In this handbook, a group of 40 scholars and practitioners from some 30 countries takes a critical look at the contemporary practice of diplomacy. Many assume diplomacy evolves naturally, and that state- and non-state actors are powerless to make significant changes. But Diplomacy's methods, its key institutions and conventions were agreed more than six decades ago. None take account of the opportunities and vulnerabilities presented by the Internet. Diplomacy is now a neglected global issue.The COVID pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have highlighted some of the problems of diplomatic dysfunction. Beyond identifying current problems diplomacy is facing, the book also seeks to identify some practical options for reform and innovation. How might a process of reform be agreed and implemented? What role might the United Nations, regional organizations and Big Tech play? How can new norms of diplomatic behavior and methods be established in a multipolar, digital world where diplomacy is seen as less and less effective?

Part I. Introduction 1. Diplomacy the Neglected Global Issue. Why Diplomacy Needs to Catch Up with the World Paul Webster Hare Part II. State of Diplomacy 2. The Closing of the Diplomatic MindKenneth Weisbrode 3. A Diplomatic Taxonomy for the New World DisorderChas W. Freeman Jr. 4. Knowledge Diplomacy - A Conceptual AnalysisJane Knight 5. Why Reforms Are Needed for Bilateral Diplomacy? A Global South PerspectiveKishan S. Rana 6. The 21st Century Toolbox for a Modern DiplomatSeppe Verheyen Part III. Politicization of Diplomacy 7. Diplomats and PoliticizationPauline Kerr 8. Digital Diplomacy and International Society in the Age of PopulismOnur Erpul 9. Declining Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Evidence from ChinaQingmin Zhang and Lize Yang 10. South Africa and its Foreign Alignment and Practice: From Hope to Dashed ExpectationsTony Leon Part IV. Reforming Institutions 11. From Great Expectations to Dwindling Status: Brazilian Diplomacy's Response to Post-Cold War UpheavalsAntonio Carlos Lessa and Rogerio de Souza Farias 12. Crisis Prevention and Stabilization Made in Germany: Meeting the Demands of Modern Diplomacy?Sarah Bressan 13. Integrated Statecraft and Australia's DiplomacyTom Barber and Melissa Conley Tyler 14. What Motivates South Korea's Diplomatic Reform and Innovation?HwaJung Kim 15. The Transformations of French DiplomacyMaxime Lefebvre Part V. Digital Revolution and Diplomatic Reform 16. Digital Diplomacy in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Lessons and RecommendationsCorneliu Bjola and Michaela Coplen 17. Exploring the Usefulness of Artificial Intelligence for Diplomatic Negotiations: Two Case StudiesVolker Stanzel 18. Beyond Meeting and Tweeting: The Next Challenges for Innovation in DiplomacyTom Fletcher 19. Disinformation and DiplomacyJuan Luis Manfredi-Sanchez and Zhao Alexandre Huang 20. Digitalizing South American MFAs: Reform and ResistanceJorge Heine and Daniel Aguirre Part VI. Multilateral Diplomacy and Innovation 21. Toward a More Credible Multilateralism at the United Nations. A Few Practical StepsBenedicte Frankinet 22. A New Logic of Multilateralism on DemandAkiko Fukushima 23. About Spheres of InfluenceChas W. Freeman Jr. 24. Regional Diplomacy and its Variations: Change and InnovationRajiv Bhatia and Kishan S. Rana 25. African Union ReformEmmanuel Balogun and Anna Mwaba 26. Why Collective Diplomacy Needs to Embrace InnovationMartin Wahlisch 27. Innovating International Cooperation for Development: a New Model for Partnerships between Developed and Middle Income CountriesJose Antonio Zabalgoitia and Antonio Tenorio 28. The UAE's Innovative Diplomacy: How the Abraham Accords Changed (or Did Not Change) Emirati Foreign PolicyWilliam Gueraiche. 29. Small States: From Intuitive To Smart DiplomacyVesko Garcevic 30. Urban Diplomacy: How Cities Will Leverage MultilateralismJuan Luis Manfredi-Sanchez Part VII. Diplomatic Agenda 31. Reforming Global Health Diplomacy in the Wake of COVID-19Mark C. Storella 32. The Reform of Humanitarian DiplomacyGregory Simons and Anna A. Velikaya 33. Geoeconomic Diplomacy: Reforming the Instrumentalization of Economic Interdependencies and PowerKim B. Olsen 34. Science Diplomacy with Diplomatic Relations to Facilitate Common-Interest BuildingPaul Arthur Berkman 35. Multi-stakeholderism and the 2030 Agenda: Does the Promise Hold?Karin Backstrand and Felicitas Fritzsche 36. The Reform of Climate DiplomacyAndrew Gilder and Olivia Trumble Part VIII. Conclusions 37. ConclusionsPaul Webster Hare