Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sixteenth Century diplomacy - and the balance of power -- The Thirty Years War -- Westphalia 1648 -- On to Utrecht- wider conflict -- Utrecht 1713 -- From Utrecht to Vienna -- Vienna 1815 -- Nation-states - and on to Paris -- Paris 1919 -- Global war returns -- Potsdam 1945 -- The late Twentieth Century and into the Twenty-First.

"This book is a diplomatic history of Europe and the wider world over a period of 500 years from the beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the early Twenty First Century with a crucial aspect. The book reflects upon the development of diplomacy and diplomats in changing from acting solely in the national interests of their respective countries to increasingly engaging in international conflict resolution and peace-making. It will be an invaluable reading for students and practitioners of international history, international relations and international security"--