Introduction

Abstract

In her introductory chapter, Spies explains her reasons for writing the book: on the one hand the neglect of diplomatic studies in academic scholarship and on the other hand the dearth of Global South perspectives in diplomatic studies. She defines diplomacy and differentiates it from other international engagements. Conceptual demarcation of the Global South is done, with a discussion of the development diplomacy that distinguishes this group of states. The methodology of the book is explained in terms of the modal approach, i.e. separate focus on bilateral , multilateral , third-party and polylateral diplomacy. The chapterisation of the book follows this modal delineation and culminates, as she explains, in a chapter on ‘structural diplomacy ’, an inter-modal approach with particular resonance for the Global South .