Diplomacy is the means by which nations, groups, and individuals manage their affairs in ways that safeguard their interests and promote their political, economic, cultural, or scientific relations with other states and peoples. It conducts the passages from protest to menace, from dialogue to negotiation, from ultimatum to reprisal and from war to peace and reconciliation with other states. Diplomacy also sustains the passivity of potentially hostile powers and forms, strengthens, and maintains the alliances that deter or make war.
The skill of diplomacy requires patience and empathy, and a willingness to compromise one’s own ego in order to achieve an agreement. It also involves a deep understanding of the many facets of human nature that can undermine cooperation and stoke conflict, and the commitment to analyzing these with foresight and grace.
A masterful book about the diplomatic negotiations that shaped modern history, this magisterial tome is an essential guide to international relations. It is original in focus, impeccably researched (private papers and oral histories have been sifted as well as official documents at The National Archives), crisply written, and altogether a major contribution to the study of diplomatic history.
The best diplomats are able to envision an outcome that is different from the status quo, put together a strategy, and negotiate it. They are often risk-takers, taking on a role that might involve cultivating a relationship with an enemy (Kissinger and China) or engaging in talks that directly affect American interests (Crocker and South Africa, Eizenstat and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action/Iran negotiations). Their courage reflects the fundamental fact that they believe their country’s survival depends on its ability to restrain power.