Description
Book SynopsisDavid Lindsey develops a new theory of diplomacy that illuminates why states find ambassadors indispensable. 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.
Trade ReviewIn this outstanding book, David Lindsey explains the crucial role that top diplomats play in international politics. A must-read for theorists and practitioners of international relations,
Delegated Diplomacy shows how diplomats’ sympathies for the countries to which they are assigned add credibility to their communications on behalf of their states. -- Anne Sartori, author of
Deterrence by DiplomacyUsing modern methods, this book takes up ancient questions of diplomatic practice. It is full of lively stories and careful analysis. In all, it is one of the most insightful treatments of diplomatic communication we have. -- Robert F. Trager, author of
Diplomacy: Communication and the Origins of International OrderIn
Delegated Diplomacy, David Lindsey deploys modern social science to demonstrate how and why diplomats are instrumental to credible communication among country leaders. Filling a long-standing gap in the study of foreign policy, this book brings diplomacy back into the mainstream literature of international relations. -- Shuhei Kurizaki, Waseda University
Does it matter who conducts diplomacy? David Lindsey argues emphatically that it does. The trick is to appoint ambassadors with a “Goldilocks” level of sympathy for their host country, so they can build trust. Scholars and policy-makers will be interested in this important study, which shows why diplomats are essential to a leader’s success on the international stage. -- Elizabeth N. Saunders, author of
Leaders at War: How Presidents Shape Military InterventionsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction
1. Diplomats and Bureaucrats
2. Diplomats as Messengers
3. Elicitation, Reporting, and Administration
4. Diplomats and Biographic Intelligence
5. Empirical Patterns in Diplomatic Appointments
6. The Sympathetic Ambassador: Walter Hines Page in Britain
7. The Unsympathetic Ambassador: James Gerard in Germany
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
