Modern diplomacy is extending its activities into many spheres and is itself being exposed to unprecedented influences: the factors that are shaking up our societies are having an impact on governance as well, be it digitisation, the emotionalised sensitivities of the public or non-diplomatic international actors. Such developments need to be absorbed by diplomacy in order for it to continue to function as part of modern governance and for it to inform both governments and the societies they represent. Governments would do well to develop forms of mediation and ways of reconciling interests. The objective must be to allow states to continue to work effectively as sovereign and legitimate actors and, at the same time, to make use of the potential inherent in the changes our countries are experiencing.With contributions byVolker Stanzel, Sascha Lohmann, Andrew Cooper, Christer Jönsson, Corneliu Bjola, Emillie V. de Keulenaar, Jan Melissen, Karsten D. Voigt, Kim B. Olsen, Hanns W. Maull and R. S. Zaharna