In this event hosted by the Centre for Statecraft and National Security, Prof R.P. Barston will give two Workshops which will be closely linked to Prof. Barston's new book 'Diplomatic Methods'

Speaker: Prof R.P. Barston, author and former Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies

In this Workshop we will explore the evolution of diplomatic methods post-2012 against the context of geopolitics , trade conflict and unstable international order . The topics covered include what’s left of multilateralism ? major changes in diplomatic methods; new groupings; and the emerging alternative architecture challenging multilateralism and the traditional mechanisms of international order .

A particular focus of the Workshop will be on introducing key concepts which can be used in analysing how contemporary diplomacy is conducted: influence and diplomatic space; parallel diplomacy; counter diplomacy; time-based strategies; side agreements and  secrecy; and disengaged diplomacy.

The format of the Workshop is informal for the presentation, questions and discussion.

It will be helpful for this Workshop if students could look over beforehand some of the following:

• RPBarston, Modern Diplomacy (Routledge, 2019, 5th ed ) pp. 36-40 (concept of diplomatic space)
• RPBarston, Diplomatic Methods (Routledge, 2025), especially the main outlines of chps 7 (parallel diplomacy), chp 8 (counter diplomacy) and chp 10 (alternative architecture concept) pp232-235. - Available at KCL library online

About the speaker

Prof R.P.Barston is an international relations and diplomacy specialist. He previously taught at Lancaster University, London School of Economics and King’s College (KCL). His diplomatic work has included UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, bilateral, multilateral (e.g law of the sea conference and regional); World Bank Consultant Southeast Asia at National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN (Malaysia); regional cooperation, Caribbean; special envoy Hanoi; accredited to International Maritime Organisation.

Other book publications include - Maritime Dimension, The Other Powers, and Modern Diplomacy (5th ed)