The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World

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A riveting retelling of diplomatic history with praise from Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Bertie Ahern (Ireland), Tony Blair (UK), Ehud Olmert (Israel), and more.

A magisterial tome on the international negotiations that shaped modern American history.... Grand in scope and grounded in decades of experience, The Art of Diplomacy is a compelling work of political history aimed at the diplomatic negotiators of tomorrow. -Foreword Reviews

Commended by Kirkus Reviews, which says Eizenstat writes with "authority and clarity of experience."

Inside the greatest diplomatic negotiations of the past 50 years
In one readable volume, diplomat and negotiator Stuart E. Eizenstat covers every major contemporary international agreement, from the treaty to end the Vietnam War to the Kyoto Protocols and the Iranian Nuclear Accord. Written from the perspective that only a participant in top level negotiations can bring, Eizenstat recounts the events that led up to the negotiation, the drama that took place around the table, and draws lessons from successful and unsuccessful strategies and tactics. Based on interviews with over 60 key figures in American diplomacy, including former presidents and secretaries of state, and major political figures abroad, Eizenstat provides an intimate view of diplomacy as todays history. The Art of Diplomacy will be an indispensable volume to understand American foreign policy and provide invaluable insights on the art of negotiation for anyone involved in government or business negotiations.

Reviews

A former U.S. ambassador to the E.U. lays out a useful roadmap to successful international negotiations. Negotiations are a crucial part of statecraft, writes Eizenstat. In his latest book, the author aims to distill key events in U.S. negotiations into lessons for the next generation of diplomats and students. In some of the cases, Eizenstat had direct involvement; regarding others, he studied the records closely and interviewed the participants. As any diplomat will tell you, an essential ingredient in a successful negotiation is preparation. You must understand what the other side wants and how far they will go to get it. In the case of American negotiators, they must be clear about their own objectives while also maintaining the support of the Oval Office. Both sides have to be willing to give something, but they must also be able to walk away with something they can claim as a victory, if only a partial one. The point is not defeating an opponent but finding a workable consensus. Eizenstat identifies a failure to follow through on agreements as a recurring weakness of U.S. diplomacy over the decades. Sometimes, the failure arises due to domestic political circumstances; sometimes, it involves the mistaken view that adding signatures to a piece of paper is an end in itself and will solve all problems. Eizenstat hopes that future negotiators will address these shortcomings. Successful international negotiations require putting aside historic enmities, hatreds, and prejudices, and reasoning together to reach durable, if painful, compromises, he writes. ... He provides a valuable primer for those with an interest in this field. Eizenstat covers a lot of ground, writing with the authority and clarity of experience. * Kirkus Reviews *
A magisterial tome on the international negotiations that shaped modern American history, Stuart E. Eizenstats The Art of Diplomacy gets down to the brass tacks of foreign affairs. An ode to diplomacys power and fickleness, this book hopscotches from intimate, in-the-room portraits of what goes into diplomatic deals to expert accounts of the great American negotiators. Henry Kissingers triangular diplomacy, wedging the US between China and the Soviet Union to promote global stability, is recalled as an example of how, for better or worse, diplomacy can usher history to places that few would have thought possible. Unpredictability and trade-offs are a recurring theme in the cases detailed here, too. But what sets the book apart is its prioritization of the individual actors who broker international decisions. In the search for win-win compromises, dinners, sporting events, and all manner of creative avenues for engendering trust and goodwill become paramount. Both a primer on how to negotiate and a niche history of the last eight decades in world politics, the book includes hundreds of interviews with top-ranking officials and memories of Eizenstats own experiences negotiating. It transitions from what could have been done better (desperation from the U.S. mediatorsemboldened [Arafat] to take a stronger position in the negotiations that failed at the 2000 Camp David summit) toward pragmatic advice for approaching todays raging international crises (to achieve peace in Ukraine, Eizenstat says, it will be essential that there be more than a fragile ceasefire or another set of assurances that Russia can violate) generate countless insights. These are codified into the thirteen diplomatic precepts that conclude the book. Grand in scope and grounded in decades of experience, The Art of Diplomacy is a compelling work of political history aimed at the diplomatic negotiators of tomorrow. * Foreword Reviews *
Stuart Eizenstat has written a masterful book which captures the reasons why the Good Friday Agreement was successfully negotiated, ending decades of violence in The Troubles in Northern Ireland. He demonstrates how the combination of the leaders and the circumstances made Good Friday possible, as well as its fragility and the need to nurture it. His brilliantly written book also includes the history and lessons of the major agreements of our era, as well as the failures, in ways which provide lessons for future negotiators. This book is must reading for political leaders and diplomats seeking to resolve the challenges we face in our troubled world today through negotiation, not war. -- Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland (1997-2008)
Stuart Eizenstat does not just share with us the fascinating stories of the many negotiations in which he and his interviewees participated or led; he also conveys lessons that may assist his readers to overcome crises and not repeat the same mistakes, increasing their chances to succeed. Every person who is involved with any kind of negotiations must read this book. -- Yossi Beilin, Israeli Minister of Economics and Planning (1995) and Minister of Justice (1999-2001), and principal Israeli negotiator of the 1993 Oslo Accords
The lifeblood of international affairs is diplomacy. The goal of diplomacy is agreement. Yet too little time and energy has been spent on understanding what helps in reaching agreement in foreign relations. As Prime Minister I faced numerous diplomatic challenges, particularly the negotiations and agreement over Northern Ireland. We approached these issues with careful judgement and instinct, and we learned through trial and error some principles on how these types of agreements succeed. Stu Eizenstats important book codifies these principles and gives a full spectrum of lessons on diplomacy and negotiation. It will be a much needed and important handbook for those conducting such discussions. -- Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1997-2007
Eliminating the use of force in interstate relations calls for a constant dedication to diplomacy. How does it work Drawing on public sources, personal interviews with key actors and his own rich experience, Stuart Eizenstat offers fascinating accounts of the role of diplomacy in many great controversies. It is first-class diplomatic history but also highly instructive. It should be read by all who deal with foreign policy. -- Hans Blix, Head of International Atomic Energy Agency; Head of United Nations Monitor, Verification, and Inspection Commission on Iraq; Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs
Stu Eizenstat has written an important comparative study of contemporary U.S. diplomacy based on considerable research and actually talking to many of the people who did the diplomacy. Practitioners, scholars, and concerned citizens generally will all find important lessons for the threats and challenges Washington and its allies face right now. -- John Bolton, U.S. National Security Adviser (2018-2019); United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-06)
With awesome breadth of perspective, Stuart Eizenstat recounts in riveting detail how U.S. diplomacy shaped the modern world. Spanning decades and enlivened by the voices of diplomats, politicians, and military leaders, Eizenstats book provides irreplaceable insights for historians and lessons for the future. A must-read for American policy makers and leaders in facing the challenges ahead. -- Wesley Clark, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1997-2000)
Stuart Eizenstat is a national treasure. A brilliant lawyer, skilled negotiator, witness to and warrior in geopolitical conflict resolution, Eizenstat brings all of his talents and experience to produce a book that is profoundly wise and richly illuminating. The Art of Diplomacy belongs on the bookshelf of everyone concerned with how we reconcile mankinds ambitions and fears in a world that places a higher premium on the speed of action rather than the wisdom of reflection. It is a sweeping and sophisticated historical analysis of the thoughts and deeds of our most gifted practitioners of the high art of diplomacy. -- William Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense (1997-2001), United States Senator (1979-1997)
Stuart Eizenstat has written a most timely and relevant book on the art of diplomacy that is a must-read for practitioners and students of foreign policy. At a time when the United States is faced with major shifting geopolitical trends and issues of war and peace, he draws on his extensive experience in negotiations and provides a virtual handbook within different historical contexts on the practice of diplomacy, outlining successes, failures, and lessons learned. This book is a valuable contribution to understanding the critical role of diplomacy in facing our nations current and future challenges. -- Edward Djerejian, United States Ambassador to Syria (1988-1991), United States Ambassador to Israel (1993-94)
Stu Eizenstats length and breadth of experience as one of the most effective negotiators in recent history shines through in this important book. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of international negotiations in general and on issues ranging from Middle East peace to international trade. It is destined to become required reading by generations of international relations students and diplomats alike. -- Michael Froman, President of the Council on Foreign Relations (2023-present), United States Trade Representative (2013-2017)
In todays complicated and interconnected world, Stuart Eizenstats masterful survey of international negotiations is more relevant and important today than ever. His remarkable career and vast knowledge of and experience in high-level negotiations, which I have witnessed first-hand, makes him uniquely qualified to write this book. Only through smart, meaningful negotiations does the world move forward and survive, and Eizenstat has provided an essential road map for future leaders. -- Chuck Hagel, United States Secretary of Defense (2013-2015), United States Senator (1997-2009)
In The Art of Diplomacy, Stuart Eizenstat

Author Bio

Stuart E. Eizenstat has served as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and Deputy Secretary of both Treasury and State. He is also the author of President Carter: The White House Years (2018), The Future of the Jews: How Global Forces are Impacting the Jewish People, Israel, and Its Relationship with the United States (2012), and Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor, and the Unfinished Business of World War II (2003). He is an international lawyer in Washington, DC.