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

"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

• 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.