Diplomatic Tenses: A Social Evolutionary Perspective on Diplomacy

This book offers an alternative and complement to existing histories of diplomacy, discussing change through 'tipping points' and the evolution of diplomatic institutions. It challenges the elite, textual view of diplomacy and explores visual diplomacy, arguing that the future of diplomacy will be a struggle between state-to-state and networked global governance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2020
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This book offers an alternative and a complement to existing histories of diplomacy, delving into the concept of change through "tipping points," which it understands as the culmination of long-term trends. Part I explores the social evolution of institutions on a broader level, arguing that when diplomatic institutions are defined by the types of entities that comprise them, the consular institution has transitioned from being concerned with independent trader polities to becoming increasingly intertwined with the state.

Part II challenges the prevailing view of diplomacy as an elite, textual affair, laying the groundwork for studying visual diplomacy and observing that the increasingly narrow perception of diplomacy as a clash between good and evil persists in popular culture. The book concludes by identifying the future of diplomacy as a conflict between state-to-state-based diplomacy and diplomacy as networked global governance.

This comprehensive exploration of diplomacy's evolution and future provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of international relations and sheds light on the evolving role of consular institutions in shaping global governance.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526148711