High-table diplomacy : the reshaping of international security institutions /

Starting with the assumption that broad multilateral diplomacy has limited effectiveness, Engelbrekt (Swedish Defence Univ.) explores "minilateralism"--narrower meetings involving a small number of key states. He compares formal minilateral bodies, exemplified by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with informal minilateral summits, such as the G7, G8, and G20, investigating whether the groups maintain exclusive jurisdiction of issues or pursue complementary efforts. Asserting that formal processes provide an entity with greater legitimacy, whereas informality permits flexibility helpful to practical effectiveness, he also reviews internal trade-offs within both groups. Through a descriptive narrative, Engelbrekt examines these ideas by focusing on three topics: traditional conflict management, counterterrorism, and climate change. The book is written in a style suited for academics and specialists rather than undergraduates. Rife with professional jargon and acronyms, the strength of the work is the painstakingly detailed recounting of diplomatic efforts in these forums from 2009 to 2014. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --Clifton W. Sherrill, Troy University