Palgrave Handbook Sheds Light on Diplomatic Evolution

The recently published “Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Reform and Innovation,” co-edited by Ambassador Paul Hare, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), has garnered attention in a comprehensive review published in the European Review of International Studies. The publication also includes featured chapters from Amb. Jorge Heine, as well as Amb. Mark Storella, and Amb. Vesko Garčević.

In his seminal work, Hare, along with co-editors Juan Luis Manfredi-Sànchez and Kenneth Weisbrode, orchestrates the insights of 44 contributors who delve into the future viability of diplomacy in the face of global uncertainties. The handbook, which spans 752 pages, emphasizes the need for a re-imagined diplomacy grounded in essential human values.

The contributors, a mix of practitioners and academics, address pressing issues such as the transformation of diplomatic mindsets, geo-economic diplomacy, and crisis prevention. Hare’s call for a renewal of diplomacy as a public good and Weisbrode’s exploration of the decline in civility and trust are particularly noteworthy.

The publication also touches on innovative topics like Urban Diplomacy, suggesting a practical, non-ideological approach to addressing global challenges at a local level.

Hare’s influential introduction and conclusion, along with contributions from scholars like Kim B. Olsen and Chas W. Freeman Jr., mark this handbook as a significant contribution to the evolving landscape of diplomatic studies. The book’s exploration of the digital revolution’s impact on diplomatic practice and the potential of artificial intelligence adds further depth to its relevance.

The Palgrave Handbook serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers seeking insights into the changing dynamics of diplomacy, making it a noteworthy achievement for Professor Hare as well as Professor Heine, Professor Storella and Professor Garčević.

Ambassador Paul Hare was a British diplomat for 30 years and the British ambassador to Cuba from 2001-04. He now teaches classes at Boston University on Diplomatic Practice, Arms Control, Intercultural Communication, and on Cuba in Transition. His novel, “Moncada — A Cuban Story,” set in modern Cuba, was published in 2010. His book, “Making Diplomacy Work; Intelligent Innovation for the Modern World” was published in 2015. Learn more about him here.

Ambassador Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards. Learn more about Ambassador Storella on his faculty profile.

Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his Pardee School faculty profile.

Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years during his diplomatic career. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He was Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.