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The history of international relations has an ambition that goes beyond history itself by providing unique insights into the complexity of problems in the interactions between peoples. A new Diplomatic History, aware of its limitations, may continue to play an important role, both through its remarkable research tools and new research directions. These go beyond the descriptive-explanatory level of traditional diplomatic and military history to focus on the state decision-making process, while considering the economic and social context of political struggles and international politics, the relative importance of deep forces, the diverse forms of mentality, communication and personal issues, and the structure and functioning of institutions.
References: AAVV, Nouvelle Histoire des Relations Internationales, 6 Vols., Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 2003; BARRAL, Comte de, Étude sur l´Histoire Diplomatique de l'Europe de 1648 à 1791, Paris, E. Plon et Cie, 1880 ; BÉLY, Lucien, L’art de la paix en Europe. Naissance de la diplomatie moderne XVIe-XVIIIe siècle, Paris, PUF, 2007. Id., Les relations internationales en Europe. XVIIe-XVIIIe siècles, 3.ª ed., Paris, PUF, 2001 ; BLACK, Jeremy, A History of Diplomacy, Reaktion Books, Londres, 2010; BRANDÃO, Fernando de Castro, Para uma Bibliografia da História Diplomática Portuguesa, Lisboa, MNE, 1989; Id., Sinopse Cronológica da História Diplomática Portuguesa, Lisboa, MNE, 1984; BRAZÃO, Eduardo, História Diplomática de Portugal, 2 Vols., Lisboa, Liv. Rodrigues, 1932-1933; Id., Relance da História Diplomática de Portugal, Lisboa, Liv. Civilização Editora, Porto, 1940; BURGUIÈRE, André (org.), Dictionnaire des Sciences Historiques, Paris, PUF, 1986; CALLIÈRES, François de, De la maniere de negotier avec les Souverains. De l'utilité des Negotiations, du choix des Ambassadeurs & des Envoyez, & des qualitez necessaires pour réüssir dans ces emplois, Bruxelas, Pour la Compagnie, 1716; COMBES, François, Histoire générale de la diplomatie européenne: histoire de la formation de l'équilibre européen par les traités de Westphalie et des Pyrénées, Paris, E. Dentu, [1854] ; DOLLOT, Louis, Histoire diplomatique (1814-1914), Paris, PUF, 1948 ; DUROSELLE, Jean-Baptiste, “L'histoire des relations internationales vue par un historien”. Relations internationales, n.º 83, 1995, pp. 295-306 ; Id., Tout empire périra: Théorie des relations internationals, Paris, Armand Colin, 1992; FERRÃO, António, Da importância dos documentos diplomáticos em História, Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 1917; Id.,Os Estudos de História Diplomática em Portugal, Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 1928; FRANK, Robert, “Penser historiquement les relations internationals”. Afri [Em linha], vol. IV, 2003. [Consult. Novembro de 2018]. Disponível em WWW: < URL: afri-ct.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/frank2003.pdf Id., (dir.), Pour l’histoire des relations internationales, Paris, PUF, 2012 ;
