The British Approach to Diplomacy 1963-76

在过去的几十年里，外交研究在欧洲和北美越来越受到关注，但专门研究外交方法史的文献仍然非常有限。关于这一主题的历史专著往往是对广泛时期的研究，如唐纳德·奎勒的《中世纪大使馆》（1967）或加勒特·马丁利的《文艺复兴外交》（1965）;或者是对特定外交官的狭义研究，如盖纳·约翰逊的《达伯农勋爵的巴黎大使馆》（2002）。大多数国际历史学家长期以来倾向于将注意力集中在特定政府的外交政策或特定战争和危机，联盟关系或区域问题的研究上。关于大使角色的变化、领导人级别会议（首脑会议）的可取性、外交思想的演变、国际组织对外交实践的影响等问题，在少数著作中得到了解决。即使在英国，国际历史学家在详细分析外交政策决策方面有着很好的记录，但也很少有人试图以任何持续的方式分析外交实践的演变。目的联合收割机结合我的背景，作为一个国际历史学家和外交研究日益增长的兴趣，以产生一个案例研究的一个国家的外交实践。目的是根据档案资料，采用历史方法，同时了解关于外交方法的更广泛的文献，编写一本10万字的专著。重点将放在一个明确界定的有限年份的时期，在这种情况下，哈罗德威尔逊和爱德华希思（1964-76）的总理职位。但问题不是纠缠于特定的战略、地理问题或危机，而是外交实际上是如何进行的。例如：总理们多久参加一次首脑会议外交？他们在这样的会议中看到了什么优势？我将尽可能地与其他国家进行比较，并利用我在美国档案馆的工作。最实际的是，这是一个我熟悉的一些'传统'的外交政策问题已经完成了专题论文1964-70威尔逊政府为曼彻斯特大学出版社。然而，更重要的是，这是一个对外交实践的变化特别重要的时期。从全球意义上讲，这是真实的，因为航空旅行的改善导致国际会议的频率越来越高，独立国家的数量不断增加导致需要在海外代表方面更加有选择性，国际组织的数量也迅速增加。但这对英国来说尤其如此，因为该国从世界角色转变为欧洲共同体成员国，经济问题迫使削减海外职位的开支，而促进出口的需要导致使用外交官促进贸易的行动加剧。外交活动的组织方式也发生了重大变化，尤其是将外交、联邦和殖民地事务部合并为一个单一的外交和联邦事务部。潜在的应用这本书将鼓励国际历史学家考虑外交实践以及他们解决的其他因素，并为那些对外交实践感兴趣的人提供了一个有价值的案例研究。这将有助于我们对这一时期英国外交政策的理解，并有助于我们对诸如首脑会议、外交使节和外交承认等具体现象的理解。如果后续进行类似的案例研究，则可以为不同国家和不同时期之间进行更多比较研究奠定基础。\

ContextDiplomatic Studies has been a growing area of interest in Europe and North America over the past few decades, yet the literature dedicated to the history of diplomatic method is still very limited. Such historical monographs as exist on the subject tend to be studies of broad periods, such as Donald Queller's The Office of Ambassador in the Middle Ages (1967) or Garrett Mattingly's Renaissance Diplomacy (1965); or else they are narrower studies of particular diplomats, such as Gaynor Johnson's The Paris Embassy of Lord d'Abernon (2002). Most international historians have long tended to concentrate their attention on studies of the foreign policy of particular governments or on particular wars and crises, alliance relationships or regional problems. Questions about the changing role of ambassadors, the desirability of meetings at leader's level (Summitry), the evolution of diplomatic thought, the impact of international organisations on diplomatic practice, and the like are addressed in few works. Even in Britain, where international historians have a strong record of analysing the foreign policy decisions in great detail, there is little attempt to analyse the evolution of diplomatic practice in any sustained way. AimsMy purpose is to combine my background as an international historian with a growing interest in Diplomatic Studies in order to produce a case study of the diplomatic practice of one country. The intention is to write a 100,000 word monograph, based on archival sources and adopting an historical methodology, while being aware of the broader literature on diplomatic method. The focus will be on a well-defined period of a limited number of years, in this case the premierships of Harold Wilson and Edward Heath (1964-76). But instead of dwelling on particular strategies, geographical issues or crises, the questions will be about how diplomacy was actually conducted. For example: how frequently did Prime Ministers engage in Summit diplomacy? What advantages did they see in such meetings? I will draw comparisons with other countries where possible and exploit my work in US archives.I have chosen the period of British practice in 1964-76 for a number of reasons. Most practically, it is one where I am familiar with some of the 'conventional' foreign policy issues already, having completed a monograph on the 1964-70 Wilson governments for Manchester University Press. More importantly, however, this was a period that was especially significant for changes in diplomatic practice. This was true in a global sense, as improvements in air travel contributed to a growing frequency of international meetings, the rising number of independent states led to the need to be more selective in overseas representation and the number of international organisations mushroomed. But it was particularly true for Britain, as the country moved from a world role to membership of the European Community and economic problems forced spending cuts on overseas posts, while the need to boost exports led to an intensification of moves to use diplomats in trade promotion. There were also major changes in the way diplomatic activity was organised, not least with the merger of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Colonial Offices into a singe Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Potential ApplicationsThe book will encourage international historians to consider diplomatic practice alongside the other elements that they address and provide a valuable case study for those interested in diplomatic practice. It will broaden our understanding of British foreign policy in the period and contribute to our understanding of such specific phenomena as Summits, ambassadorships and diplomatic recognition. If it is followed up by similar case studies it could be the foundation for more comparative studies between different countries and time periods. \