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In 1626, the Swedish Council of the Realm recommended that their king, Gustav II Adolph (1594-1632), should "negotiate with the enemy under the helmet" in order to force Poland into accepting Swedish demands. Although Gustav Adolph´s reign is known especially for its wars and not for its diplomacy, this deliberate combination of military action and diplomatic approach illustrates the true status of diplomacy in Swedish foreign policy from 1617 to 1630. This book argues that diplomacy played a decisive role in the conduct of Swedish foreign policy during Gustav Adolph´s reign. For the value of diplomacy in foreign policy greatly depends on how much emphasis a government puts on this means, it is reasonable to shed light on the establishment of diplomatic structures and how exactly they were employed. Did Gustav Adolph follow a clear-cut concept of diplomacy, or did the government react spontaneously with whatever diplomatic means they could procure at a given moment?

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Acknowledgements
I. Introduction
Definition of the topic
Geographical and temporal delimitations
Method
Source material
Literature
Outline of the thesis
II. Diplomacy and diplomatic theory in early modern times
1. Defining diplomacy
2. Early modern theoretical concepts of diplomacy
Machiavelli
Grotius
Conclusion
III. Foreign policy decisions under Gustav II Adolph
1. The structures of Swedish foreign politics
2. Decision-making process and distribution of political power
The konungaförsäkran of 1611
Gustav II Adolph
The king and his chancellor
The riksr†d
The riksdag
3. Decisions in Swedish foreign policy, 1617-1630
Military conflict settlement
Peaceful conflict settlement
Alliances
Economics
Conclusion
IV. The organisation of Swedish diplomacy
1. The management of diplomacy
2. The administration of the diplomatic service
3. Sweden´s diplomatic relations
4. The Swedish diplomatic service
Correspondence
Diplomatic missions
Diplomats
Formalities
Conclusion
V. The use of diplomacy under Gustav II Adolph
1. Information policy
2. The selection of diplomats
3. The implementation of foreign policy decisions
4. Strategies in the use of diplomatic means
Negotiations at a congressus
Temporary missions
Daily diplomacy
5. Other instruments of foreign policy in relation to diplomacy
Military means
Economic means
Propaganda
Conclusion
VI. Conclusion: The central role of diplomacy
Sources
Unprinted
Printed
Literature
Abbreviations
Deutsche Zusammenfassung

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