ABSTRACT
One of the most controversial and often misunderstood sections of inter-national law deals with questions relating to the norms and practices associated with agents engaged in the diplomatic enterprise. Diplomacy constitutes an essential element in the conduct of modern foreign policy, but any basic international relations textbook will point out that it comprises only one set of techniques among many others available to statesmen. 1 Normally diplomacy, in its narrow sense, is associated with negotiation and other peaceful means of developing cooperation or resolving disputes. 2 This chapter will first briefly discuss the history of diplomatic practice and then will examine the legal regime within which modern diplomatic and consular relations take place.
