New Zealand's Role in the Establishment of the South Pacific Commission

Abstract

Diplomatic history, as historians Renouvin and Duroselle see it, is "that aspect of the study of international relations which is concerned with the actions and gestures of governments, their decisions and, when possible, their interactions." 1 P. Renouvin and J. Duroselle, Introduction to the History of International Relations, London, 1968, p.v. Most students of this particular field of history normally follow in their writing the standard historical methodology of topic selection, the collection of the relevant evidence, its evaluation and presentation. Generally speaking, few would seem to make explicit use of concepts and insights drawn from the social sciences. 2 C. Vann Woodward, "History and the Third Culture", Journal of contemporary History, Vol.III, No. 2, 1968, pp.24-25. But because diplomatic history may be perceived as having an elective affinity with international relations theory, it is possible that while analysing a topic in diplomatic history, it could be of value to examine some of the more relevant concepts that are included in the study of international relations.