Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy (Paperback)

by Charles W., Jr. Freeman (Author) "States are bodies politic..." (more)
Key Phrases: diplomatic reporting, national potential, international state system

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Freeman has written a beautiful treatise on the tools of diplomacy." -- Foreign Service Journal

"Seminal because it goes to the heart of diplomacy and international negotiations and necessary because it provides an essential update to the few existing classical works on the subject. A thought-provoking manual for the professional diplomat as well as a guidebook for the student of diplomacy--or even the casual reader interested in current international topics." -- Parameters

Product Description
In this comprehensive treatment, distinguished diplomat Chas Freeman describes the fundamental principles of the art of statecraft and the craft of diplomacy. The book draws on the author's years of experience as a practicing diplomat but also his extensive reading of the histories of ancient India, China, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and the Islamic world as well as modern Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Among numerous other subjects, the book addresses the role of intelligence, political actions, cultural influence, economic measures, and military power, as well as diplomatic strategy and tactics, negotiation, and the tasks and skills of diplomacy.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: United States Institute of Peace Press (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878379658
• ISBN-13: 978-1878379658
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Practical Handbook on Statecraft, July 5, 2000

By	James Schoonmaker (Centreville, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although this book contains only 140 pages of text, Freeman has managed to pack a lot of useful information into it. Its focus is on the practical application of statecraft. To quote Freeman, "statecraft is concerned with the application of the power of the state to other states and peoples. Diplomacy applies this power by persuasive appeals short of war." In other words, diplomacy is but one tool of statecraft. What makes this book rare is that the author is a career foreign service officer, in a bureau where the preservation of peace at any cost is often paramount. It is unusual at best to hear anyone from the Department of State to discuss the usefulness of the application of force or intelligence to international relations.
Arts of Power falls somewhere between the books of international theory and those social psychology books which are full of common-sense, yet contradictory aphorisms-- and it succeeds where the others fail. With a few exceptions, no decent practical guide to the application of statecraft has been written in centuries. Freeman has corrected this error, and in spades.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dry but useful, June 3, 2002

By	"pdomin" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Very interesting, but really a dictionary that assumes alot of foreign policy knowlege. I bought this is the hopes that it would be a great intro to foreign policy book and was dissappointed. Nonetheless, it will make a good reference book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and concise introduction to Diplomacy, September 30, 2006

By	Luis Mansilla Miranda (Viña del Mar, Chile) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a excellent introduction for people into diplomacy and statecraft. In its brief pages, you learn all the definitions, such as the functions of a embassy or a consulate, the way to conduct state relations, the skills for diplomacy, a topic about Intelligence and much more.

Now I understand why sometimes an ambassador is call for consultation!