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52 | 2025
Diplomatie et Lumières

Diplomacy and Enlightment
Edited by Jean-Charles Speeckaert
Diplomatie et Lumières
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ISBN 978-2-8004-1912-1

Did 18th-century diplomats contribute to the Enlightenment movement?  This collection constitutes an element of the emerging cultural history of diplomacy, a field that has undergone significant development in recent years, and aims to provide a response to this fundamental question. The role of diplomatic agents in the dissemination of ideas and the encounter of cultures is intrinsic to their function. The cosmopolitanism and involvement in scholarly and literary networks exhibited by ambassadors and consuls have led to their depiction as 'models of the Enlightenment', despite the presence of contradictions within their actions and beliefs.The unpublished studies collected in this volume offer valuable insights into key aspects of the Enlightenment experience. These contributions encompass a wide range of areas, including contributions to international law, with a particular focus on the prevention of war; combatting obscurantism and fanaticism; engagement with scholarly networks; the significance of travel and socialising, particularly within the context of Freemasonry; contributions to emerging sciences such as archaeology; and the very concept of diplomatic identity.

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