The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR) was signed at the height of the Cold War more than fifty years ago. The agreement and its negotiation have become a cornerstone of diplomatic law.
A Cornerstone of Modern Diplomacy, which is based on archival research in the National Archives (London), the Austrian State Archives (Vienna) and the Political Archive (Berlin), delivers the first study of the British policy during the negotiation of the key convention governing diplomatic privileges and immunities: the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The book provides a complete commentary on the political aspects of the codification process of diplomatic law. By clearly presenting the case with accessible analysis, author Kai Bruns makes the relations between international law and politics understandable, stressing the impact of the emergence of the third world in UN diplomacy.
This unique study is a crucial piece of scholarship, shedding light on the practice of United Nations conference diplomacy and the codification of diplomatic law at the height of the Cold War.
By:
Kai Bruns
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic USA
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
Spine: 13mm
Weight: 295g
ISBN: 9781501316319
ISBN 10: 1501316311
Series: Key Studies in Diplomacy
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 03 December 2015
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS/CONTENTS/FIGURES/ABBREVIATIONS/INTRODUCTION PART I: THE PREPARATORY STAGE: 1949-1960 1 CODIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW: ORGANS AND PROCEDURES Evolution of the International Law Commission, 1947 to 1960/ The Sixth (Legal) Committee of the United Nations General Assembly/ The Codification Process/ Conclusion 2 THE INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMISSION ON DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES, 1949 - 1958 The Fifth to Eighth Session of the International Law Commission, 1953 to 1956/ The Ninth Session of the International Law Commission in 1957/ The Tenth Session of the International Law Commission in 1958/ Conclusion 3 BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY- PROCESS: PREPARING FOR THE 1961 VIENNA CONFERENCE Coordinating Britain’s View on the Codification of Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities/ Dealing with the 1957 Set of Provisional Draft Articles/ Preparing the Commentary for the 1958 ILC Draft Articles Whitehall Comments on the ILC Drafts/ Her Majesty’s Home Office/ The Lord Chancellor’s Office/ The Treasury and its Revenue Departments/ The Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance/ The General Post Office/ The Commonwealth Relations Office/ Late Recognition of the Problem/ The Future Convention and its Application to Commonwealth Relations/ Troubleshooting Articles/ Minor Changes and Terminological Differences/ Important Questions of Principle/ Interpretation of the More Favourable Treatment Clause/ Conclusion PART II: THE DIPLOMATIC STAGE: 1961-1964 4 THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE 1961 VIENNA CONFERENCE Opening of the Conference and Discussion on Participation/ Organisation of the Conference / Adoption of the Rules of Procedure/ The General Committee: Election of Vice-Presidents/ Election of the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole/ Appointment and Report of the Credentials Committee/ Working Procedures of the Committee of the Whole/ Appointment of the Drafting Committee / Conclusion 5 ANALYSIS OF THE 1961 VIENNA CONFERENCE NEGOTIATIONS Statistics of the Vienna Conference/ Articles and Documents adopted by the Conference/ The positive Conference Atmosphere and Spirit of Cooperation/ Types of Disputes and Negotiation Examples Canned Arguments/ Progressive Codification / Political, Cold War Confrontations/ Unbalanced Reciprocity, when Rules seemed to carry one-sided Benefits / Bone of Contention: Privileges and Immunities of Non-Diplomatic Staff/ Conclusion 6 BRITAIN AND THE 1961 VIENNA CONFERENCE: A HAZARDOUS TASK Britain’s Delegation: Composition, Communication and Instructions/ Exerting Influence/ Objectives, Negotiation Tactics and Results/ Negotiations of Commonwealth Issues at Vienna/ Article 47: Non-Discrimination/ Foreign Office Points/ Treasury Issues/ Post-Vienna: Signing and Ratification of the 1961 Vienna Convention/ Britain’s Ratification of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1962-1964/ Conclusion 7 CONCLUSION APPENDIX I: OVERVIEW OF THE 1961 VIENNA CONVENTION AND THE 1958 DRAFT ARTICLES APPENDIX II: VOTING-RESULTS IN COMMITTEE AND PLENARY Voting-results in Committee of the Whole Voting-results in Plenary APPENDIX III: WHO’S WHO Legal Adviser Branch to the British Foreign Office, 1959-1961 Whitehall Departments, 1957 to 1964 Commissioners of the International Law Commission involved in Negotiations: 1957 to 1961 Other Conference Officers BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
Kai Bruns is Assistant Professor at American University in the Emirates, UAE.
Reviews for A Cornerstone of Modern Diplomacy: Britain and the Negotiation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Bruns presents the fruits of an impressive archival research effort ... [and] swiftly combines insights in history, international relations, diplomacy studies and law ... [This book] will be of interest both to legal historians and a wider audience of students of diplomacy. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy This book serves two important functions - adding to the literature about the making of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and providing an account of the UK's role in its creation. Scholars in both will find it compelling and useful. Richard Langhorne, Professor of Political Science, Buckingham University, UK and author of Diplomacy (2004, with Christer Jonsson) and The Essentials of Global Politics (2006)
