Based on over 160 interviews, Asian Diplomacy evaluates the ministries of foreign affairs in five major Asian countries. For each country, Kishan S. Rana first sketches the historical and political background of its diplomatic service. He reviews the structural features of the service; its responsibilities in such key areas as economic and political relations; and its methods for intragovernmental relations, decision making, and crisis management. He then provides a summary assessment of each service and concludes by asking what is special about Asian diplomacy.
Asian diplomatic services will become central to international relations as globalization spreads and the influence of Asian countries continues to grow. Rana’s pioneering comparative examination provides a sound basis for understanding this new diplomatic environment.