Describes what has been happening in Britain, Europe and the world since 1997. This book explores the questions: will the British still be trying to work out who we are and what we want to be as the world moves on? Does the Western alliance still have the time and the will to shape the world before the rise of India and China? And more.

Described as Mrs Thatcher's favourite diplomat, Robin Renwick was at the centre of events in the negotiations to end the Rhodesian War. As Ambassador in South Africa, he played a bridging role between the government and the ANC, having become a trusted personal friend of Nelson Mandela and of F. W. de Klerk. In the Foreign Office, he played an integral part in forging the agreement that returned two thirds of our contribution to the European budget back to Britain. In Washington, where he became a confidant of George Bush Sr, then of Bill Clinton, he was deemed an exceptionally influential British Ambassador whose efforts were devoted to getting the US and its allies to take the actions needed to end the Bosnian War. Not Quite A Diplomat looks back over an illustrious career in the foreign service and paints vivid and revealing first-hand portraits of some of the giants of international politics over the past forty years, from Mandela and Mugabe to George Bush Sr, the Clintons and Margaret Thatcher. In this entertaining memoir, Renwick examines why diplomacy too often consists of ineffective posturing, and explores the likely effects of Brexit, Trump and, potentially, Jeremy Corbyn on Britain's standing in the world.

What do diplomats actually do? That is what this text seeks to answer by describing the various stages of a typical diplomat’s career. The book follows a fictional diplomat from his application to join the national diplomatic service through different postings at home and overseas, culminating with his appointment as ambassador and retirement. Each chapter contains case studies, based on the author’s thirty year experience as a diplomat, Ambassador, and High Commissioner. These illustrate such key issues as the role of the diplomat during emergency crises or working as part of a national delegation to a permanent conference as the United Nations. Rigorously academic in its coverage yet extremely lively and engaging, this unique work will serve as a primer to any students and junior diplomats wishing to grasp what the practice of diplomacy is actually like.

In the aftermath of the Dominion War, the Klingon cruiser IKS Gorkon is on its way back to the homeworld when it is diverted by a distress call... It is two hundred years since the expanding Klingon Empire discovered an icy planet rich in a valuable mineral, topaline. They named the planet 'taD' - Klingon for 'frozen' - and called its people 'jeghpu'wl' - conquered. It is four years since the Klingon Empire invaded Cardassia, breaching the Khitomer Accords and causing a diplomatic rift with the Federation. On taD, depleted Klingon forces were overthown in a coup d'etat, and the victorious rebels took advantage of the disruption to appeal for recognition to the Federation. Now the Klingons have returned to taD and re-established their control. But the stubborn rebels insist on Federation recognition. A solution to the impasse must be found: a task that falls to the Federation's new ambassador to the Klingon Empire. Worf regards himself as a fighter, not a diplomat. But the Federation disagrees. Now, for the sake of the Empire, Worf must somehow forge a peace between the hardened rebels and the battle-hungry Klingon forces. And as everyone knows, Klingons do not negotiate...

"First published in Great Britain by Harper Press in 2012"--Colophon.

As diplomats arbitrate more and more of the world's business, we have little idea - and even less control - of what they are doing in our name. 'Independent Diplomat' provides a compelling account of the conduct of foreign policy and diplomacy from the inside.

No longer content to fade away into comfortable retirement, a growing number of former political leaders have pursued diplomatic afterlives. From Nelson Mandela to Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, to Tony Blair and Mikhail Gorbachev, this set of highly-empowered individuals increasingly try to make a difference on the global stage by capitalizing on their free-lance celebrity status while at the same time building on their embedded ?club? attributes and connections. In this fascinating book, Andrew F. Cooper provides the first in-depth study of the motivations, methods, and contributions made by these former leaders as they take on new responsibilities beyond service to their national states. While this growing trend may be open to accusations of mixing public goods with private material gain, or personal quests to rehabilitate political image, it must ? he argues ? be taken seriously as a compelling indication of the political climate, in which powerful individuals can operate outside of established state structures. As Cooper ably shows, there are benefits to be reaped from this new normative entrepreneurism, but its range and impact nonetheless raise legitimate concerns about the privileging of unaccountable authority. Mixing big picture context and illustrative snapshots, Diplomatic Afterlives offers an illuminating analysis of the influence and the pitfalls of this highly visible but under-scrutinized phenomenon in world politics.