History of diplomacy
From our blog
Diplomacy: The art of the impossible
17 April 2024
Diplomacy is a complex social process that generally involves implementing the foreign policy interests of the sending authority in the receiving country. As such, it depends on, and is also determined by, a given his...
Zheng He (1371–1433): China’s masterful mariner and diplomat
24 September 2023
(A fairy tale?) Ever since Gavin Menzies, a British retired naval officer, published the fictional story 1421: The Year China Discovered America, fleet admiral and diplomat Zheng He (1371–1433) has enjoyed a sort...
EspriTech de Genève: Nexus between technology and humanity
28 August 2023
Artificial Intelligence, History of diplomacy and technology
At our last stop of the summer journey 'Recycling ideas', we come to Geneva, a meeting place of technology and humanity for centuries. The city’s role is gaining new relevance as we find ourselves at a turning point...
Ubuntu Ethos: African Insights for Ethical AIÂ
18 August 2023
Artificial Intelligence, Capacity development, Development, History of diplomacy and technology
Ubuntu, a philosophy deeply ingrained in African culture, is widely recognized for establishing harmonious relationships among individuals and communities.Ubuntu is attracting renewed attention by academia and policy-...
Training and courses
Events
Learning from the past, looking to the future [A historical journey #11]
21 Dec 21 - 21 Dec 21
#Diplomacy: Internet and social media [A historical journey #10]
25 Nov 21 - 25 Nov 21
Telephone diplomacy: Dialling the ‘red line’ [A historical journey #8]
30 Sep 21 - 30 Sep 21
Renaissance diplomacy: Compromise as a solution to conflict [A historical journey #6]
24 Jun 21 - 24 Jun 21
Online
Ancient Greek diplomacy: Politics, new tools, and negotiation [A historical journey #4]
29 Apr 21 - 29 Apr 21
Online
Prehistory: The birth of diplomacy and early ‘technologies’ [A historical journey #2]
25 Feb 21 - 25 Feb 21
Online
[Webinar-2014] Diplomacy and the invention of telephony and wireless communication
01 Oct 14 - 01 Oct 14
Online
[Webinar] Diplomacy and technology in the Roman Empire: a focus on the Byzantine period
29 Apr 14 -
Online, Africa
[Webinar-2013] Diplomacy and the invention of telephony and wireless communication
26 Jul 13 - 26 Jul 13
Online
Resources
2021
Searching for the prehistoric origins of diplomacy
What if diplomacy had started in the first contact between two distinct bands of nomadic Homo sapiens hunter-gatherers in the Palaeolithic period, even before the advent of agriculture and the transition from nomadism to Neolithic sedentary societies? In this post, pre... Read more...
2020
The ‘Working’ Non-Aligned Movement: Between Belgrade, Cairo, and Baku – The NAM’s Leadership Visibility
The objective of this chapter is to highlight lessons learned, promote best practices, and carry takeaways that are useful for other levels of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), or even other forums. ... Read more...
2019
The Diplomacy of Ancient Greece – A Short Introduction
Employed against a warlike background, the diplomatic methods of the ancient Greeks are thought by some to have been useless but by others to have been the most advanced seen prior to modern times.... Read more...
2019
Diplomacy and Secret Service
Intelligence officers working under diplomatic protection are rarely out of the news for long, and the last two years have been no exception. How did the relationship between diplomacy and secret intelligence come about? What was the impact on it of the bureaucratizati... Read more...
2017
Room for Diplomacy: The history of Britain’s diplomatic buildings overseas, 1800-2000
Mark Bertram joined the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works after reading architecture at Cambridge and remained in the civil service as architect, project manager, administrator, estate manager and – in his own words – ‘quasi diplomat’ for the next thirty y... Read more...
2017
The Summer Capitals of Europe, 1814-1919
This is an original work, meticulously researched, rich in detail, and written in a clear and – here and there – refreshingly pungent style. Soroka is a Russian scholar but at ease in English.... Read more...
2017
Curing the Sick Man: Sir Henry Bulwer and the Ottoman Empire, 1858-1865
This is the first book of a very promising young historian. Laurence Guymer, who is head of the Department of History at Winchester College and a research associate in the School of History at the University of East Anglia, has produced a biography of Sir Henry Bulwer ... Read more...
2015
A Diplomatic Whistleblower in the Victorian Era
It’s not often that a fascinating and important new book — in this case about an accomplished diplomat, journalist, whistle-blower, novelist, dissembler and controversial celebrity of Victorian times — is made available, totally free of charge, to anyone with a c... Read more...
Histories
Internet and social media: A focus on diplomacy
Diplomacy has adapted to technological advancements through history, including the internet and social media. Digital diplomacy focuses on utilizing these tools to achieve diplomatic goals, influence global policy, and adapt to new topics like cybersecurity. The intern... Read more...
Telephone diplomacy: Dialling the ‘red line’
The telephone, radio, and telegraph have revolutionized communication and diplomacy over the years. Key figures in the development of the telephone, including Bell, Meucci, Reis, and Gray, played significant roles in its evolution. The telephone's importance in diploma... Read more...
The telegraph: How it changed diplomacy
The telegraph had a profound impact on diplomacy, revolutionizing communication and altering the nature of international relations. It facilitated faster exchanges and influenced how diplomacy was conducted, shifting the power dynamics and organizational structures of ... Read more...
Renaissance diplomacy: Compromise as a solution to conflict
Renaissance diplomacy emerged among Italian city-states in the 15th century, characterized by compromise and peaceful conflict resolution. Great writers and artists thrived during this period, with significant advancements in culture, society, church relations, discove... Read more...
Byzantine diplomacy: The elixir of longevity
The article delves into Byzantine diplomacy, highlighting its longevity and importance in history. The Byzantine Empire's survival relied heavily on diplomacy due to limited military strength, focusing on avoiding wars and using innovative diplomatic practices. Byzanti... Read more...
Ancient Diplomacy: What can it teach us?
The text discusses the role of ancient diplomacy in civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, China, and India. Writing is highlighted as a key diplomatic 'technology,' with historical examples of diplomatic systems and techniques outlined. The text em... Read more...
Prehistory: Origins of diplomacy and early ‘technologies’
The text explores the origins of diplomacy and early technologies from prehistory. It delves into how human cognitive abilities, cooperation, trade, art, gift exchanges, and the development of language played pivotal roles in the emergence of proto-diplomacy. Tools lik... Read more...
