Our Textbook

Diplomatic
Tradecraft

Published by Cambridge University Press

The “How” of Diplomacy,
Not Just the “What”

As governments and universities seek to prepare the next generation of diplomats to manage international affairs, they finally have a teaching tool focusing on the practical knowledge and skills that in the past could be learned only on the job.

Unlike previous works whose focus is on the "what" and "why" of diplomacy, "Diplomatic Tradecraft" goes deeper and explores the "how." Many of the case studies come from the authors' own experiences — they either managed the processes they write about or were active participants in them.

Published by Cambridge University Press and edited and co-written by Nicholas Kralev, WIDA's founder, "Diplomatic Tradecraft" brings together 18 career diplomats with decades of experience to lift the curtain on a mysterious but vital profession, and to pass on the insights and abilities they gained to those who will succeed them.

Treats students as entry-level diplomats and teaches them specific skills and competences to prepare for the demands of the diplomatic world.

Presents a realistic view of both the advantages and shortcomings of the current diplomacy system, with specific advice on how to navigate it.

Offers instructors a systematic approach to teaching diplomacy that gives students a realistic, in-depth understanding of careers in the field.

Chapters

The Diplomatic Landscape

How the architecture of diplomacy works at national, regional and global levels.

Diplomacy As an Instrument of Statecraft

Shaping the perceptions and calculations of other states through measures short of war.

Key Diplomacy Skills

Empathy, language ability, analytical skills, judgment, advocacy, negotiation and cross-cultural communication.

The Interagency Foreign Policy Process

How policies are developed, debated and determined in a complex national security bureaucracies.

How Does an Embassy Work?

A diplomatic mission is an organization like no other — its members live and work away from home in ways outsiders rarely understand.

Political Tradecraft

The main instrument in the diplomatic toolbox — reporting, relationship management, policy implementation and advocacy.

Economic Tradecraft & Commercial Diplomacy

Analyzing trends, expanding business and investment opportunities for home-country companies abroad.

Diplomatic Reporting & Communication

How to convey information efficiently to headquarters and other governments via official diplomatic channels.

Public Diplomacy

Engaging foreign publics, shaping narratives and building long-term relationships beyond official channels.

Consular Affairs & Crisis Management

Consular work touches people’s lives every day, often in moments of great need, trauma or desperation.

Diplomatic Protocol, Privileges & Immunities

The rules, customs and legal frameworks that govern diplomatic conduct and protect diplomatic missions worldwide.

Multilateral Diplomacy

Navigating the United Nations and other international organizations where global and regional rules are made.

Health & Science Diplomacy

The growing role of health, science and technology in shaping international relations and foreign policy.

Cyber Diplomacy

Writing the rules of an invisible domain — promoting stability and governing the Internet internationally.

Diplomatic Negotiation

The principles, strategies and techniques behind successful bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

Diplomatic Terminology Guide

Glossary of key terms and frequently used acronyms

Reviews

The Experts’ Verdict

“In this insightful, well-written and very practical book, Nicholas Kralev and an impressive group of collaborators offer an exceptionally useful primer on diplomacy. Filled with fascinating case studies and anecdotes, it brings to life a profession whose importance has often been overlooked — but which has never been more significant to America’s role in a crowded, complicated and contested world.”

William Burns

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
Former CIA Director

“Nicholas Kralev has assembled a group of superbly qualified practitioners to relate from personal experience manifold perspectives of diplomatic conduct and practice. They offer us the kind of ground truth about diplomacy that cannot be found in ivory towers. This is a very practical guide for those interested in better understanding the workings of the diplomatic profession.”

John Negroponte

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
Former Ambassador to the United Nations

“An indispensable tool, ‘Diplomatic Tradecraft’ encourages bright, eager-to-learn minds to enter the diplomatic field. It helps to develop complex skills in new generations of Foreign Service officers and facilitates understanding of a profession that is too often hidden behind clichés, stereotypes or misconceptions.”

Cristina Gallach

Former U.N. Undersecretary General
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain

“Nicholas Kralev has devoted much of his career to improving and developing the practice of diplomacy, and to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. Foreign Service. In this superb book, he brings together perspectives and recommendations from some of the greatest diplomatic leaders and thinkers our country has produced.”

Eric Rubin

Former U.S Ambassador to Bulgaria

“Nicholas Kralev has done more than anyone else to understand what diplomats actually do. It is a world quite apart from the abstract removes of international relations theorists. In this volume, he draws on a team of outstanding veteran diplomats. There is no better introduction currently in print. It deserves to become a standard text for would-be professionals, starting with America’s own trainees.”

Philip Zelikow

Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution
Former Counselor of the U.S. Department of State

“It’s not simply that we have more armed conflict in today’s world. It’s also that these fights involve so many governments, each with its idiosyncratic political culture and its unique set of interests. This is why the world so badly needs more thoughtful and expertly trained diplomats, and why Nicholas Kralev’s ‘Diplomatic Tradecraft’ is such a valuable addition to their education and ongoing work.”

Ian Bremmer

President of the Eurasia Group

“This book presents an illuminating inside look at all aspects of diplomatic service through a student-centric approach. The knowledge and wisdom of 18 career diplomats embedded in this volume provide a comprehensive and engaging experiential learning environment for readers to develop skills necessary for future diplomatic service.”

Baktybek Abdrisaev

Former Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United States and Canada

“Nicholas Kralev’s comprehensive and lively volume is a much needed addition to the literature on the making of U.S. foreign policy. The book should be required reading for all aspiring U.S. Foreign Service officers, as well as required reading in university courses on international relations and American foreign policy. It's the best reality-based study of diplomacy I’ve read.”

Our Textbook

Diplomatic Tradecraft

Published by Cambridge University Press

Overview

The “How” of Diplomacy,Not Just the “What”

As governments and universities seek to prepare the next generation of diplomats to manage international affairs, they finally have a teaching tool focusing on the practical knowledge and skills that in the past could be learned only on the job.

Unlike previous works whose focus is on the "what" and "why" of diplomacy, "Diplomatic Tradecraft" goes deeper and explores the "how." Many of the case studies come from the authors' own experiences — they either managed the processes they write about or were active participants in them.

Treats students as entry-level diplomats and teaches them specific skills and competences to prepare for the demands of the diplomatic world.

Presents a realistic view of both the advantages and shortcomings of the current diplomacy system, with specific advice on how to navigate it.

Offers instructors a systematic approach to teaching diplomacy that gives students a realistic, in-depth understanding of careers in the field.

Chapters

The Diplomatic Landscape

Diplomacy As an Instrument of Statecraft

Key Diplomacy Skills

The Interagency Foreign Policy Process

How Does an Embassy Work?

Political Tradecraft

Economic Tradecraft & Commercial Diplomacy

Diplomatic Reporting & Communication

Public Diplomacy

Consular Affairs & Crisis Management

Diplomatic Protocol, Privileges & Immunities

Multilateral Diplomacy

Health & Science Diplomacy

Cyber Diplomacy

Diplomatic Negotiation

Diplomatic Terminology Guide

Reviews

The Experts’ Verdict

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Diplomatic
Tradecraft

The “How” of Diplomacy,
Not Just the “What”