Nick Ridley is Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University.

• Introduction. 1. Sixteenth Century diplomacy - and the balance of power. 2. The Thirty Years War. 3. Westphalia 1648. 4. On to Utrecht- wider conflict. 5. Utrecht 1713. 6. From Utrecht to Vienna. 7. Vienna 1815. 8. Nation-states -  and on to Paris. 9. Paris 1919. 10. Global war returns. 11. Potsdam 1945. 12.The late Twentieth Century-and into the Twenty-First. 13. Conclusion. Bibliography and Works Consulted.

"Dr Ridley’s work is a fascinating study in the history of diplomacy, an essential though often invisible profession, whose highly skilled practitioners do far more than is generally recognised. Over half a millennium the remit of diplomacy has evolved to embrace international conflict-resolution in addition to its original task of furthering the interests of a particular nation. A must-read." Professor Patrick Sookhdeo PhD, DD, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, South Africa"Stimulating, interpretative and informative on diplomacy over five centuries tracing diplomacy – and diplomats’ – in conflict resolution. Essential reading for students and practitioners of international history, ,international affairs and international security." Professor Dan Silverstone, Head of Law and Criminology, University of Greenwich, UK

Nick Ridley is Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University.

• Introduction. 1. Sixteenth Century diplomacy - and the balance of power. 2. The Thirty Years War. 3. Westphalia 1648. 4. On to Utrecht- wider conflict. 5. Utrecht 1713. 6. From Utrecht to Vienna. 7. Vienna 1815. 8. Nation-states -  and on to Paris. 9. Paris 1919. 10. Global war returns. 11. Potsdam 1945. 12.The late Twentieth Century-and into the Twenty-First. 13. Conclusion. Bibliography and Works Consulted.

"Dr Ridley’s work is a fascinating study in the history of diplomacy, an essential though often invisible profession, whose highly skilled practitioners do far more than is generally recognised. Over half a millennium the remit of diplomacy has evolved to embrace international conflict-resolution in addition to its original task of furthering the interests of a particular nation. A must-read." Professor Patrick Sookhdeo PhD, DD, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, South Africa"Stimulating, interpretative and informative on diplomacy over five centuries tracing diplomacy – and diplomats’ – in conflict resolution. Essential reading for students and practitioners of international history, ,international affairs and international security." Professor Dan Silverstone, Head of Law and Criminology, University of Greenwich, UK

Nick Ridley is Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University.

• Introduction. 1. Sixteenth Century diplomacy - and the balance of power. 2. The Thirty Years War. 3. Westphalia 1648. 4. On to Utrecht- wider conflict. 5. Utrecht 1713. 6. From Utrecht to Vienna. 7. Vienna 1815. 8. Nation-states -  and on to Paris. 9. Paris 1919. 10. Global war returns. 11. Potsdam 1945. 12.The late Twentieth Century-and into the Twenty-First. 13. Conclusion. Bibliography and Works Consulted.

"Dr Ridley’s work is a fascinating study in the history of diplomacy, an essential though often invisible profession, whose highly skilled practitioners do far more than is generally recognised. Over half a millennium the remit of diplomacy has evolved to embrace international conflict-resolution in addition to its original task of furthering the interests of a particular nation. A must-read." Professor Patrick Sookhdeo PhD, DD, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, South Africa"Stimulating, interpretative and informative on diplomacy over five centuries tracing diplomacy – and diplomats’ – in conflict resolution. Essential reading for students and practitioners of international history, ,international affairs and international security." Professor Dan Silverstone, Head of Law and Criminology, University of Greenwich, UK