Professor J. Craig Barker is Dean of London South Bank University's School of Law and Social Sciences. He teaches in the fields of public international law and international criminal law. His primary research interest is the legal regulation of diplomatic relations and international immunities generally.

'Against a wide scholarly canvas, Craig Barker vividly depicts how the new age of barbarism has transformed ambassadors from sacrosanct messengers into vulnerable targets. He critically assesses recent international measures to strengthen protection and ensure punishment of crimes against embassies. A bleak indictment of the damage inflicted on open diplomacy and compelling justification for the continuing need for inviolability.' Professor Eileen Denza, University College London, UK and formerly Legal Counsellor, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 'Effective diplomacy lies at the heart of international governance and international relations and the proper protection of diplomatic personnel is essential to its success. This book marries a fascinating historical account of the topic with a penetrating analysis of the plethora of current legal developments and is destined to become required reading for anyone involved in diplomatic law and practice.' Professor Malcolm Evans, Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, UK 'The author draws from a wide array of resources...he passionately illustrates the impact on International Criminal Law and the work of the International Criminal Court.' American Society of International Law 'Readers will find this book valuable in providing a concise survey of a significant problem, including an informative overview of theories relating to the role and status of diplomats from ancient Greece and Rome onwards.' Political Studies Review

• Contents: Preface; The nature of the problem; The scope of the work; Historical and theoretical perspectives on the protection of diplomatic personnel; The law providing for the protection of diplomatic personnel; The prevention and punishment of crimes against diplomatic personnel; Protecting diplomatic personnel in an age of terror- the necessity of a multi-faceted approach; Conclusions; Annexes; Bibliography; Index.