All states are doomed to diplomacy. In recent years, there has also been a quiet counter-revolution in the way it is conducted. These themes are elaborated in this book via discussion of the art of negotiation and the many channels through which it is practised. Public diplomacy, about which so much is now heard, also receives attention in a provocative new chapter. Consular work, currently regarded by governments as more important than ever because of the massive increase in cross-border movements of tourists, students, asylum seekers, drug- and people- traffickers, and actual or potential terrorists, is among other subjects which receive a new chapter. The fourth edition of Diplomacy, the standard textbook on the subject, offers the most up-to-date information about contemporary diplomatic practice, presents this in its historical context, and provides a tight framework for organizing its understanding. It will be essential reading for students and professionals alike.