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Formerly a university teacher, I am now a freelance writer specialising in the theory and practice of diplomacy from the earliest times until the present. As well as hoping to encourage the study of diplomacy, this site provides periodic updating of my textbook (see immediately below). This page contains some news and views (‘Blog posts’). The contents of the rest of the site can be navigated via the horizonal menu at the top of this page.

Diplomacy: Theory and Practice

G. R. Berridge Diplomacy 6th edition

6th edition
(Palgrave-Macmillan: Basingstoke and New York, 2022)

After Kissinger’s book, the most cited general work on diplomacy on Google Scholar’s diplomacy page.

Amazon customer reviews of earlier editions can be seen here.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE UPDATING

From the back cover:

“This is a highly welcome update for the best general introduction to the theory and practice of diplomacy. It is clear enough to be recommended to undergraduate students, yet sufficiently thoughtful and incisive to be read with profit by practitioners and experts.”
—John W. Young, Emeritus Professor of International History, University of Nottingham, UK

Diplomacy: Theory and Practice is a tour de force in diplomacy scholarship. Geoff Berridge has not only written the definitive text in diplomatic studies; he has done so in a lucid, accessible, and engaging way that sets the gold standard for how books should be written. Weaving together historical cases with contemporary examples, Berridge has given us essential reading for any student of international politics.”
—Marcus Holmes, Associate Professor of Government, College of William & Mary, USA

Up the Iron!

14 April, 2025. The survival of ‘British Steel’ at Scunthorpe – Chinese-owned, thanks to Boris Johnson – is on a knife-edge. For the future of the town and national security, everything possible should be done to keep its blast furnaces going.

New American Ambassador to South Africa?

30 March, 2025. With US-South Africa relations already at a low ebb, on 26 March 2025 the Trump administration announced the appointment of a ridiculously unsuited individual as the new American ambassador to Pretoria. It was widely assumed in the press that this merely needed Senate confirmation, but it might not be as straightforward as that, and certainly should not be.

Oval Office horror show, or How not to do diplomacy

1 March, 2025. On 28 February, the televised ambush of President Zelenskyy in the White House by President Trump and his attack dog, J. D. Vance, vividly illustrates three fundamental lessons of diplomacy. First, leave negotiations to the professionals. Second, conduct these negotiations in private in order to minimise the risk of sabotage by interested outside parties. Third, if sufficiently important, employ heads of state and government to announce any agreement.

US and Russia restoring diplomatic ties?

27 February, 2025. The spin coming out of Moscow that Trump is 'restoring' diplomatic contacts with Russia is rubbish. They might be expanding in personnel terms but they were never broken off.

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