"This book examines world politics through the lens of diplomatic practice. We argue that many global phenomena of our time, from international law to world order, through humanitarianism, global hierarchies, and public power, are made possible by evolving forms of diplomacy. In that sense, this book is not about diplomacy per se, but rather about the constitution of world politics in and through diplomatic practice. In order to shed new light on the making and remaking of international relations, we bring social theory to bear on diplomacy. Our starting point is simple: as we enter the 21st century, everybody seems to agree that diplomacy is changing yet few people can specify exactly how - and with what effects on world politics. Our goal is to produce new knowledge about the evolving character of diplomacy and the ways in which it (re-) constitutes significant facets of world politics"--