Professor R. P. Barston specialises in international relations and contemporary diplomacy. He previously taught at Lancaster University, London School of Economics and King’s College, and is a former member of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office with extensive diplomatic experience. International training missions include Malaysia (National Institute of Public Administration), Brunei, Vietnam and for maritime regulation, and, regional safety cooperation Jamaica; Trinidad. Previous publications include Maritime Dimension, The Other Powers and International Politics since 1945 .
""This is an invaluable textbook for those who study Diplomacy at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Its insights into contemporary diplomatic practice, and coverage of key areas such as trade, finance and the environment, also means it is essential reading for those who seek to understand global governance and the ways in which international agreements are secured. This new edition is very much welcomed."" - Fiona Robertson-Snape, Staffordshire University, UK ""I am very pleased Ronald Barston’s Modern Diplomacy has been updated. It is a classic with a very practical orientation. I have used it with excellent results both as a reference guide and as a core text for students."" - Andrew F. Cooper, University of Waterloo, Canada ""In this new edition of Modern Diplomacy, Ronald Barston succeeds in improving on what is already a classic. He puts his direct experience of diplomacy to use in introducing readers to its nuts and bolts of its operations on a daily basis. Students will find the section on drafting treaties and agreements especially useful."" - Paul Sharp, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA