomacy emerged only a couple of generations later. Moreover, "Diplomacy 2.0" and other variants of the post-Cold War era do not depart significantly from their twentieth-century predecessor: their forms, particularly in technology, have changed, but their substance has not. In this succinct overview, historian Kenneth Weisbrode reminds us that to understand diplomatic transformations and their relevance to international affairs is to see diplomacy as an entrepreneurial art-and that, like most arts, it is adapted and re-adapted with reference to earlier forms. Diplomatic practice is always changing, and always continuous "In historical terms, the so-called "old diplomacy" is not really that old - most of its concepts and methods date to the mid-19th century - while the practices of "new diplomacy" emerged only about a generation later. Moreover, "Diplomacy 2.0" and other variants of the post-Cold War era do not actually depart significantly from their twentieth-century predecessor: their forms, particularly in terms of technology, have changed, but their substance has not. In this succinct overview, historian Kenneth Weisbrode reminds us that to understand diplomatic transformations and their relevance to international affairs is to see diplomacy is an art - and that, like most arts, it is adapted and re-adapted with reference to earlier forms. Paradoxically, diplomatic practice is always changing, and always continuous"-- Provided by publisher In historical terms, the Old Diplomacy is not really that old many of its concepts and methods date to the mid-nineteenth century while the practices of New Diplomacy emerged only a couple of generations later. Moreover, "Diplomacy 2.0" and other variants of the post-Cold War era do not depart significantly from their twentieth-century predecessor: their forms, particularly in technology, have changed, but their substance has not. In this succinct overview, historian Kenneth Weisbrode reminds us that to understand diplomatic transformations and their relevance to international affairs is to see diplomacy as an entrepreneurial art and that, like most arts, it is adapted and re-adapted with reference to earlier forms. Diplomatic practice is always changing, and always continuous. Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Series 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgments 8 1 A Question of Novelty 10 2 Old-Old Diplomacy 22 3 Old-New Diplomacy 29 4 New-New Diplomacy 39 5 The Diplomatic Imagination 50 References 64 Index of Names 73 Front Matter....Pages i-viii A Question of Novelty....Pages 1-12 Old-Old Diplomacy....Pages 13-19 Old-New Diplomacy....Pages 20-29 New-New Diplomacy....Pages 30-40 The Diplomatic Imagination....Pages 41-54 Back Matter....Pages 55-65