Secret Diplomacy
Concepts, Contexts and Cases
By Corneliu Bjola, Stuart Murray | Publisher: Taylor and Francis
About the book
This volume investigates secret diplomacy with the aim of understanding its role in shaping foreign policy.
Recent events, including covert intelligence gathering operations, accusations of spying, and the leaking of sensitive government documents, have demonstrated that secrecy endures as a crucial, yet overlooked, aspect of international diplomacy. The book brings together different research programmes and views on secret diplomacy and integrates them into a coherent analytical framework, thereby filling an important gap in the literature. The aim is to stimulate, generate and direct the further development of theoretical understandings of secret diplomacy by highlighting ‘gaps’ in existing bodies of knowledge. To this end, the volume is structured around three distinct themes: concepts, contexts and cases. The first section elaborates on the different meanings and manifestations of the concept; the second part examines basic contexts that underpin the practice of secret diplomacy; while the third section presents a series of empirical cases of particular relevance for contemporary diplomatic practice. While the fundamental conditions diplomacy seeks to overcome – alienation, estrangement and separation – are imbued with distrust and secrecy, this volume highlights that, if anything, secret diplomacy is a vital, if misunderstood and unfairly criticised, aspect of diplomacy.
This book will be of much interest to students of diplomacy, intelligence studies, foreign policy and IR in general.
Editions of Secret Diplomacy
- EBook
- ISBN 9781317330912
- PDF
- ISBN 9781317330929
Read an Excerpt
This volume investigates secret diplomacy with the aim of understanding its role in shaping foreign policy.
Recent events, including covert intelligence gathering operations, accusations of spying, and the leaking of sensitive government documents, have demonstrated that secrecy endures as a crucial, yet overlooked, aspect of international diplomacy. The book brings together different research programmes and views on secret diplomacy and integrates them into a coherent analytical framework, thereby filling an important gap in the literature. The aim is to stimulate, generate and direct the further development of theoretical understandings of secret diplomacy by highlighting ‘gaps’ in existing bodies of knowledge. To this end, the volume is structured around three distinct themes: concepts, contexts and cases. The first section elaborates on the different meanings and manifestations of the concept; the second part examines basic contexts that underpin the practice of secret diplomacy; while the third section presents a series of empirical cases of particular relevance for contemporary diplomatic practice. While the fundamental conditions diplomacy seeks to overcome – alienation, estrangement and separation – are imbued with distrust and secrecy, this volume highlights that, if anything, secret diplomacy is a vital, if misunderstood and unfairly criticised, aspect of diplomacy.
This book will be of much interest to students of diplomacy, intelligence studies, foreign policy and IR in general.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Secret Diplomacy about?
This volume investigates secret diplomacy with the aim of understanding its role in shaping foreign policy.
Recent events, including covert intelligence gathering operations, accusations of spying, and the leaking of sensitive government documents, have demonstrated that secrecy endures as a crucial, yet overlooked, aspect of international diplomacy. The book brings together different research programmes and views on secret diplomacy and integrates them into a coherent analytical framework, thereby filling an important gap in the literature. The aim is to stimulate, generate and direct the further development of theoretical understandings of secret diplomacy by highlighting ‘gaps’ in existing bodies of knowledge. To this end, the volume is structured around three distinct themes: concepts, contexts and cases. The first section elaborates on the different meanings and manifestations of the concept; the second part examines basic contexts that underpin the practice of secret diplomacy; while the third section presents a series of empirical cases of particular relevance for contemporary diplomatic practice. While the fundamental conditions diplomacy seeks to overcome – alienation, estrangement and separation – are imbued with distrust and secrecy, this volume highlights that, if anything, secret diplomacy is a vital, if misunderstood and unfairly criticised, aspect of diplomacy.
This book will be of much interest to students of diplomacy, intelligence studies, foreign policy and IR in general.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Secret Diplomacy?
Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects > Interdisciplinary studies > Peace studies and conflict resolution
Where can I read a sample of Secret Diplomacy?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317330912
Is Secret Diplomacy part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Routledge New Diplomacy Studies
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Secret Diplomacy?
Corneliu Bjola, Stuart Murray
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Secret Diplomacy is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317330912) and pdf(ISBN 9781317330929)