Diplomatic Practices
How They Emerge and How They Matter
Iver B. Neumann(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 14. August 2026
132 pages
E-Book
978-1-040-92659-8 (ISBN)
System requirements
for ePUB without DRM
E-Book Single Licence
You are acquiring a single user licence for this eBook, which you might not transfer. [L]
Not yet available
Description
Alles über E-Books | Antworten auf Fragen rund um E-Books, Kopierschutz und Dateiformate finden Sie in unserem Info- & Hilfebereich.
Diplomacy is the lifeblood of the states system, shaping global interactions and maintaining order. In this book, Iver B. Neumann delves into the practices that define diplomacy, exploring how they evolve and vary across time and cultures. By combining historical analysis with observational insights, Neumann offers a groundbreaking approach to understanding the dynamic nature of diplomatic practices.
From gift-giving to permanent representation, international law and peacebuilding efforts, Neumann examines the core practices that have shaped diplomacy for centuries. He also investigates how diplomacy absorbs external practices, such as cultural depictions of the 'Other', and institutionalises them within its framework. With a unique focus on Norwegian diplomacy, Neumann provides a nuanced perspective while cautioning against overgeneralisation when applying findings to other contexts. The book explores how diplomacy is portrayed in fine arts and popular culture and concludes by highlighting the stability brought about by the uniformity of diplomatic services worldwide.
This volume is an essential resource for students, scholars and practitioners of diplomacy, offering fresh insights into the mechanisms that drive global relations.
From gift-giving to permanent representation, international law and peacebuilding efforts, Neumann examines the core practices that have shaped diplomacy for centuries. He also investigates how diplomacy absorbs external practices, such as cultural depictions of the 'Other', and institutionalises them within its framework. With a unique focus on Norwegian diplomacy, Neumann provides a nuanced perspective while cautioning against overgeneralisation when applying findings to other contexts. The book explores how diplomacy is portrayed in fine arts and popular culture and concludes by highlighting the stability brought about by the uniformity of diplomatic services worldwide.
This volume is an essential resource for students, scholars and practitioners of diplomacy, offering fresh insights into the mechanisms that drive global relations.
Reviews / Votes
"Iver Neumann makes yet another major contribution to our knowledge of the role of diplomacy and diplomats in making the international state system function. Drawing on examples from world history and the increasingly consequential case of Norway, Neumann invites us to rethink the myriad diplomatic practices that buttress the system. With verve and erudition, he engages the current wave of interest in international practice theory and diplomatic studies."- Geoffrey Wiseman, Grace School of Applied Diplomacy, DePaul University, Chicago
"Iver Neumann's theoretical work and ethnographic research have inspired generations of students of diplomacy, and the style of all his writings, including this book, bears his indistinguishable signature. In passing, his interdisciplinary contributions to the conversation on diplomatic practice have informed academics and their alumni about Norway's diplomacy, a small power whose affluence and determination enabled a relatively large diplomatic footprint. This short book, building on his previous work, equally testifies to Neumann's penchant for elegance and aesthetics and his passion for uncovering the writings of original thinkers who speak to the burgeoning field of diplomatic studies."
- Jan Melissen, Editor-in-Chief, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Leiden University (the Netherlands)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
2 Tables, black and white; 1 Line drawings, black and white; 1 Illustrations, black and white
ISBN-13
978-1-040-92659-8 (9781040926598)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€191.50
Not yet published

Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€57.00
Not yet published
Person
Iver B. Neumann, D.Phil. (Oxon., Politics) and Dr Philos. (Oslo, Social Anthropology), is Director of The Fridtjof Nansen Institute. He has published widely within international relations, but his latest book in English is an edited volume on the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard called Knausgaard in Context (Oslo: Scandinavian University Press, 2025).
Content
List of Figures and Tables Preface Chapter one: Introduction: Diplomatic Gifts as a Foundational Practice Chapter two: An Old Practice Institutionalised: Crisis Management (with Ole Jacob Sending) Chapter three: A Resilient Practice: Representation Abroad Chapter four: Defanging an Anti-Diplomatic Practice: Triumphalism Chapter five: Co-opting a Practice for Diplomacy: Peace and Reconciliation (with Martin Eide) Chapter six: A Meta-Perspective: Artists, Writers and Diplomatic Practices Chapter seven: Conclusion Bibliography
System requirements
File format: ePUB
Copy protection: without DRM (Digital Rights Management)
System requirements:
- Computer (Windows; MacOS X; Linux): Use a reader that can handle the file format ePUB, such as Adobe Digital Editions or FBReader – both free (see eBook Help).
- Tablet/Smartphone (Android; iOS): Install the free app Adobe Digital Editions or the app PocketBook (see eBook Help).
- E-reader: Bookeen, Kobo, Pocketbook, Sony, Tolino and many more (not Kindle).
The file format ePUB works well for novels and non-fiction books – i.e., 'flowing' text without complex layout. On an e-reader or smartphone, line and page breaks automatically adjust to fit the small displays.
This eBook does not use copy protection or Digital Rights Management
For more information, see our eBook Help page.