Why do states still need diplomats? Despite instantaneous
electronic communication and rapid global travel, the importance of
ambassadors and embassies has in many ways grown since the middle
of the nineteenth century. However, in theories of international
relations, diplomats are often neglected in favor of states or
leaders, or they are dismissed as old-fashioned. David Lindsey
develops a new theory of diplomacy that illuminates why states find
ambassadors indispensable to effective intergovernmental
interaction. He argues that the primary diplomatic challenge
countries face is not simply communication-it is credibility.
Diplomats can often communicate credibly with their host countries
even when their superiors cannot because diplomats spend time
building the trust that is vital to cooperation. Using a
combination of history, game theory, and statistical analysis,
Lindsey explores the logic of delegating authority to diplomats. He
argues that countries tend to appoint diplomats who are sympathetic
to their host countries and share common interests with them. Ideal
diplomats hold political preferences that fall in between those of
their home country and their host country, and they are capable of
balancing both sets of interests without embracing either point of
view fully. Delegated Diplomacy is based on a comprehensive dataset
of more than 1,300 diplomatic biographies drawn from declassified
intelligence records, as well as detailed case studies of the U.S.
ambassadors to the United Kingdom and Germany before and during
World War I. It provides a rich and insightful account of the
theory and practice of diplomacy in international relations.
General
Imprint: |
Columbia University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
March 2023 |
Authors: |
David Lindsey
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Hardcover - Trade binding
|
Pages: |
376 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-231-20932-8 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
0-231-20932-0 |
Barcode: |
9780231209328 |
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