Global Diplomacy and International Society

• Reflects on the key existential challenges of diplomacy in the Global South and Africa
• Provides a comprehensive overview of the theory, history, law, institutional framework and practice
• Reviews diplomatic law, power-political diplomacy, development-driven diplomacy, and diplomatic culture

Review
“…one of the most original texts on this subject matter in the last decade…needed by students, practitioners and not least those who teach diplomacy and international relations.” (Kwesi Aning, Director, Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana)

“As western dominance of the post-war international system begins to be challenged, other voices are providing alternative perspectives to entrenched histories. Ambitious in its scope, robust in its analysis, Global Diplomacy and International Society gives voice to Southern perspectives and to the contributions made and challenges faced by developing states. This volume is essential to the study of diplomacy and to the imperative of decolonising curricula in Southern universities.” (Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Chief Executive, South African Institute for International Affairs, South Africa)

“A book everyone interested in diplomacy and international relations was waiting for. [This book] is a high quality analysis of bringing theory and practice, the past and the present and the state and non-state perspectives together. Its interdisciplinary approach truly touches the essence of modern diplomacy today and therefore is a very rich and powerful book to understand better the complexity of diplomacy.” (Ron Ton, Director, Clingendael Academy, The Netherlands, and trainer in diplomacy, negotiations and mediation)

This book is a comprehensive overview of the theory, history, law, institutional framework and culture of global diplomacy. It reflects on the key existential challenges to the institution and addresses aspects that are often overlooked in diplomatic studies: inter alia diplomatic law, development-driven diplomacy and the bureaucracy of diplomatic practice. All chapters are extensively illustrated with recent case examples from across the world. Special emphasis is placed on incorporating perspectives from Africa and other developing regions in the Global South, so as to balance the Eurocentrism of traditional diplomatic literature.

Yolanda Kemp Spies is ​Senior Research Fellow with the Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.