Diplomacy means different things to different people, the definitions ranging from the elegant ("the management of relations between independent states by the process of negotiations") to the jocular ("the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock"). Written by Joseph M. Siracusa, an internationally recognised expert, this lively volume introduces the subject of diplomacy from a historical perspective, providing examples from significant historical phases and episodes to illustrate the art of diplomacy in action, highlighting the milestones in its evolution. The book shows that, like war, diplomacy has been around a very long time, at least since the Bronze Age. It was primitive by today's standards, there were few rules, but it was a recognizable form of diplomacy. Since then, diplomacy has evolved greatly, to the extent that the major events of modern international diplomacy have dramatically shaped the world in which we live. Indeed, the case studies chosen here demonstrate that diplomacy was and remains a key element of statecraft, and that without skilful diplomacy political success may remain elusive.

Author Biography

Joseph M. Siracusa is Professor of Human Security and International Diplomacy and Discipline Head of Global Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where he is also a fellow in the Human Security program. A native of Chicago and long-time resident of Australia, he is internationally known for his writings on international diplomacy, nuclear weapons and the Cold War. Professor Siracusa is also a frequent political affairs commentator in the Australian media, including ABC Radio. Among his numerous books are The American Diplomatic Revolution: A Documentary History of the Cold War, 1941-1947 ; A History of United States Foreign Policy (with Julius W. Pratt and Vincent De Santis); Depression to Cold War (with David G. Coleman); and Nuclear Weapons: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2008).